In every parent-teacher meeting and living room chat, one concern keeps popping up: kids just can’t seem to concentrate anymore. From slipping grades to restless study sessions, attention has become the new struggle. Many parents turn to doctors hoping for a quick-fix pill to sharpen memory and focus. But according to Dr Sudhir Kumar, a renowned neurologist trained at CMC Vellore, the solution doesn’t lie in medicines at all — it lies in our children’s daily lifestyle.
Dr Kumar recently took to X to highlight the rising concern, stressing that attention issues are rarely rooted in the brain itself. Instead, five everyday lifestyle traps are silently stealing away children’s focus, leaving parents worried and children exhausted.
1. Excessive screen time
Fast-moving images, endless gaming, and social media reels may keep kids entertained, but they also condition the brain to crave constant stimulation. When faced with slower tasks like reading or studying, their minds wander easily, making concentration nearly impossible.
2. Irregular sleep and sleep deprivation
Sleep is the brain’s reset button, and children need at least 8–10 hours of it. Unfortunately, late-night screen use, hectic schedules, and poor sleep routines are leaving kids tired, cranky, and unable to focus during the day.
3. Sedentary lifestyle
Outdoor play has taken a backseat, replaced by indoor gadgets and long sitting hours. This lack of physical activity reduces blood flow and vital brain chemicals that boost learning and focus, quietly undermining attention spans.
4. Unhealthy diet
Breakfast skipped, processed snacks devoured, and sugar overdosed — the typical diet of many children today is a recipe for distraction. Nutrient deficiencies and energy crashes make it harder for the brain to stay alert and attentive.
5. Overloaded schedules and stress
From school to tuitions to extracurriculars, children’s days are crammed with little breathing space. This constant pressure leaves them mentally exhausted, robbing them of the free play and downtime their minds desperately need.
Dr Kumar believes the way forward lies not in prescriptions, but in balance. A reset of daily habits — regular sleep, nutritious meals, outdoor play, limited screen time, and room for rest — can bring about remarkable changes. As he puts it, the real gift parents can give their children is a lifestyle that nurtures healthy bodies, rested minds, and space to grow.
Negative effects of excessive screen time
A study titled Effects of Excessive Screen Time on Child Development: An Updated Review and Strategies for Management, submitted to the National Library of Medicine, found that while screens can support learning, excessive screen time has serious downsides for children’s development. Too much exposure has been linked to weaker executive functioning, slower sensorimotor growth, poor academic performance, and lower cognitive abilities later in life.
It can also limit meaningful interaction, affecting language development, while contributing to obesity, sleep problems, anxiety, depression, and even aggressive behaviour. The study stressed the importance of parental boundaries, reduced access to screens in bedrooms, and healthier alternatives that encourage cognitive, social, and emotional growth.
Dr Kumar recently took to X to highlight the rising concern, stressing that attention issues are rarely rooted in the brain itself. Instead, five everyday lifestyle traps are silently stealing away children’s focus, leaving parents worried and children exhausted.
1. Excessive screen time
Fast-moving images, endless gaming, and social media reels may keep kids entertained, but they also condition the brain to crave constant stimulation. When faced with slower tasks like reading or studying, their minds wander easily, making concentration nearly impossible.
2. Irregular sleep and sleep deprivation
Sleep is the brain’s reset button, and children need at least 8–10 hours of it. Unfortunately, late-night screen use, hectic schedules, and poor sleep routines are leaving kids tired, cranky, and unable to focus during the day.
3. Sedentary lifestyle
Outdoor play has taken a backseat, replaced by indoor gadgets and long sitting hours. This lack of physical activity reduces blood flow and vital brain chemicals that boost learning and focus, quietly undermining attention spans.
4. Unhealthy diet
Breakfast skipped, processed snacks devoured, and sugar overdosed — the typical diet of many children today is a recipe for distraction. Nutrient deficiencies and energy crashes make it harder for the brain to stay alert and attentive.
Why Are Children Struggling With Attention and Focus Today?
— Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (@hyderabaddoctor) August 27, 2025
More and more parents are worried that their children are losing the ability to concentrate. Concerns about poor academic performance often lead to the same request: “Doctor, can you prescribe a pill to improve my…
5. Overloaded schedules and stress
From school to tuitions to extracurriculars, children’s days are crammed with little breathing space. This constant pressure leaves them mentally exhausted, robbing them of the free play and downtime their minds desperately need.
Dr Kumar believes the way forward lies not in prescriptions, but in balance. A reset of daily habits — regular sleep, nutritious meals, outdoor play, limited screen time, and room for rest — can bring about remarkable changes. As he puts it, the real gift parents can give their children is a lifestyle that nurtures healthy bodies, rested minds, and space to grow.
Negative effects of excessive screen time
A study titled Effects of Excessive Screen Time on Child Development: An Updated Review and Strategies for Management, submitted to the National Library of Medicine, found that while screens can support learning, excessive screen time has serious downsides for children’s development. Too much exposure has been linked to weaker executive functioning, slower sensorimotor growth, poor academic performance, and lower cognitive abilities later in life.
It can also limit meaningful interaction, affecting language development, while contributing to obesity, sleep problems, anxiety, depression, and even aggressive behaviour. The study stressed the importance of parental boundaries, reduced access to screens in bedrooms, and healthier alternatives that encourage cognitive, social, and emotional growth.
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