Investigating the Development of Children's Attention Span and Memory

1185 Words3 Pages

Investigating the Development of Children's Attention Span and Memory

The activity I would choose to help develop the children’s attention

span and memory would be a selection of inset and interlocking

puzzles. The puzzles which are used would depend on the children’s

developmental level, a chid with memory and concentration difficulties

I would choose to begin with a four piece interlocking puzzles with

the inset pictures that matches the piece of puzzle and gradually work

towards a larger pieced puzzle. To engage and hold the children’s

attention I would encourage the child to remove the pieces from the

puzzle by asking for a specific piece, when all the pieces are removed

I would then ask the child which piece of puzzle is he/she going to

choose first and if he/she can find where the piece belongs by looking

for the picture which is the same. A child without memory and

concentration difficulties may also require an inset puzzle but

without the inset pictures. To hold the child’s attention I would talk

to the chid about the different shapes and sizes of the puzzle pieces,

on the other hand if the child was doing an interlocking puzzle e.g.

Noah’s Ark I would ask the child questions regarding the puzzle i.e.

what is Mrs Noah holding? Etc. Whereas a child with memory and

concentration difficulties may need assistance by using the picture on

the box as a guide and myself asking if the child can find the piece

of puzzle which is the end of the lions tail or if he/she can find

what Mrs Noah is holding etc.

Whatever the children’s needs maybe whether they have/not difficulties

with concentration and memory or otherwise it is essen...

... middle of paper ...

...o focus and extend their concentration span I would ask

the children if they would like some water in the sand and if they

would like to help pour and mix the water into the sand, I would also

add new objects e.g. cars, sea creatures and shells. I would then use

the opportunity to encourage a child with memory and concentration

difficulties to extend his/her play and encouraging the child to

recall his/her experience on the beach while on holiday. The activity

may also be used to extend a child’s attention span and memory that

has no difficulties with concentration and memory by asking questions

regarding his/her day trip/holiday. If a child is cleaning up a spill

or tidying up during the activity it is important to praise and make

commentary remarks by doing so it may enable the child to complete the

task well.

Open Document