10 Engaging Shared Attention Activities for Kids
December 28, 2024
Explore fun and practical shared attention activities for children, including games, songs, and tips to boost interaction and development.
Did you know that sensory play, including play with sensory dough, can significantly improve children’s social and cognitive skills? A study revealed that children who engage in sensory play activities show a marked increase in their ability to focus and interact with others. In particular, activities that promote shared attention have been shown to enhance developmental progress in children, helping them build vital social connections. Understanding how shared attention activities work and how you can implement them at home is key to supporting your child’s developmental milestones.
What is Shared Attention?
Shared attention, also known as joint focus or joint attention, is the shared focus of two individuals on an object or activity. It involves coordinating attention with another person, typically involving gestures, gaze-following, or verbal cues. Shared attention is fundamental for communication and social interaction.
Importance of Joint Focus in Floortime
In Floortime, fostering joint attention is crucial for several reasons:
- Enhances Communication Skills: By sharing attention, children learn to communicate their needs, understand others, and engage in social interactions.
- Builds Social Connections: Joint focus activities help children understand social cues, leading to stronger relationships with peers and caregivers.
- Promotes Cognitive Development: Shared attention supports cognitive skills, such as understanding cause-and-effect and problem-solving.
By focusing on these aspects, Floortime uses engaging activities to boost shared attention in children, enhancing their overall development and social abilities.
Shared Attention Activities for Children
Building shared attention through engaging activities can be a fun and effective way to connect with children. Here are some activities that promote joint focus, especially aligning with the principles of Floortime.
1. Interactive Story Time
Reading books aloud to children is a classic shared attention activity that supports language development and enhances focus. During story time, children are encouraged to look at the pictures, follow along with the story, and anticipate what might happen next. It's also a great opportunity to ask questions and prompt the child to discuss the images or plot, further fostering shared focus.
How to Make It Fun:
- Use books with interactive elements like flaps or textures.
- Let the child turn the pages or point to pictures.
- Ask questions like, "What do you think will happen next?" or "Can you find the dog in the picture?"
2. Building Together
Building with blocks, LEGO sets, or other construction toys allows children to work alongside others toward a shared goal. This activity promotes turn-taking, cooperation, and sustained focus. It’s also great for problem-solving as children decide together how to build something, share ideas, and troubleshoot.
How to Make It Fun:
- Set a challenge, like building the tallest tower or creating a particular structure.
- Work on a shared project with clear goals, such as constructing a house or vehicle.
- Offer praise for teamwork and creativity, reinforcing positive social interactions.
3. Simon Says
Simon Says is a classic game that enhances listening skills, attention, and cooperation. It’s perfect for engaging children in shared attention because it requires them to focus on both the speaker’s words and the actions. This game also teaches impulse control as children must only follow commands when the phrase “Simon says” is used.
How to Make It Fun:
- Introduce silly actions to make the game more enjoyable, such as “Simon says, hop like a frog!”
- Use props like hats, masks, or toys to add variety to the game.
- Play with multiple children to increase the fun and encourage interaction.
4. Treasure Hunt
A treasure hunt is an exciting way to engage children in shared attention as they work together to find clues and hidden objects. It encourages focus, teamwork, and problem-solving. Whether you’re hunting indoors or outdoors, this activity requires children to share their observations and collaborate on finding the next clue.
How to Make It Fun:
- Create clues that require children to work together to decipher.
- Include challenges like solving riddles or following a map.
- Offer small prizes or rewards for completing the hunt together.
5. Art and Craft Projects
Art and craft activities are fantastic for encouraging shared attention because children often engage with the materials together. Whether it’s painting, drawing, or crafting, this activity helps kids focus on the task at hand and fosters creativity. It also provides plenty of opportunities for verbal interaction, as they can discuss their artwork with each other.
How to Make It Fun:
- Set up a collaborative art station where kids can work on a large mural or shared craft project.
- Encourage children to share their ideas and comment on each other’s work.
- Use different materials, like crayons, paint, glue, and stickers, to keep things interesting.
6. Cooking or Baking Together
Cooking or baking with children encourages shared attention as they focus on the recipe, ingredients, and steps required to make a dish. This activity promotes cooperation, following directions, and engaging in conversation. Children are also more likely to be interested in what they’re eating if they had a hand in making it.
How to Make It Fun:
- Let the child help with simple tasks like stirring, measuring, or decorating.
- Create themed cooking sessions, like making cookies for a holiday or pizza with fun toppings.
- Talk through the steps and encourage the child to ask questions or share thoughts.
7. Matching Games
Matching games, such as memory or card-matching games, are fantastic for developing focus and attention. They also encourage shared focus as players look at the same cards and try to match pairs. These games promote concentration, memory, and turn-taking skills.
How to Make It Fun:
- Play with themed matching cards (e.g., animals, colors, or characters).
- Introduce a timer to see who can make the most matches in a set time.
- Add variations, such as flipping over multiple cards at once or using cards with more complicated images.
8. Interactive Videos or Apps
In the digital age, using interactive videos or apps designed for children can be an engaging way to promote shared attention. These platforms often include activities where kids must answer questions, solve puzzles, or interact with the screen in ways that require focused attention and cooperation with an adult or peer.
How to Make It Fun:
- Choose apps or videos with educational content that require interaction, such as answering questions or choosing actions.
- Engage in discussion about what’s happening in the video and ask questions to encourage verbal responses.
- Rotate activities to keep kids engaged without overstimulating them.
9. Ball Toss or Catch
Physical activities like tossing or catching a ball encourage shared attention by requiring children to focus on the ball, each other’s movements, and the timing of their actions. This activity helps with coordination, motor skills, and teamwork while also building social bonds.
How to Make It Fun:
- Use a large, soft ball that’s easy for young children to handle.
- Try different variations, like passing the ball back and forth or playing a simple game of catch.
- Introduce challenges, like catching the ball after a bounce or tossing it to a specific spot.
10. Puppet Play or Role-Playing
Puppet play and role-playing games help children develop shared attention as they engage with the puppets or take on different characters. These activities promote imaginative thinking, communication, and empathy as children work together to create stories and scenarios.
How to Make It Fun:
- Use puppets or toys that represent different characters and create a storyline.
- Encourage children to take turns acting out different roles or create dialogues for their characters.
- Use props or costumes to add excitement and keep children engaged.
Get Expert Support with DIR Floortime Therapy
At WonDIRfulPlay, we specialize in DIR Floortime therapy, a developmentally based approach that focuses on using play to support children with developmental delays. DIR Floortime enhances shared attention by promoting emotional and cognitive growth through meaningful interactions and fun activities.
If you're looking for expert DIR floortime in New Jersey, our team can guide you in using shared attention activities to improve your child’s communication, socialization, and overall development. Connect with us today and discover how DIR Floortime can make a difference in your child's life.
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