Life is filled with distractions, but not all distractions are the same. Distractions come from different sources and in all sizes. In general, distractions impact our children’s ability to focus and sustain their attention as well as their ability to grow and learn. A study published in Behavior Research Methods suggests that upsetting or unpleasant distractions are more likely to disrupt our children’s task performance. Moreover, upsetting or unpleasant distractions are more likely to contribute to a negative mood, a slower response time, and less accuracy in task completion. If that’s not bad enough, the negative disruption is more easily remembered and lingers longer in a child’s memory than does a pleasant disruption.

We can’t control the distractions our children encounter on a daily basis, especially after they leave our homes. However, we can do our best to create a home environment in which negative, unpleasant, and upsetting disruptions are kept to a minimum. How?

• Declutter your home space and your schedule.
• Share positive affirmations with your children on a regular basis.
• Tell your children “thank you” when they help around the house or contribute to household tasks.
• Limit background noise and enjoy conversation. (AKA-Don’t leave the TV on just for background noise or play the radio so loud you can’t talk.)
• Develop healthy routines and daily rituals such as morning routines, mealtime routines, and bedtime routines.

No one can get rid of all the negative disruptions that might arise. However, these actions can help create an environment with fewer negative disruptions and more time to enjoy healthy relationships in your home. This will contribute to a home environment that will promote growth.