Children with concentration problems might have difficulty in processing information correctly. Information processing can be hampered by various causes of which one can be the dominance of the brain hemisphere.
We use our senses to process information. The senses on the right side of the body have different functions from those on the left and so have the different brain hemispheres. The right eye, for instance, is more prone to focus on the bigger picture while the left eye sees more detail. It is the same with the ear and the brain.
Each person has a dominant eye, ear, hand, foot and brain hemisphere.
In situations where there are no or very little stress the eye, ear or hand that processes the information sends that information to the brain hemisphere on the opposite side of the body without any difficulty.
During stressful situations the non- dominant senses and brain hemisphere “shut down” and the dominant areas take over. If the dominant brain hemisphere and senses are on the same side of the body it means that all information processed by the hand, ear or eye it will firstly attempt to send the information to the opposite brain hemisphere as that is how information processing in the body works. Because that brain hemisphere is not dominant and appeared “shut down” the information has to be send to the other brain hemisphere. In this process information gets lost and it takes longer to reach the brain hemisphere capable of processing the information.
In these instances children will find it difficult to remember what they have read, seen or wrote. Their ability to remember strange names from cartoons and books is because this information processing happens in a relaxed situation where learning wasn’t required.
To be able to process information quickly and efficiently both sides of the brain needs to be integrated.
Children in homeschooling might be in a more relaxed atmosphere than those in public schools, but if a child battles to concentrate, the fact that they are in a situation where learning is required will immediately cause stress.
Please read the article on brain gym to see how it can assist children with concentration obstacles.
