HABITS OF CONCENTRATION

Horowhenua Chronicle, 15 June 1927, Page 7

HABITS OF CONCENTRATION

Many parents seem to expect that school should automatically produce a

habit of concentration, forgetting that it is a habit acquired only by long practice and with groat difficulty.

Concentration rhould begin in the nursciy. The baby who constantly cries for something different —and gets it—will become at school the. child “who cannot concentrate.” A child cannot learn too young to give his whole attention to any matter in hand. “The silly thing won’t go right.” he cries, and turns to something else, when a little help and praise might encourage him to persevere. ISven nursery play affords am. pie opportunity for teaching- him to do carefully and completely anything he begins, though it be only a castle of blocks or colouring a picture. “To begin" must be inseparable in his mind from "to finish.” Then, when th 0 time comes to leave the nursery he will embark' upon the great adventure Of school- —his real entry into life—equipped with the invaluable habit of “doing his best.” Early “spoiling” is the prime cause of failure to concentrate.