Lessons in Paying Attention

Teaching children to pay attention to their surroundings is an important skill that should be developed. As children grow and desire to become more independent, it’s critical they are aware of their environment.

As a homeschooling family, my children are with me the majority of the time. It often feels easier and faster to guide and direct them wherever we are going. I have to be intentional about teaching them to pay attention to their surroundings.

From a young age, children can be taught to pay attention. Simple outings can be turned into lessons.

• Map the neighborhood – Making a map can be simple or elaborate depending on the age and skill of a child. For younger children, start with a map of your block. If you live in the country, have them map your property and add in large trees or outbuildings. Increase the size and detail of the map for older children. Include the names of neighbors, a friend’s house, any parks, or other interesting features.

• Grocery store search – Give each child a list of items to find as you go through the grocery store. Try to select items in different areas of the store to keep their interest. This can be especially good for kids with disabilities that tend to shut down from getting overwhelmed in crowds or different environments. They need to stay alert to find items. If the child is a wanderer, assign items aisle by aisle.

• Find the car – When entering a parking lot, ask the children if they remember where the car is parked. The first few times I did this, there was a lot of laughter and jokes that mom was becoming forgetful. It quickly became a fun game of seeing who had been paying attention whenever we parked.

• Navigation – When driving or walking to a common destination, spend time pointing out landmarks and street signs. On the next trip, ask the child to navigate. This is especially fun with older kids.

Children need to practice being aware of their surroundings. By practicing lessons from an early age, they will develop a habit of paying attention. Before we’re ready, they will be adults and will need to find their own way around.

Teresa Brouillette is a wife and busy homeschooling mom, living for Jesus. With a love for writing, she shares the adventures and lessons of her family and homeschool at TeresaBrouillette.com.