How do we learn to concentrate?

One of the greatest gifts a school can give a student is to increase his or her capacity to concentrate for extended periods of time." Doug Lemove in Teach like a Champion:49 Techniques that put students on the Path to College.

That is why chess such a great teaching tool- chess can help kids to learn how to concentrate and focus, get them used to do it and enjoy the process. So, next time when kids are required to take a school test or concentrate on homework, they will be doing it more willingly. Concentrating and focusing will not be anymore anything dreadful, it will be associated in their mind with the fun and enjoyable time they had concentrating over the board.

During the chess camps we switch from chess to other activities that require brain to concentrate and strategize as well. Here are some examples- notice that the players are all concentrated very hard on the task at hand- either it is running, throwing frisbee...

or doing "wheelbarrow" team work...

Upon reaching the coach they need to switch to the chess thinking mode.

Everybody had fun and it was amazing to see how after this running, laughing and sweating, they were able to focus on solving puzzles. Teams learned fast that even if they manage to do the obstacles course fast, the winning team is the one whose members were able to solve all the puzzles correctly. They learn to slow down and encourage each other to pay attention to everything what they are doing- either it is mental of physical activity.

Walking backwards towards the coach with the frisbee on their head requires high concentration...

Then the players learn to switch from concentrating on the physical activity to the mental one- solve chess puzzles again...

Try it yourself to see how difficult it is.

The bottom line- concentration requires effort, and learning to do it is a difficult task. The child has to be willing to put all his energy into fulfilling the tasks. The learning to concentrate process requires kids to enjoy the process and be passionate about what they are doing. They need to be able to get excited and put their absolutely best at task in hand- either it is reading, running, jumping, chess playing, or school work.