Author: Scarlett Choi
Psychological Counsellor
Young children often get easily distracted and show interest in many things around them but have low attention spans, making it difficult for them to focus on one task. As children approach school age, parents worry about their inadequate attention span and how it may affect their learning and progress. In recent years, the issue of children’s attention span has received increasing attention from parents and has become a significant and valued topic.
Factors Influencing Attention Span
- Inherited traits and parental guidance: If parents have low attention spans, it can also impact their children’s level of attention.
- Television, tablets, and constant internet use: Mobile phones or tablets constantly stimulate the brain, and they should not be used as a means to pacify children. Otherwise, when the stimulation stops, children may struggle to adapt.
- Difficult homework and loss of interest: If children fall behind in their studies, they may easily lose confidence and interest, making it even more challenging for them to concentrate. Parental tolerance and encouragement are crucial in such situations.
The Duration of Attention Span
For children aged 0-3, attention spans are very limited. They often explore their surroundings aimlessly. At around 18 months old, their attention span is only about 5 minutes, and by 2-3 years old, it increases to about 8 to 10 minutes. Parents can observe how long their children can concentrate and maintain focus when looking at things. For example, for a 9–10-month-old, being able to maintain a 2–3-minute attention span on a toy is considered good. For children under one year old, activity time should also not be too long. Initially, limit it to 5 minutes to prevent children from feeling excessively bored. As they grow older, the duration of activities can gradually increase. Additionally, engaging in various games and physical activities is essential. It is recommended to have both static and dynamic games to increase neural transmission in the brain and enhance attention span. Particularly for boys, the development of their brains typically lags behind girls by an average of 2 years.
One task at a time
Considering that young children are curious and interested in everything around them, they are prone to becoming easily distracted. To inspire them from their environment and learn to focus on one task at a time, parents should choose one activity or game at a time, such as playing with toy cars, dolls, or reading books. This allows children to have sufficient time for observation and thinking, thus developing their attention span. On the contrary, avoid presenting too many toys at once for children to choose from and refrain from constantly switching between toys. This will only overwhelm children, make it difficult for them to concentrate, and hinder attention span training.
Parental Presence and Interaction
Parents have a profound influence on children. To cultivate their attention span, parents should patiently accompany their children during playtime or activities. Simple interactive games like tossing a ball, building blocks, or folding paper airplanes can be enjoyable and strengthen the parent-child bond. The presence and interaction of parents enhance children’s ability to sustain their attention. Patient guidance and establishing regular parent-child activities each day help cultivate the habit of focusing on and completing tasks effectively, laying the foundation for developing a good attention span.
