Pedagogical psychologist names the most harmful school supplies for pupils

Which items interfere with learning

Pencil cases with buttons and multiple compartments, pens with toys, sharpeners with extra functions, and erasers shaped like food or characters can seriously distract a child during lessons. This was reported by pedagogical psychologist Shamil Akhmadullin, co-founder of the 'UmnoShkola' project, in an interview with Gazeta.Ru.

Why this matters especially for primary school

According to the expert, a primary school pupil's attention is still developing, so any object on the desk can become a trigger for switching focus. If a pen can be spun, pressed or taken apart, and a pencil case turns into a toy, the child gets an additional reason to drift away from the learning task. 'If a child starts pressing the buttons on their pencil case or playing with a pen while the teacher is explaining, they have to bring their attention back to the task. Such switches may seem like trifles, but many of them can add up over a single lesson,' Akhmadullin explained.

What the specialist recommends

The pedagogue recommends choosing simple and functional supplies for school: the pen should be comfortable to write with, the pencil case should open and close easily, and the notebook should have clear ruling. At the same time, in his view, stationery does not have to be grey and boring: bright covers, a backpack, stickers or keychains can remain a form of self-expression, but it is better to keep a minimum of objects requiring extra attention at the child's workspace. Akhmadullin advises buying stationery together with the child: the adult explains the criteria of convenience and functionality, while the schoolchild chooses the color and design — this way interest in the items is preserved without overloading attention during lessons.