Young Parents Team
You spend so much on toys, but your toddler barely touches them.
It’s frustrating to watch him fiddle with a new toy for all of five minutes, before wandering off.
Don’t be annoyed with him. Try these strategies here.
1. Encourage active attention
When your toddler picks up a toy, encourage him to look at it systematically.
Point to those parts of the toy he hasn’t yet explored. You can even turn the object over in his hands for him.
Once he has looked at that section for a few moments, suggest that he looks at another part.
2. Sit with him
Research shows that a young child plays longer with a toy when one of his parents sits beside him. So when he is at play, sit near him and read a book or newspaper.
Smile at him, but avoid chatting to him. This may help him engage in the activity for a longer period.
Related: 10 baby playtime mistakes to avoid
3. Remove distractions
He is less likely to concentrate for long when there are other diversions, like music playing in the background.
Try to ensure that his environment is as distraction-free as possible. If there are too many toys competing for his attention, remove them.
4. Organise his environment
His attention span will benefit from well-organised surroundings, where most things are in their place.
That’s why it helps to keep his room uncluttered, so that his toys, books and games aren’t scattered all over the floor. A structured environment increases his attention span.
6. Be realistic
You would like your one-year-old to sit still for a long time to complete the puzzle, but he can’t. So don’t set yourself up for failure by setting a target that is unattainable.
Related: 8 secrets to toddler discipline
7. Notice when he is attentive
There will be times when your one-year-old’s attention span is longer than you’d expect. This might occur when he plays with a favourite toy.
Try to identify what it is about the situation that stops him from being restless.
8. Gradually extend his attention span
A useful way to achieve this is by giving your toddler a short activity (for instance, playing with blocks), then timing how long he continues with this until his attention wanders (say, one minute).
The next day, encourage him to persist with the activity for a few seconds longer and give him lots of praise when he achieves this.