How to Support Listening and Attention

What is attention and listening? 

Attention and listening is being able to listen and focus on specific tasks or sounds.

It can be a tricky skill for all children to learn.

Why are attention and listening important?

Good attention and listening skills help with:

• All areas of learning
• Social skills
• Understanding language
• Following instructions
• Learning to communicate
• Speech sounds

All children will develop attention skills at different speeds but there are things we can do to help.

Some things we can do to help:

• Reduce distractions e.g. turn off the television; have fewer toys out.
• Focus your child’s attention, use their name.
• Show your child what you mean. It’s important that your child experiences success.
• Tell them exactly how to do good listening: e.g. sit still, look at who is talking, think about what is being said.
• Give your child specific praise for what they have done/achieved.
• Give instructions in small steps - one piece of information at a time if needed.
• Emphasise the key words that will help your child to know what to do. e.g. you need your shoes … and bag.
• Give instructions in the order they are to happen, e.g. “Put your shoes away then wash your hands”.
• For older children check if they have understood the question/instruction by encouraging them to repeat back what they think they are expected to do.

                        Ways to Build Good Listening Skills

Good Listening Looks Like...