Activities to improve children’s focus and attention

Concentration and attention are abilities that develop over time – they don’t appear overnight. The good news is you don’t need anything complicated: with little games, routines or shared moments, you can support your child as they learn to listen, wait and stay with a task naturally and without pressure.

In this article, you’ll find simple ideas you can adapt to their age and pace so that focusing becomes easier and more enjoyable every day.

Why is it sometimes hard for them to concentrate?

There are many reasons a child may seem distracted or lacking attention. Sometimes it’s simply age – a four-year-old’s capacity to concentrate isn’t the same as an eight-year-old’s. At those ages they’re still discovering the world, their surroundings change quickly, and their brain is still learning to filter what matters from what doesn’t. At other times the environment plays a role – too many stimuli, screens, noise, tiredness, hunger or even how they feel emotionally. For this reason, rather than forcing attention, the key is to create conditions that make it easier. Stand by their side patiently, understand where they’re at, and look for activities that feel engaging and effective.

Activities to improve children’s concentration and attention

Board and memory games

Matching pairs, recalling sequences or repeating a series of objects are very effective ways to train attention. You can invent simple games with cards, drawings or everyday items. For example, place five objects on a tray, let them observe for a few seconds and then hide them. Which ones do they remember? Was anything missing? These games are quick, fun and effective.

Board games can also help – they require turn-taking, listening to rules, watching what others do and making decisions. They’re a great way to spend family time as well. Some ideas by age:

• From 3 to 5: Memory, dominoes, Simon Says, colour or shape games.
• From 6 to 8: Uno, Dobble, simple card games, Lynx.
• From 8 on: chess, Ludo, Cluedo, strategy games or adapted escape-room games.

Choose games that motivate them and aren’t too long at first. The aim is to enjoy while practising waiting, paying attention and staying present.

Calm colouring

Drawing, colouring or doing mandalas doesn’t just boost creativity – it supports sustained attention. Encourage them to draw without rushing, notice details, mix colours and experiment.

You can suggest simple challenges such as copying a drawing, filling a shape with a single colour without going over the lines, or following a pattern, but keep it relaxing, not as another school task.

Shared reading

Reading with your child is one of the best ways to work on attention naturally. Pause, use different voices for characters, comment on what’s happening or imagine what might come next. This turns reading into an interactive moment and helps keep focus.

Even short tales or picture-heavy books can go a long way if you leave room to imagine and reflect.

Listening games

Attention isn’t only visual – training the ear helps a lot. Try games such as:

• Imitating animal sounds and guessing which one it is.
• Listening to a series of words and recalling the order.
• Closing eyes to guess which object is making a sound.
• Following chained instructions, e.g., touch your head, then jump, then turn around.

These are simple, but very effective games to improve active listening.

Puzzles, building and mazes

Anything that involves observing, planning and solving step by step helps train attention. Jigsaw puzzles, building blocks like Lego or paper mazes are ideal and, if you do them together, even better, as you can encourage them, guide them if they get frustrated and celebrate achievements.

Yoga or breathing exercises

Even if it seems your child won’t stay still for half a minute, children’s yoga works. There are poses for all ages – many with animal names – that help connect with the body and lower stress and anxiety.

You can also use playful breathing: inflate the tummy like a balloon, blow out an imaginary candle, or make sounds when exhaling. This teaches them to pause, feel their body and regulate their emotions.

Beyond the activities, your attitude is key to helping your child concentrate better. Avoid labels like “very scatterbrained” and focus on what they’re achieving. Take breaks when you notice they drift off, value effort over results, talk with them and observe what helps most.

Creating an environment where they can explore, play and make mistakes without fear is the best base for concentration to grow little by little. Not all children have the same attention span or progress at the same pace – the important thing is to support without excessive demands, understanding that this skill takes time and practice, and taking into account that, with your support, your child can learn to improve attention and concentration effectively.