15 Minutes of Focus

Oh the difference 15 minutes makes! Sometimes I leave a classroom full of kids and I ponder how needy some of them are.  It makes teaching challenging when a few kids need so desperately to be heard by me, need their issues addressed immediately, want to raise their hand constantly.  I feel sad that they clearly are in need of true attention to their concerns and I am viewed as the only listener.  Don’t they feel heard at home?  Does anyone stop what they are doing and focus solely on that child for a few minutes each day?  Do they feel constantly lower on the focus totem-pole than work, the phone, other people, love lives? I wish I could be a fly on their proverbial walls.  And I wish I could fill their wells with attention and care so they didn’t feel the need to latch on to a random adult. If parents only knew how little focused attention kids really need.  15 minutes every day of undivided listening, eye contact and caring questions makes ALL the difference!  We are all so busy, but squeezing in 15 minutes of alone time with each child pays off for everyone!  Maybe find those 15 minutes when you are: putting a kid to bed or saying goodnight to them, cooking dinner or doing dishes, driving them to or from school, walking the dog, or while you wait for the favorite t.v. show to start.  Touch their shoulder, look them in the eye, ask about their day or event, ask how it is going with friends and LISTEN. These actions let the young person know they are worth your time. These 15 minutes of focus lead to more confident, calm, happy kids who in the end ask for less of your attention because they feel fulfilled and loved.  Make this time a habit they can trust and rely on and they may end up looking forward to it and opening up more to you. It’s a win-win we all deserve!