Parents' Column | Activities and parenting
Activities for children who can’t stay focused,
and how to choose one
“Homework doesn’t last five minutes.” “He gets distracted right away.” Concentration is not a personality trait; it is a skill that grows through experience. From our classroom experience, we explain why concentration doesn’t last, what activities that build concentration have in common, the different kinds of focus that soroban, calligraphy and art develop, and what you can do at home.
Common reasons concentration doesn’t last
Parents often tell us, “My child has no concentration.” But watching children in the classroom, there is no child who cannot concentrate. There are only “reasons” why they can’t right now.
- Too hard, or too easy: Either way, children get bored quickly. Children concentrate best on a task they can reach with a little effort.
- Not knowing what to do: When the goal is not visible, hands stop. When the end is in sight, like “just this one page,” they can get started.
- Distractions nearby: TV, phones, toys on the desk. Even adults can’t concentrate in that setting.
- Tired, sleepy or hungry: Concentration depends a great deal on how the body feels.
- Short attention is natural at their age: It is normal for preschoolers and lower-grade children not to be able to stay on one thing for a long time.
In other words, concentration is not something a child “has or doesn’t have.” Through repeated experiences where the conditions for concentrating are in place, it gradually becomes longer and deeper. An activity is a place that provides that kind of time every week.
4 things activities that build concentration have in common
- Time is clearly divided
It starts with “Ready, go!” and has a set end. This is practice in concentrating hard for a short time.
- The goal is visible
One sheet, one page, one piece. When children can see “when I get here, I’m done,” they can see it through to the end.
- The hands or body are moving
Time spent only listening or only watching is hard for children to concentrate in. When the hands are moving, the mind turns to what is in front of them.
- Results come right away, and effort is recognized
Marking on the spot, a word like “this part is beautiful.” When the result of their effort comes straight back, the feeling of “I’ll do it again” continues.
The different kinds of focus soroban, calligraphy and art develop
The word “focus” is the same, but the kind of focus that grows differs by activity.
| Soroban | Calligraphy | Art | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kind of focus | Timed, fast and accurate. Short bursts of intense focus | Good posture, one stroke at a time, with care. Quiet focus | Getting absorbed in what they love. Immersive focus |
| In the classroom | Timed practice; “read-aloud calculation” (yomiage-zan), moving the beads while listening to the numbers the teacher calls out | Looking carefully at the model and writing. The whole flow from preparing the brush to cleaning up | 80 minutes of creative time. Sharing finished works with each other |
| Children it often suits | Children who light up with a timer or a target, children who like numbers | Children who like calm time, children who want to do things carefully | Children who like drawing and making things, children who want to decide for themselves |
Soroban’s “read-aloud calculation” is practice in calculating numbers heard by ear without stopping the hands. It builds listening focus, which also helps children listen to the teacher in school lessons. Calligraphy starts with sitting properly and holding the pencil or brush correctly, so children pick up good study posture. In art, the experience of being absorbed and losing track of time becomes the base for concentrating on other things.
For more, see The benefits of soroban, An activity for neater handwriting: what changes with calligraphy and The benefits of a children’s drawing and art class.
By type: for this kind of child, this kind of activity
| Finds it hard to sit still | Activities that move the body (swimming, gymnastics and so on) are also a good choice. Among seated activities, soroban, with lots of hand movement and short, clearly divided time, often suits them. |
|---|---|
| Will do what they love for hours | Choose an activity that grows that “love.” If they like drawing and making things, art. The experience of being absorbed also carries over to concentrating on other things. |
| Easily distracted, not very careful | Calligraphy: sit properly, prepare the tools, write one stroke at a time. This calm routine becomes a weekly habit. |
| Can concentrate, but doesn’t keep going | An activity with visible goals that rise step by step, like soroban kyu grades. “Next is ◯ kyu” becomes the power to keep going. |
If you are unsure, the best thing is to go to a trial lesson. If your child says “I want to do it again” afterward, that is the sign it suits them.
What you can do at home
- Break time into short blocks: “10 minutes, then a break” rather than “30 minutes of hard work.” A timer makes the end visible and makes it easier to get started.
- Only what you are doing now on the desk: Turn off the TV, put the phone in another room. Just reducing what is in sight makes it easier to concentrate.
- Decide the goal before starting: “Up to this page today.” Decide the end together with your child before starting.
- When it’s done, recognize that they concentrated: “You really concentrated” rather than “You got it right.” When concentrating itself is praised, they try to concentrate next time too.
- Early to bed, early to rise, and breakfast: The biggest foundation of concentration is how the body feels.
Frequently asked questions
How many minutes of concentration is normal?
It varies greatly with age and what the child is doing. For a child in the final year of kindergarten, being able to sit and listen for about 10 minutes is one rough guide. Many children can go much longer on something they love, so look at “what can my child concentrate on?”
Can a child who can’t stay focused keep up with a 60-minute lesson?
Yes. The teacher watches how your child is doing, changes the task and adds breaks as needed. Start with a free trial lesson (about 20 minutes) and see how your child does.
Can a child with developmental concerns attend?
Please talk to us. Our teachers also learn about child development in their training. The head office and the teacher will think together about an approach that suits your child.
Are games and smartphones bad for concentration?
A child who can concentrate on a game has the ability to concentrate. The problem is that there is no time limit. Practicing setting a rule like “until this time” and keeping it is also practice in concentrating on other things.
“Ready, go!” and focus hard. When you’ve done it, let’s celebrate together!
About the author
Taito MoritaFounder & principal of Kodomo School (Morita Group Co., Ltd.)
He carries on the Morita Juku founded in Toyohashi in 1972. Through soroban, calligraphy and art at about 90 classrooms in Aichi and Shizuoka and at our Hanoi school in Vietnam, he helps children build the strength to believe in themselves. He also gives talks and seminars on education.
Message from our founderTalks & seminarsUpdated: October 8, 2026
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Soroban and calligraphy trial lessons are free (about 20 minutes; just bring something to write with). The art trial lesson is 40 minutes and costs ¥1,000 (nothing to bring). Come with your child and see the feel of the classroom and how well the teacher suits your child.