Little Johnny Is Not Paying Attention

by Brad Harrub, Ph.D.

I am going to say something firmly—then I am going to back it up with facts: Stop allowing your smartphones, iPads, or TV to babysit your young children! It’s affecting their spiritual (and secular) education. Yes, some of the content is pure evil or trash—but that lesson is for another day—consider for a moment what it’s doing to “Little Johnny’s” attention span.

Parents and teachers everywhere are noticing the same troubling trend: it’s getting harder to teach young people. Satan has succeeded in raising up a generation of quick sound-bite/video reel young people who don’t want to sit and learn Biblical principles. Lessons that once held their focus now compete against a world of constant swipes, flashes, and screens. And the data is sobering.

A 2025 report suggested that the average human attention span has dropped from 12 seconds in 2000 to just over 8 seconds today (Centre for Inquiry, 2025). Another analysis warns that screen-based focus now often resets in under 60 seconds (NetStudies, 2025). Studies also show that heavy screen exposure—TV, video games, and mobile media—is strongly linked to attention problems in children (EurekAlert, 2025).

We are raising a generation conditioned to quick hits of excitement rather than deep thinking. That makes true spiritual instruction—slow, thoughtful, heart-shaping teaching—much more challenging.

But not impossible. But we need to wake up and realize what Satan is doing.

When attention spans become so short, serious teaching — the kind that molds hearts, builds biblical worldview, and forms character — becomes much harder.

• Spiritual maturity and sound doctrine rarely come from memes, 15-second clips, or quick takes. They come from deep digging of the Scriptures, of theology, of honest heart-searching.
• Training disciples, encouraging perseverance, forming moral fiber — these demand sustained attention, contemplation, and follow-through.
• But if a child’s brain — or heart — has been rewired to expect instant gratification and constant novelty, then the slow, sometimes uncomfortable process of transformation may be met with restlessness, distraction, or resignation.

Paul reminds us:

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2).

Transformation takes time, focus, and attention. And we must help our children reclaim those skills.

How We Can Strengthen Young Minds:

Limit and Structure Screen Time

When I say don’t let screens babysit your children, I am not talking about an occasional break. I’m talking to parents who allow their kids access to screens for multiple hours every day. Research consistently links excessive media use to reduced attention capacity (EurekAlert, 2025). Screens are not evil, but they must be controlled. Build in tech-free hours for reading, chores, conversation, and outdoor play.

Teach in Short, Varied Segments

Because many young people struggle to sit still for long periods, break lessons into 10–15 minute blocks with discussion or activity in between. Short segments stack into deeper learning over time.

Encourage Deep Reading and Reflection

Long-form reading—Scripture especially—stretches attention and strengthens the mental “muscles” required for spiritual growth. Slowly walking through a psalm or a parable trains a mind that has become used to rapid-fire content.

Model Focus Yourself

Stop and ask yourself what your children see you doing as parents. Are you constantly glued to a screen? Children imitate what they see. When they observe adults reading, praying, studying, and engaging without distractions, they learn that real maturity is not instant—it’s intentional.

Use Technology as a Tool, Not a Teacher

A video can capture attention, but real learning happens in conversation, in Scripture, in honest application. Use media to open the door, then move their hearts to something deeper.

A Word of Encouragement:

If you’re a weary parent or Bible class teacher, don’t give up. God has entrusted you with shaping minds and hearts—work that takes patience in an impatient world.

Even small, consistent efforts matter—a nightly prayer, a chapter read together, a real conversation without phones buzzing. These moments accumulate into spiritual maturity.

Attention spans may be shrinking, but God can still enlarge hearts. And He can use you—faithfully, steadily—to guide a distracted generation back to truth that lasts longer than eight seconds.