Topic “Listening and attention”

Developing attention and listening skills through motivating activities

Activity/strategy name and materials required	How to do the activity	Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Sensory Play - Sensory toys and materials for messy play (e.g. trays with sand/ cornflour and water/jelly). - The best toys are those that the child can manipulate easily to produce a result.	1. Guide your child's hands and visual attention to toys/trays of material(s) that they can touch and look at. 2. Let your child explore the toys/materials in the tray and encourage them to investigate all their properties, stimulating all of the child's senses as far as possible (colour, smell, texture). 3. You may need to draw the child's attention back to the activity if the child becomes distracted. Use your voice to regain their attention (e.g. a drawn out "ohhhh!", or an intake of breath).	Do not continue with something the child has lost interest in, but wait a while before introducing another object.
Turn taking games - Ball / dark cloth - Your voice - to sing simple nursery rhymes that have an element of anticipation built in such as "Round and round the haystack, like a little mouse, one step, two step and into his little house".	Login or register to see the instructions for this activity.	This is a fun activity for you and the child to enjoy together. Use plenty of facial expression and your voice to gain and keep the child's attention.

Activity/strategy name and materials required	How to do the activity	Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Cloth and Peek-a-boo Place cloth over Child's face	Place cloth on Child's face, wait and see if he makes any reaction, then pull it off saying 'peek-a-boo'	Child will need time to become familiar with the routine of the activity Use simple words like 'gone' and 'hello'
Cloth and Song 'Where is Child? Where is Child? Here he is! Here he is!' To the tune of 'Frere Jaques'	Login or register to see the instructions for this activity.	Child will need time to become familiar with the routine of the activity

Activity/strategy name and materials required	How to do the activity	Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Feelie bag Interesting small toys in a bag	Sit child and one other child on chairs in a small circle. Make a show of bringing out the 'feelie bag' and shaking it. Put your hand in and take out a toy. Use it briefly and hand to the child next to you. When this child has had a short go say 'Share with a friend' and if necessary help the child hand the toy over to a peer. Say 'Good sharing' as the child hands over the toy. When a toy has been seen by all offer the bag to a child to put their hand in and take out a toy for sharing Keep going round in the circle till all the toys have been seen	Keep up the pace of these activities so that children don't get too tense having to wait their turn Reward 'good waiting' and 'good sharing' with lots of praise - maybe even a sticker. Some children find waiting very hard and will be helped by having something to hold a small sponge, or squashy ball etc. This is handed over for their turn with the toy and given back after they have passed the toy on.
Snack time Small food items e.g. crisps, cut up fruit, biscuits	Login or register to see the instructions for this activity.
Physical games	Login or register to see the instructions for this activity.

Activity/strategy name and materials required	How to do the activity	Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Songs with actions No materials required.	1. Sing songs with simple actions like 'Row row the boat' (with rocking). 2. When the song is very familiar pause after (or during) the song and encourage the child to indicate that they want the song to continue by looking at you, smiling, or pulling on your hands to continue rocking.	Use simple familiar songs with simple physical actions. Pause and allow the child time to indicate they want more. Look for actions, looks or movements which suggest the child is communicating that he wants to continue. If he makes no indication that he wants to continue pull a few times on his hands (to prompt him) and then sing the song again.
Sensory Toys - A selection of vibrating toys, light and sound toys.	Login or register to see the instructions for this activity.	Allow your child time to enjoy the toy before turning it off. After you turn it off pause and look for any communication. If your child makes no communication prompt him by making a sound ( 'ah'?) and turn it back on. Continue for a few turns.

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