Written by Jennifer Cox LCPC
Sustained Attention – That’s the period of time for which someone can maintain focus on a given task. It is a relevant aspect of cognitive and behavioral self-regulation. It stems from the executive function processes of attentional flexibility, working memory, and inhibitory control.
Childhood developmental experts generally say that a reasonable attention span is 2-3 minutes per year of a child’s age. Now, some experts put the upper limit at 5 minutes per year.
Average attention spans work out like this:
- 2 years old: 4 to 6(10) minutes
- 4 years old: 8 to 12 (20) minutes
- 6 years old: 12 to 18(30) minutes
- 8 years old: 16 to 24(40) minutes
- 10 years old: 20 to 30(50) minutes
- 12 years old: 24 to 36(60) minutes
- 14 years old: 28 to 42(70) minutes
- 16 years old: 32 to 48(80) minutes
As parents, looking at the expectations we place on our children is important, to ask ourselves…”Is it something that they can obtain?” Here are some ways to work with our children and help them improve their sustained attention:
-Utilize fidgets: Don’t forget to try auditory fidgets too or even sit with them as they do a task (you would be the fidget)
-Find how to be creative: For example, draw out a story after they have read it or use a chalkboard to work on math
-Use short breaks while working on things: Race/Time them to get things done or dance to music, this can incorporate physical activity that will get their brain activated with dopamine and endorphins
-Review the task/assignment with your child before they begin to identify if they have any questions, this could lessen being frustrated
-Break down tasks/assignments into parts, taking short breaks after each part
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4567490/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3610761/
For more information or help with executive functioning, contact 815-363-0864 or jennifer@echcounseling.com
