It is common knowledge that children generally have short attention spans. The attention span of children varies from one individual to the next but any parent would know just how short they can be! I know how frustrating it can be, as a parent, when your kid just can’t seem to sit still or stay in one place for more than a minute – especially if you are trying to get something done.

So what is the best way to deal with this? I thought I’d share some things I have learned based on experience. I am not saying that my way is the best but it does work.

Introduce variety
Every time your child starts whining or wiggling (or when your child shows any signs of boredom), try to introduce a new activity. Children need a wide variety of stimuli and they get bored easily with one kind. They find it monotonous and thus try to find ways to get your attention. I never said it would be easy – looking after your child for one whole day could really wear you out!

Dish out praise…
…but make sure you do not over do it. Explain to your child why he needs to focus on a single activity for a while. If he succeeds without whining, praise him and tell him how good he has been. Be specific and give reasons as to why you are praising him.

How about you, what do you do to help increase your child’s attention span?