Setting Up the Environment to Help Young Children Focus Longer

Babies and toddlers are well-known to be active and not wanting to sit still for too long. But they should be able to focus on activities progressively longer as they approach their 2nd birthday.

My 18-month old son can sit 10 minutes looking through a basket of "gadgets", 5 minutes looking at a simple book or rolling/bouncing a ball with someone else or himself, and about 15 minutes watching an Elmo (R) video before he starts wondering around. If he is interested in a manipulative toy, he may sit there for quite a while and figure it out, take it apart, then put it back together. But overall, he is "all boy" preferring to run, climb, and just tinker around. I definately have to be careful leaving the room for too long (e.g. like to go to the bathroom), or I'll come back to find him standing on the dining room table! This morning he spilled his Dad's cold cup of coffee all over the floor...thank goodness for the steam vacuum! We didn't know he could reach that high, but apparently he can...so glad, it wasn't a freshly brewed, steaming hot cup of coffee! It's not that I wasn't watching him, but I had only briefly turned around. Man, are toddlers quick!

Toddlers with special needs or developmental delays often have even shorter of an attention span and ability to focus than their peers who are typically developing. Below are some strategies to improve their ability to focus during play time:

1. Declutter the room by putting toys in containers, baskets, and the toy box. Leave out the larger toys and a few of the favorite toys though. My experience is that if there is too much out on the floor or the room is "chaotic", then the child will walk past the toys or be too overwhelmed to know what to pick out. When children don't interact with the toy and aim around aimlessly they may get destructive; at the very least, they are not spending time gaining important developmental skills. Now keep in mind, there are some children who are the opposite, they are too passive, and in that case, leave more toys sitting around, but not messy! If toys aren't out, these children won't going exploring and prefer to just sit there.

2. If the child is visually overwhelmed easily, then have play time in a room with less furniture and "things", such as in a spare bed room.

3. Make sure the child is getting lots of opportunities for gross-motor play, so that he will then focus for toys that require him to sit or stand still such as books, puzzles, train table, block stacking, etc. Indoor gross-motor play ideas include: rocking horse, tunnel, mini-trampoline, pulling wagon full of toys, and bouncing on exercise ball. Outdoor gross-motor play ideas are endless including riding a tricycle, swing, slide, and kicking a ball.

4. Provide toys that aren't too simple but aren't too difficult. Toys that can be played with in more than one may increase the chance that the child will play with it longer. Store "baby" toys out of sight!

5. Get on the floor and play with the child! If the child has limited play skills, then teach him how to play! That way, when you need an extra moment in the kitchen or bathroom, the child will know how to play with himself for a longer amount of time.

Now, go ahead, go play!

Playing with Toys: Stored Away or Setting Out?

Toys, toys, toys! As soon as you enter my home, you know children live here. Although the toys are placed neatly in containers, baskets, toy boxes, and shelves, they are still quite visible. I make sure my two children can reach the toys that are theirs. My 5 year old daughter's Barbies (R) and Polly Pockets (R) stay upstairs in her room because I don't want my 14 month old son to choke on the pieces. His toys are low to the ground or in baskets so that they are in reach.



So often when I go to a client's home, the toys are scattered throughout the home or they are put nicely in dark containers out of the child's reach. Now, there are times both of these situations could help a child. But sometimes, the child needs the opposite of what they have. If a child tends to fleet around from one activity to another seemingly like a tornado, then less toys within reach may be better. Also, help the child to clean up one activity before going to another when possible. I don't think the house has to stay spic-n-span all day, but too much stuff out on tables and the floor can overwhelm some children. On the other hand, a more passive child may need more toys setting out, because if not, he would just not play with the toys or think to request to play with them. This child may also need a little more help learning how to play with a toy. Although a one and two year old's attention span may not last through the evening news (30 minutes), many of them can play with the same toy for at least 5 minutes. Remember that a toddler's attention span is not super long, but consider the quality. When he played with the toy, was he focused on it or did he give up easily when not figuring it out? Did he play with the toy or did he just dump it on the floor? Look at the quality of play, not just the quantity of toys and how long he can sit still. Some kids may sit and play with a toy for 15 minutes but just perseverate on playing with it one way, such as rolling a car back and forth. Did the child also say "beep, beep", crash the cars, or drive the car under the table as if it were a long bridge? When possible, expand how long and the variety of ways a child can play with a toy. One way to help with this is to have a semi-organized play space that is not too over-whelming and not too under-whelming!