Is attention span something you can work on with your LO?
I am trying to sit down with DD1 each day to do crafts, colour, playdoh, etc and it lasts about 2 mins and shes gone doing something else. I know she is a typical busy 28 month old but is trying to teach her to focus something that should be taught? Will it just get easier as she gets older?
papaya / 10343 posts
I don't *know* at all because I'm not there yet. But what I believe based on reading and will try (and you can laugh at me now I'm sure) with my own LO is to pay attention to the sort of stimulation she gets. Limiting screen time, being sure the screen time she does get is somewhat calm and not frenetic, and limiting crazy loud blinking toys. I've just read that so many connections are made in our LOs brains so early and when they are used to a really high level of stimulation from TV and electronic toys it makes it harder for them to be satisfied and focus on slower/more thoughtful play. Of course when my kid is 2 and I just need 20 minutes of quiet so I don't lose my mind I'm sure I'll be turning on Daniel Tiger with the rest of the moms... 
pear / 1599 posts
Our EI speech therapist thinks it is something you can help your LO with. She also said it will grow as she gets older but it is good to work on now. Right now we just work on it by making sure if she is playing with something (like a puzzle) that she "finishes". If she gets distracted we ask her to come back and help put it together and finish. If she is too distracted we still finish, but maybe we have her babydoll "help" finish. We have just started this so I cant say if it has helped or not.
ETA DD is 22 months
apricot / 456 posts
I think John Medina talked about this in Brain Rules for Baby:
http://www.amazon.com/Brain-Rules-Baby-Updated-Expanded/dp/0983263388
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
What a great question. I would love to explore this in more detail.
blogger / grapefruit / 4836 posts
Montessori has a lot of great ideas for lengthening attention span. Giving kids developmentally appropriate things to do and letting them do them uninterrupted definitely helps, as does keeping their environment clear of clutter and "toy overload". I can tell a huge difference in my lo's attention based solely on his environment. If the house is a mess and there are tons of toys out he jumps quickly from one thing to the next. But if I put him in his room with 2-3 toys and shut his door so he is alone he can play for 30 minutes to an hour. I think it is partially temperament and partially developmental, but I definitely think there are things that can be done to help.
blogger / eggplant / 11551 posts
The difference in attention span between 28 months and 3 years old has been huge for my DD. She was able to sit for upwards of an hour or so playing on her own without needing me around.
pomegranate / 3759 posts
Yeah, I am thinking its just something that comes mostly with development. I will have to try a few of these suggestions to help her. Thanks ladies I sometimes worry about how she will be in school already. But she is freaking smart so she must actually pay attention at some point lol
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