ATTENTION GAMES

Being able to stay for a long period of time focused on a single problem is essential to find the solution. Although some people seem to have a more natural disposition for sustained attention, it is a skill that can be developed; and it is convenient to start working on it when we are children. 

From the point of view of cognitive psychology there are three types of attention: Divided, sustained and selective. Each type of care allows us to function in our day to day life; being attentive to what happens in the environment and reacting accordingly according to what is required.

Divided attention: If you have met a person who is capable of performing several tasks simultaneously, then they are someone with a remarkable capacity for divided attention, since they can act correctly and distribute attention resources to each activity.

Sustained attention: It is understood as the time that an individual is able to stay focused on a single simple stimulus, before making a mistake.

Selective attention: We can understand it as the ability to discard other stimuli and remain attentive to only one. Those who can be in an environment full of distractions, but manage to focus on an activity, are a clear example of this type of attention.

As we can see, to a greater or lesser degree we can develop these types of attention and all of them could be considered important. However, we will focus on the activities to work on sustained attention and we will divide them according to certain age groups, since depending on the maturity of the individual, they could be more fun and fulfill their purpose without the child rejecting them.

Preschool

Preschool children can be restless and prefer dynamic and physical games. However, many parents will find that some activities can be so stimulating that they can keep children focused for a long time, without moving. We mention some activities to improve attention in children from 3 to 4 years old:

Memory

From a didactic point of view, memory games are excellent cards to work on attention. Each child shows an affinity for a certain character or animated series. If you can identify attention and memory games based on these types of drawings, they can be an excellent opportunity to invite a child to spend several hours playing while you spend time with them. 

Memory games train visual perception, among other things, since they invite you to pay attention to details to identify differences between the cards of the same character. At the same time, they increase short-term memory and prevent mental long-term memory problems.

On the other hand, a different game mechanic that develops language is to ask the child to describe the scene on each card. In this way, you can also increase your vocabulary.

maze games

Labyrinths for children are an infallible resource, because they develop multiple skills, including the ability to observe. When the child focuses on identifying which destination she should go to and outlines possible solutions, which she will have to discard later, she learns to be patient and persevere. In the same way, the capacity for analysis is developed and the bases for problem solving are established.

Another aspect that makes mazes so attractive is that the bigger the better! In case you can visit a site with a 3D maze that you can go through in the company of your child, do not miss the opportunity. But while that’s going on, if you’re into DIY projects, you could get a small hacksaw, a box cutter, and some cardboard boxes to put together an interesting maze, like the one shown in the movie “Ant Man”. This is a low cost project and could offer a lot of fun.

Find the differences

At some point, almost all of us have come across the classic game of two images that at first glance are the same, but when we analyze them we can identify certain elements that are missing or left over. That is why such images are very good dynamics for children that help them increase sustained attention. In addition, there are so many applications and online games based on these types of games that it will not be difficult for you to find one for your child.

Primary

Because primary-age children have a larger knowledge base, attention exercises focused on them can involve more complex activities and reinforce other subjects such as math, science or language; while practicing sustained attention.

puzzle

We will begin by mentioning puzzles among the activities to work on attention in older children. There is such a variety of them, both in interactive format through applications and in pieces of various materials, that the options are practically endless. Also, no one denies that they are a great way to focus and maintain attention. They allow to develop visual skills and pay attention to details.

A good puzzle game for children of this age can be the Rubik’s cube. They may not be able to fully solve it at first, but it does present children with an interesting challenge and there are many videos for 6 and 7 year olds that can teach them methods of achieving the solution.

math logic games

In this category we can put the games that use numbers as a resource, such as nonograms, sudoku or games like the classic dominoes.

With them, children can develop mental agility, develop strategies so that in team games they achieve a better score and, of course, stay focused for a long time, until the board or the game is finished.

This is just a small sample of some activities to work attention in children, but we live in a time when it is enough to search a little and in any play store or online pages, we can find very valuable resources that will help children to increase your attention span. You can also offer sets of games to assemble, such as Legos from the classic line or Legos Technic, if your child is looking for more challenges.