Attention has been defined as the ability to actively process specific information in the environment while eliminating other details. This can be quite a difficult task for most children as their immediate surroundings are filled with shapes, colors, objects, sights, sounds that occupy their attention and trigger their senses. With so many stimuli around them, it’s essential that parents identify and assess their child’s attention patterns and give them tools to build their attention span.
Attention span includes several aspects:
- Selective attention: In a classroom, there are so many sources that trigger a child’s curiosity. With selective attention, children are equipped with the ability to filter out all those extra details so they can better learn and absorb new information.
- Sustained Attention: This is vital for children so that they can concentrate on a task for a continuous period while they attend school or complete their homework.
- Shifting attention: At school, children become familiar with several subjects. With this capability, students will be able to easily switch between different tasks and become quick learners.
Divided attention: In a classroom, children must follow several instructions simultaneously. Thanks to this ability to process more than one piece of information at a time, students will be able to stay aware of what is happening around them.
Generally, the following attention spans are considered reasonable:
2 years: 4 to 6 minutes
4 years: 8–12 minutes
6 years: 12–18 minutes
8 years: 16–24 minutes
10 years: 20 to 30 minutes
12 years: 24–36 minutes
14 years: 28–42 minutes
Identifying attention problems is crucial in early childhood as the brain actively forms new neural pathways and connections. The child also develops the ability to listen, learn and concentrate.
Studies have shown that a lack of attention skills can have a negative impact on a child’s educational attainment, social inclusion and general well-being. In one study, children’s attention spans at age 4 were shown to predict their success in math and reading at age 21. Another study further showed that poor attention skills during childhood strongly predicted not having a high school diploma by age 22-23.
There are several levels of attention, and there are several tools that parents can use to better understand their child’s attention skills. TALi – a digital therapy company – provides solutions in India to assess, monitor and improve cognitive function as well as treat cognitive disorders. The company’s TALi app allows parents to assess their children’s attention. It was conceptualized by childhood researchers at one of Australia’s top universities. The app deploys a range of engaging playful activities through which parents can assess their child’s level of attention and compare it to the normal level for that particular age.
After the free assessment, parents can enroll their children in TALi Train, a 5-week program that includes interactive exercises to sharpen a child’s attention skills. This program is the result of 25 years of research in cognitive neuroscience and developmental psychology.
This game-based training reinforces the details of the child’s attention processes. It encourages the child to concentrate on a particular task and improves learning in school. They will be able to focus on learning new skills without giving in to distractions.
Every child’s brain is unique in its own way. With well-timed intervention, parents can empower their toddlers to access strategies that will help them understand the habits of the world around them. They will be able to navigate the different curves of life.
TALi and TRAIN offer parents a detailed, traceable program to keep tabs on their child’s developing attention levels. Discover the benefits of how these tools can improve your child’s attention and start their assessment on the TALi app.
Download the TALi app here and understand your child’s attention levels.
Disclaimer: This article was produced on behalf of TALi by the Times Internet Spotlight Team.
