Attention and Listening
Indigo Childcare Group
1 min read
Jun 3 2025
Attention & Listening 0-2s
At this age, children build the early building blocks of communication, including looking, listening, joint attention, and taking turns. Below are some top tips and activities to encourage these early attention, listening and communication skills.
Top Tips
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Minimise background noise wherever possible, including turning off screens and music to allow children to pay attention to people talking
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Be face to face when interacting and observe, wait and listen to see what the child’s interests are and what they are trying to communicate
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Join in with children’s play and interests – follow their lead
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Use visual information – show objects as you talk, Makaton signs, gestures
Pause to give the child opportunities to show you enjoyment, they want more or want help
People Play
- Peekaboo
- Tickles
- Movement rhymes
- Around the garden
- Row, row your boat
- Ring a rose
- Chasing etc
People Toys
- Bubbles
- Puppets
- Balloons
- Wind-up toys
What’s in the bag
Put different everyday, child-safe objects in a bag and take turns to take out and explore each one. As a child explores each object, name it & chat together.
Turn-taking games / ‘Ready Steady Go’ routines:
- Rolling a Ball or a Car toward each other
- Building a tower
- Ball Run
- Slide
Use fun words like go wee, uh oh, crash!
Shake and Shake and Shake and Stop!
With musical instruments or the sparkly Lycra
Interactive Books
Like touch & feel, lift the flap, books with buttons
Explore sounds
- Treasure baskets with noise-making objects to explore
- Animal noises
- Vehicle noises
- Listen to and copy environmental sounds
Attention & Listening 2-3s
At this age, children are continuing to build the early building blocks of communication, including joint attention, taking turns, listening to instructions and using language. Below are some top tips to encourage these essential attention and listening skills.
Top Tips
-
Minimise background noise wherever possible, including turning off screens and music, to allow children to pay attention to people talking
-
Be face to face when interacting and observe, wait, listen to see what the child’s interests are and what they are trying to communicate
-
Join in with children’s play and interests – follow their lead
-
Use visual information – show objects as you talk, Makaton signs, gestures
Pause to give the child opportunities to join in and take turns. Praise good listening.
Songs & Rhymes
With movement and repetition
- Wheels on the bus
- Wind your bobbin
- Head Shoulders
- Row, row your boat
- Ring a rose
- Sleeping bunnies
People Toys
- Bubbles
- Puppets
- Balloons
- Wind-up toys
What’s in the bag
Put different everyday, child-safe objects in a bag and take turns to take out and chat together – what does it do, describe it
Turn-taking games
- Rolling a Ball or a Car to each other
- Building a tower together
- Ball Run
- Slide
- Emphasise whose turn, praise good waiting and sharing
Shake and Shake and Shake and Stop!
With musical instruments or the sparkly Lycra.
Copy the beat
Use instruments to make a beat for children to copy
Listening Activities
- Hide a noisy toy for children to find
- Listen to a repetitive story, e.g. ‘that’s not my car, puppy, etc and make the Makaton sign or a noise when you hear the target word
- Go on a listening walk
Watch Attention and Listening video
A video with top tips for supporting children’s attention and listening.
