This subject is vast and there is so much to say. Studies on concentration are evolving and researchers in the sciences of Education are studying the different cogs that allow humans to build their potential for attention and concentration to achieve a target.

Not all human beings are created equal, but scientific research has found major trends in concentration time. This varies with age, it increases as we grow older, then narrows with age.

• At three or four years of age, the attention span is 15 minutes;
• Around five years old, it increases to 20 minutes;
• At seven, he reached 30 minutes;
• At 10 years of age, maximum attention is considered to be 45 minutes.

The school system takes these data into account and it is for this reason that most courses in college, for example, last 1 hour. Time to settle in, take out your things, then leave the class at the end and the count is good: 45 minutes of attention.

In primary school, where the pupils do not change teachers, they work in the form of workshops. The activities change and the child thus passes from mathematics to French in the form of activities whose duration is adapted to their age.

Beyond his time of maximum concentration, the child (just like the adult) gets tired, he no longer listens and feels the need to move or let his mind wander.

The child shows attention or concentration when several factors are present:

• a calm, reassuring environment, which gives him time to learn;
• his motivation, the interest of the activity for him;
• pleasure ;
• curiosity ;
• the variety.
  

The role of the environment 

This is very important, because the child is easily distracted by what surrounds him. His natural curiosity leads him to look, listen, discover. The activity must therefore take place in a safe space, which allows him to develop his logic and his thinking. We must also give him time at the end to observe its realization, the links of causes and consequences in order to allow him to memorize this experience, and to anchor it in his long-term database.

the Motivation box 

Motivation is the second lever. The child must find meaning in it for himself. The little ones, for example, are in imitation activities of their parents. They thus develop their autonomy, their mastery of the environment and tools (eating alone with a fork, picking a flower, etc.). The interest for their development at this age is to master fine grasping (games with seeds), to build their own repertoire of the 5 senses: sounds, smells, materials, colors, shapes.

In direct connection with motivation, the pleasure of doing, of creating for the child plays on his concentration. The child does not notice his concentration because he learns by playing. And the game is directly a source of pleasure.

For older children, there is nothing like a subject that fascinates them, so that they remain concentrated for hours. It can be his turtle, for which he will find out what she eats, where she sleeps etc. Teenagers will choose to learn a musical instrument to act as their idol, or spend a lot of time learning dance choreography on apps, to do shows with the girlfriends.

It is quite natural to be exposed to new experiences, both physical and intellectual. What is less is all the comfort and overprotection in which some are raised.

“Getting out of your comfort zone” is the goal of the century. Giving enough space and possibilities for children to experiment, to touch, allows them to maintain this natural curiosity to discover other ways of seeing the world, of manufacturing, of creating. Curiosity is not a bad fault but a beautiful natural quality, which maintains concentration.

Varying the activities and the environment makes it possible to establish comparisons, to work on adaptability and to structure thought. Always riding the same horse, in the same equestrian center for example, will not have the same wealth as if the child rides different horses, in different centers and even in different countries. He will thus be able to observe that the differences in culture, training, relationship with animals, etc.

Several factors also affect concentration:

• a healthy lifestyle: including diet and consequently digestion;
• hydration;
• the sleep.

The child will find activities related to his reality. He will choose things that are concrete for him. Knowledge is not linked to reality. Knowing that this red is called vermilion red is not useful in his world. On the other hand, knowing that the tractor is red because it is covered with anti-rust paint to avoid breaking, that is memorable and logical.

To concentrate, the child needs to feel safe, free from stress and pressure.

Testimony of Delphine

Delphine testifies to learning to cycle with her 5-year-old daughter. “In the spring I decided that she would learn to ride a bicycle. I pushed him, accompanied him, and it ended in tears. I gave up, a little angry, while leaving the bike available ”. A few weeks later, Delphine realizes that her daughter has taken the bike back and she tries, falls, and smiles. By letting her do it, she learned. “Look mom, I can ride a bike without the wheels like my girlfriend Lilas!” “. And there you have it, a dose of motivation, fun and space.