Parent Question #2: My child gets distracted every five minutes while studying, what should I do?

Many parents ask us, "What should I do if my child gets distracted every five minutes while studying?"

Before reading today's article, please watch the video at the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTEFKFiXSx4&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fzonesoundcreative.com%2F&source_ve_path=MzY4NDIsMjg2NjY&feature=emb_logo

This is American musician John Cage's 4'33". In this performance, he didn't play anything at all—there were only the subtle sounds made by the audience present.

During these 4 minutes and 33 seconds, he created a "rupture of attention" for the audience.

Such a period of blank space actually brought everyone's attention back to themselves, back to their environment, and back to the present moment.

We have observed that many students keep their headphones on while studying in libraries or cafes, and their eyes are glued to their phone screens when walking down the street.

Students today often find it very difficult to calm down to read a book, feel what is happening around them, or perceive the people and things nearby—perhaps all due to the immediate and constant sensory overload brought about by tech products.

This makes everyone feel as though new information could arrive at any moment, compelling them to check social media and messaging apps every few minutes for fear of missing out on some major event in life.

Michel Serres wrote in his book *The Parasite* (*Le Parasite*):

"We are in the world of noise; we cannot close the door to its importunities, and we evolve and roll in its incalculable expansion. (Nous sommes dans le monde du bruit, nous ne pouvons fermer la porte à ses importunités, et nous évoluons et roulons dans son expansion incalculable.)"

We face a tremendous challenge: tense lives, anxious voices, panic-stricken emotions, and more are constantly playing out. Shouldn't we practice with our children focusing our attention on listening to the sounds around us, and in doing so, also hear our own inner voices?

Perhaps for five minutes every day after clearing the dinner table, the whole family can sit together, turn off phones, TVs, and even the lights, close their eyes, and let their minds truly settle down.

This will bring great benefits to learning, work, and overall physical and mental well-being.