Free Learning Module

Studying for Tests More Effectively

100 Free Practice Questions

More Test and School Success Skills

Why Your Child Can’t Focus—and What to Do About It

Child in class, looking away from school work bored and unfocused.

Your child sits down to do homework and five minutes later they are checking a message, staring out the window, looking for a snack, or talking about something completely unrelated. You tell them to focus. They try. Then their attention drifts again.

We are in an era of distraction. Distraction is a growing problem for kids and adults alike as screens, notifications, music, and people all pull us away from what we are trying to get done.

For kids, there are often underlying causes of distraction including hunger, tiredness, restlessness, stress, and racing thoughts.

The most effective solution starts with figuring out what is actually stealing your child’s attention.

Find the Distraction Before You Fight It

For one week, have your child notice what pulls their attention away during homework, studying, classwork, or test practice. The pattern may surprise you.

A phone or notifications
Noise or other people
Hunger or exhaustion
Boredom or restlessness
Racing thoughts or worries
Not knowing how to start

Then pick the distraction that causes the most trouble and work on that one first.

Introducing TestingMom’s Test and School Success Skills

TestingMom’s Test and School Success Skills is a new parent-led program for students in grades 2–8.

The full product includes 51 learning modules that help parents teach the skills behind strong school performance: test-taking, studying, focus, homework, organization, time management, note-taking, school pressure, and more.

Each module includes:

A 20-minute parent-child lesson

Clear, structured, age-appropriate content you can do at home.

A How-To video for parents

So you know how to teach the skill without turning it into a lecture.

A printable cheat sheet

A simple tool to reinforce the skill during the week.

This is practical academic skill-building for parents who take school seriously.

Match the Strategy to the Distraction

Fix body distractions before starting

Sometimes the problem is physical. A hungry, exhausted, restless child may have a much harder time focusing no matter how many reminders they hear. Before an important homework or study block, check the basics: food, water, bathroom, movement, and sleepiness.

Clear the workspace

A cluttered desk and a screen full of open tabs give the brain more things to notice. Before work begins, leave out only what is needed for the first task and put entertainment devices out of reach.

Do a two-minute brain dump

If your child’s attention is being pulled away by worries, reminders, or random thoughts, have them write those thoughts down before starting. Once the ideas are on paper, they no longer have to keep holding them in mind.

Create a “parking lot” for off-task ideas

When your child suddenly remembers a video to watch, a message to send, or something they want to look up, they can write it on a sticky note or small list and return to it later instead of stopping the work.

Free Learning Module

Studying for Tests More Effectively

Try a full Test and School Success Skills module with your child — free.

100 Free Practice Questions

The Real Skill Is Getting Back on Track

Even strong students get distracted. The important difference is how quickly they recover.

Teach your child a simple reset phrase:

“I got distracted. What is my next step?”

Then have them take one small action: reread the question, solve the next problem, write the next sentence, or review the next flashcard. Fast recovery is a skill that improves with practice.

Test and School Success Skills by TestingMom helps parents teach practical school skills such as focus, studying, test-taking, organization, time management, procrastination, memory, and more.

School Success Skills from TestingMom helps parents teach the academic habits, learning strategies, and school routines that strong students use every day.

Get Started on Test and School Success Skills

Plans start as low as $4.99/month

Get Started

What the Overcoming Distractions Module Teaches

The full lesson helps children identify the distractions that interfere with schoolwork and choose strategies that fit the problem. Students learn how to:

Identify their top school distractions.
Fix body distractions before they start.
Clear the desk or workspace.
Use a brain dump for racing thoughts.
Use a parking lot for off-task ideas.
Practice getting back on track quickly.

Parents also get discussion questions that help children recognize their own patterns instead of relying on adults to constantly point out when they are off task.

Available inside Test and School Success Skills by TestingMom.

Plans start as low as $6.99/month with a 12-month commitment.

Start With the Skill Your Child Needs Most

Your child does not need to master all 50 skills at once. Start with the issue causing the most stress right now.

Giving up too quickly
Procrastination
Messy notes
Missing assignments
Gaming and social media
School pressure

1
Choose one module.
2
Sit with your child for 30 minutes.
3
Teach the skill.
4
Use the cheat sheet during the week.

Then build from there.

Focus Is Only One Piece of School Success

Test and School Success Skills by TestingMom is a learning program for students in grades 2-8 with 50 modules covering the skills behind strong school performance.

Each module includes:

A 30-minute parent-child lesson.
A How-To video for parents.
A printable cheat sheet to reinforce the skill during the week.

Other modules cover studying, test-taking, procrastination, organization, time management, note-taking, sleep, memory, self-advocacy, technology habits, and more.

Built by Experts for Serious Parents Who Want Results

This product is created by the experts at TestingMom, the leaders in Gifted Test Prep:

Join the 1 Million+ families we have helped over the last 15 years.

“My child was always a solid student. But since we started using Test and School Success Skills, he has transformed into an outstanding student.”

— Lisa W.

A Low-Risk Investment in Superior Academic Habits

The typical private tutor can cost $150 or $200 or even higher per hour and still not teach your child the underlying academic skills that make the difference.

TestingMom’s Test and School Success Skills gives you access to 51 parent-led modules for:

Monthly – 1 Month