Attention and Focus

For ages 0 to 2

While changing your child’s nappy, count their toes: "One little toe, two little toes… 10 little toes to walk." Try it with different parts of their body: "One little nose to smell, two little eyes to see…" Watch how they respond and mimic their sounds and faces back to them.

For ages 1 to 3

As you load the clothes in the washing machine, let your child know what you're doing and ask them to help. "I am putting the white clothes in the washing machine so they will be clean. Can you help me find all of the white clothes? What about the dark clothes?"

For ages 2 to 4

During bathtime sing your child's favourite songs. You can make up your own song about what's happening in the bath too. Are they pouring water from a cup, or pretending with a toy? Encourage them to sing their own song and respond to them.

For ages 3 to 5

Challenge your child to move as slowly as possible to get somewhere, like to a nearby tree. How slowly can you both move? Try different ways to move, like by hopping or jumping.

For ages 3 to 5

Sometimes it can be fun to mix things up as you make statements like, "Your banana is blue. I wear shoes on my ears," or "This ice cream is hot." Give your child a chance to correct you and show how much they know before they take a turn mixing things up.

For ages 4 to 5

At the shops? Ask your child to find one orange, two apples, and three bananas (or any items on your list). As they bring them to the trolley, have them count out each item one by one. Take one of the items out and ask them how many are now left.