When play becomes predictable, your child can get distracted and eventually lose interest. Dr Richard C. Woolfson suggests 10 ways to better engage his attention.
When play becomes predictable, your child can get distracted and eventually lose interest. Dr Richard C. Woolfson suggests 10 ways to better engage his attention.
Choose age-appropriate and interesting toys Your toddler’s attention span is short. To prolong his interest, it must grab his attention and be suitable for his age.
Wait before offering another one Resist the temptation to charge in with a new item when you see that he’s growing bored. Use the opportunity to teach him persistence. Besides, he might become interested in the toy again.
Give him the occasional challenging toy Your one-year-old prefers familiar ones that he knows well, but one that is sufficiently advanced can help stretch his capabilities.
Teach him to explore When you observe that Junior has lost all interest, sit beside him and show him how to look at it in new ways. For example, turn the object over in his hands and point out to him the parts he hasn’t looked at.
Reduce distraction Ironically, the more sources of stimulation surrounding your toddler, the less likely he is to concentrate on any one in particular for long. This can make him bored.
Stay with him Research shows that a young child remains interested in a toy for longer when one of his parents sits beside him. You don’t need to chat or even play with him. Your presence is enough to help hold his attention.
Keep them accessible Boredom increases when your one-year-old can’t reach his toys, perhaps because they are all piled up in a cupboard. Ensure that they are neatly arranged, organised and easily accessible. That way, he doesn’t need to rely on you – when he’s bored, he reaches for whatever he wants.
Learn what he’s curious about When you notice your tot playing with a toy for longer than usual, try to identify what it is that engages him so much – for instance, maybe he loves dinosaurs or anything to do with trains. This will help you choose other similar products for him.
Let him pick the next one Your child is more likely to play for longer if he chose it himself. It does not necessarily always work out that way – he might have bought it because he liked the packaging – but getting him involved is worth a try.
Arrange different play experiences He will grow weary of every activity eventually, so try to offer him a variety. That allows you to move him to another when you observe that boredom has definitely set in.
Research shows that a young child remains interested in a toy for longer when one of his parents sits beside him.
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