If you’ve been struggling to motivate your child to focus on school or revise for their upcoming exams – be it GCSE, A Level or something entirely different – then you’re in the right place.
Perhaps you’ve noticed they spend more time in their room, endlessly scrolling through TikTok, Instagram or YouTube. Or maybe when they are with you, having a conversation whilst they stare down at their little screen is like drawing blood from a stone. It’s not ideal, is it?
Unfortunately, technology isn’t going anywhere. You could ban the phone, but unless you want to become Public Enemy Number One in your own home, it’s not a long-term fix.
Screens are a part of modern life – and yes, the effects on focus, memory and motivation are very real. But here’s the good news: there are proven ways to counterbalance it.
Earlier this week, Performance Learning founder and exam coaching expert Dr Tej Samani shared his insights in City Kids Magazine. He detailed how parents can help their youngsters strengthen focus, improve memory and rediscover their drive to learn.
“Attention, memory and motivation can be built like muscles,” Dr Tej said. “And when we add confidence, empathy and real-world skills into the mix, our children aren’t just surviving the scroll… they’re future-proof.”
Here’s what else Dr Tej had to say about raising focus, memory and motivation in our distracted world…
‘Attention is the new superpower’
Endless scrolling on TikTok is comparable to flipping the page every two seconds when reading a book. It’s pointless, and can’t be good, right? To beat this, you need to train your child’s attention. At Performance Learning, we call it focus stamina.
“Focus stamina can be built by dedicating time to single-tasking,” Dr Tej recommended. “Lego without a soundtrack, reading before bed, baking a cake without three devices competing. Tiny moments of undivided attention whisper to the brain: you don’t need to jump every time something pings.”
Remember more than revision
“Memory isn’t just for exams,” advised Dr Tej. He urged parents to work with their children to remember bedtime routines, keep promises and recall kindness.
“The fix is connection,” he added. “Kids lock knowledge in when it’s presented through stories, songs or silliness. The brain loves patterns, stories and laughter. And when memory feels like a game, kids don’t roll their eyes, they join in.”
Sustaining motivation
You don’t need us to tell you, but the endless-scrolling nature of TikTok gives kids dopamine rush on tap. How could ‘boring’ homework ever measure up? The trick is to praise your child’s school and revision efforts, every step of the way. This will make them want to focus on school in the long run.
“Break big tasks into small wins,” said Dr Tej. “Celebrate progress loudly. Motivation grows when kids see their graft matters. A child who feels cheered for resilience will take on the tougher jobs life throws their way.”
Start teaching real-world skills early
Yes, even as young as eight-years-old. “What if we spent less time obsessing over grades and more time teaching practical, vocational skills? Think: teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and creativity.” Dr Tej implored.
“Kids can build these now. Let them plan the family dinner (budget included), design a poster for the school fair or help repair a wobbly shelf. It looks like play, but underneath, they’re building responsibility, initiative and self-confidence. That doesn’t expire with the next TikTok trend.”
The hidden curriculum
At Performance Learning, we’ve come to love this idea of the hidden curriculum. Beyond the national curriculum and demands to focus on school, there’s an education programme you can implement in your home – teaching your child how to lead with confidence and empathy, both for themself and for others.
Dr Tej explained: “Both skills shield kids from anxiety and peer pressure. Plus, they grow when parents model them. Show your child how to bounce back from mistakes (‘Oops, burnt the toast, try again!’). Also, let kids see you listen deeply. Ask their opinion at dinner and show them their voice matters. Those micro-lessons stick.”
Parenting in the TikTok era
“We can’t rewind to a pre-scroll childhood, but we can arm our children with skills to handle it,” assured Dr Tej. “Attention, memory and motivation form the foundation. Then, vocational skills, confidence and empathy are the beams and bricks. Together, they build resilience.”
Parenting isn’t about shielding kids from every distraction, but rather preparing them to thrive in spite of it. So, you can rest assured that joining them in a TikTok dance or two probably won’t hurt either.
Read the latest issue and Dr Tej Samani’s full article in City Kids Magazine here.
