ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF ATTENTION AND LISTENING AT LEVEL 3

 

Level 3

Identifying one or two named objects:

• Give the child a small number of objects, for example:
• a) Full size objects; a teddy, a doll and a cup
• b) Miniature objects; cow, pig, sheep

 

Ask the child for one or two of the items, for example ‘find the teddy’ or ‘find the cow and the cup’. Begin with objects, until the child is secure with the idea, and then move to miniature objects and simple pictures.

• Play a posting game with shapes, toys or pictures. Ask the child to post one of items into the post box but they must wait until you say ‘go’. Gradually increase the time between the instruction and ‘Go’ by counting silently in your head, for example ‘post the apple….. go’.
• Ask the child to hide a named object while you shut your eyes and then make a big show of looking for it, for example ‘hide the cat’.
• Play shops. Let the child be the shop keeper. Visit the shop and ask for one or two items for example ‘can I have a carrot and banana?’

 

Listening carefully to sounds:

• Set out a range of vehicles and/or animal toys in front of the child. Make one of the noises i.e. ‘moo’ or ‘beep beep’. Encourage the child to find the toy that makes that noise.
• Line up musical instruments such as a drum, triangle and tambourine. Play each one so the child can hear what sound it makes. The child turns round and you make a noise with one. The child has to choose which one you were playing.
• Play musical statues – stand still when the music stops.
• Encourage the child to find a noisy toy which has been hidden. This may include a loudly ticking clock, a musical box or a ticking egg timer.
• In a group, pass an object around a circle to music. When the music stops the child with the object jumps up and says their name.
• Play a marching game- let the child stamp or march around the room to the beat of a drum or to music while keeping in time. Extend this activity- when the music is loud the child needs to stamp, when it is quiet they need to tiptoe.
• Play sound lottos to encourage matching sounds and pictures.
• Go on a sound walk and identify the sounds you can hear inside and outside.
• Play a ‘secret message’ game- the adult whispers a short message into the child’s ear. They then pass it around the group.

 

TOP TIPS:

• Gain the child’s attention by using their name before giving an instruction.
• Let the child choose the activity from a selection- they are more likely to focus when they are interested!
• Keep activities short and end with a reward!