A recent study has shed light on why young children, particularly those in kindergarten, often struggle to stay focused on specific tasks. Researchers found that while children as young as four to six years old can understand and follow instructions, they naturally tend to explore their surroundings more than necessary, leading to distractions.
The study revealed that children’s tendency to scatter their attention and collect too much irrelevant information is not due to a lack of comprehension or attention span. Instead, it is linked to their natural curiosity and the limitations of their developing working memory.
According to Ohio State University, which conducted the research, young children either explore their environment out of curiosity or because their working memory isn’t yet developed enough to allow them to complete a task without overexploring.
“Children can’t seem to stop themselves from gathering more information than they need to complete a task, even when they know exactly what they need,” said Vladimir Sloutsky, co-author of the study and professor of psychology at Ohio State.
The study, recently published in the journal Psychological Science, was conducted by Sloutsky and lead author Qianqian Wan, a doctoral student in psychology at Ohio State. Their findings suggest that while young children may have trouble focusing on a single task, this is a normal part of their cognitive development. As they grow, children will naturally improve their ability to concentrate and prioritize relevant information.
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