As your little one grows as a toddler, you become more aware of how important concentration is to them. No longer are they a baby constantly distracted by the world around them, but instead they're often fixated on tasks and activities. But is your child still easily distracted? Do you need to put any strategies in place to help them? What tips are there for building your toddler’s concentration?

Why is it important for my toddler to concentrate?

Concentration is a skill that we all need in our lives. It allows us to properly listen to others, to problem-solve, to not get carried away by our thoughts, to thoroughly enjoy music and art, and much more. As your little one gets older, they will be faced with more and more tasks in their daily lives which need a certain level of concentration to approach.

We need to remember that concentration is not just about being busy, it’s about engaging all the senses in one task. To help your little one build concentration, look and see what they’re interested in and what they’re trying to master. Given time, opportunities, and the proper environment, we can allow them to deepen their concentration and focus.

So, what are the top tips for building concentration?

Here are the 5 best strategies for building concentration and focus in your toddler:

Sometimes we just need to trust our children with the activities they’re doing. A lot of parents end up interrupting their child by naming puzzle pieces, colours, and so on. This interruption can end up breaking their focus. When your little one is starting a new activity, remain silent whilst they’re exploring this new task. Respond and help only when they look to you.

In day-to-day life, watch what they’re repeating. Are they opening and closing drawers and cupboards? Placing things in and out of baskets? Collecting rocks and small things? They are showing you all the things they are interested in. You should allow this behaviour, and make a note. Perhaps you can give them similar opportunities with increasing difficulty. For instance, if they’re placing things in a basket, ask if they can only put red objects in the basket. Encourage this activity.

When it comes to activity time, sometimes less is more. Make sure that only a few activities are available. Activities that are too easy or too difficult can go on the shelf or storage box for another time. This helps your child focus more easily, and prevents them from getting too overwhelmed by choice. This also clearly shows us which activities your little one isn’t interested in anymore.

If your child needs a bit of help, only try to help as much as necessary. Don’t end up doing the whole activity for them. This allows them to concentrate without feeling like they’re weak. They can also focus on repeating that one aspect of the activity without getting too carried away with the rest of the steps needed to complete it. For example, you can help them with turning a key, but then take a step back to see if they can open the box.

Having a designated work or play area can really help focus concentration. When your little one enters that space, they know it’s time to focus. However, if you see your child is already focused on the task on hand on the floor or the shelf, it’s best not to break their concentration and let them continue.

What tips are there for building my toddler’s concentration?

Read all about keeping your toddler focussed before taking Unii's Toddler Health & Development Journey.