Attention, 18 Months-3 Years

To do list from the book Bright from the Start, Jill Stamm, Gotham Books

• Frequently bring face down to toddler’s eye level when wanting to capture toddler’s attention.

• Make direct eye contact woth toddler; trying to stimulate and maintain toddler’s eye contact.

• Praice rolling a ball back and forth with toddler to encourage visual tracking eye-hand coordination.

• Point out objects wjile labeling objects and actions throughout the day.

• When introducing new words, enunciate clearly with toddler abel to see adult’s mouth and facial movements.

• Note times of a the day when toddler is awake and alert. use those times for deliberate interactions.

• Change/rotate toys or bright objects periodically for novelty.

• Say cue word “watch”when wantong toddler to observe the adult action. Make sure toddles os focused before beginning the action. Tis starts the “routine”of a cue for attention.

• Ahter gaining toddler’s attention, use a quiet voice or be silent when modeling (demonstrating) a specific action to encourage toddler’s attention to that action.

• After success with one variable (concept), increase to two variables. For example, group all things by color regardless size or shape (such as red, blue, and yellow balls of different sizes or different objects such as trucks, balls, and socks that are grouped by color).

• Use place mat “prop” as a deliberate cue for the toddlers to settle down and focus attention for activity.

• Use objects/people in books to focuse on details (e.g., “What is Ernie holding? Find the blue bird. Where did the driver go first? Next? Last?”)

• Play physical movement games that have child cross the midline (e.g., reaching across to put object in bid on opposite side of body-large gross motor skill play).

• Play finger play/songs that have a sequence to follow with increased complexity as toddler ages.

• Play “I Spy” games with rules.

• Repeate simple rhytmic clapping sequences or use signals to settle child (e.g., “If you can hear me, touch your shoulders; if you can hear me, clap like this”).

• Use touching and/or massage to calm, settle, and refocus toddler.

• Play games like statues, red light/green light at the end of this stage to foster inhibitory control.