Are Our Children Losing Focus?

The signs are becoming impossible to ignore: more and more children are struggling to concentrate, stay calm, or engage with deeper thinking. Across Vancouver classrooms and homes, teachers and parents alike are noticing changes—shorter attention spans, growing restlessness, and a constant need for stimulation.

It’s easy to assume this is just a phase, or a lingering effect of pandemic disruptions—but the truth is more serious. Researchers are confirming what educators have been reporting for years: our children’s cognitive development is being impacted by overstimulation, and screens play a major role.

What Teachers Are Seeing

Teachers across the country—and here in Vancouver—are adapting their classrooms to a new kind of student. Lessons have to be shorter. Directions must be repeated more often. Students lose focus quickly, and many find it difficult to sit still or tolerate quiet moments.

In a recent UK survey, 84% of primary school teachers said attention spans are shorter than ever. And it’s not just schools noticing this. At West Coast Institute, our own teachers are seeing it too—even among students with strong potential and supportive families.

This shift isn’t about individual children—it’s a broader pattern. And it’s accelerating.

What the Research Says

Studies now confirm that high screen time—especially fast-paced, attention-grabbing content—has a measurable impact on children’s brain development. Researchers have found strong links between excessive screen exposure and:

Reduced attention and concentration
Increased impulsivity and hyperactivity
Slower memory and learning development
Higher risks of attention-related disorders

Children’s minds are being wired for distraction—and that makes real learning harder.

What Can Parents Do?

This is not just a school problem or a technology problem. It’s a challenge that needs all of us—especially parents—to respond with intention.

We can’t eliminate screens entirely. But we can offer our children something more powerful in return: activities that calm the mind, build discipline, and promote real, deep engagement.

That’s where music comes in.

Why Music Makes a Difference

Learning music is one of the most effective and research-supported ways to strengthen a child’s brain. Musical training engages more areas of the brain than any other structured activity—boosting memory, focus, emotional control, language development, and executive function all at once.

Studies from Harvard, MIT, and the University of Toronto confirm what many families experience firsthand: children who study music consistently do better in school, build greater self-confidence, and develop emotional resilience that lasts a lifetime.

In short—music gives children back what screens take away.

A Path Forward Through Music

At West Coast Institute of Music, we’ve created programs that do more than teach music. We help children slow down, focus, and rediscover joy in learning.

Our offerings include:

After-school music programs (in elementary schools across Vancouver)
Piano lessons for all levels, from beginners to ARCT diploma prep
Group classes and RCM exam preparation
Preschool music classes
Music summer camps

Programs are available in neighborhoods including Yaletown, Downtown Vancouver, and Kitsilano. Families can choose between group formats, private instruction, or in-home lessons for maximum convenience.

It’s Not Too Late

Our children still have everything they need to grow into focused, intelligent, emotionally balanced human beings—but they need our help. With consistent support and the right environment, they can thrive again.

Music is one of the best places to start. Let’s give them something meaningful. Let’s choose what builds them up. Let’s act—while it still matters most.