Attention Span

We are fortunate to possess a strong attention span when we work, attend lectures, engage in sports, or simply have fun. However, as parents, we often overlook the intricate processes that occur as we guide our children to focus on what is in front of them.

Many times, parents find themselves yelling, shouting, or instructing their children to concentrate on what they or others say, or to remain attentive while studying their subjects. Have we ever questioned why some children struggle to maintain focus or give their full attention to their tasks, particularly during learning moments?

The term "attention" carries a significant meaning; it involves attending to a specific event physically (tactilely), visually, and auditorily (through hearing). For example, young children, especially those around two years old, typically have a fleeting attention span of about two minutes or more. So, how do children manage to maintain their attention span when they start kindergarten? To address this, many schools today have adopted integrated, hands-on approaches that incorporate various activities and games to ignite young children's motivation to remain focused (in our way).