Focus activities and games for kids
Kids need focus all day long: for homework, for listening at circle time, for getting dressed while a sibling plays next door. For many children with ADHD this is exactly what is hard. Their thoughts move on before the task is done.
The 6 focus activities in this area practice looking closely, listening to one instruction and briefly braking an impulse. Your child traces lines, looks for dots by a rule or freezes like a statue on “red”. The activities suit children from age 3 and take 3 to 8 minutes.
4 of them come with a printable template, the others need none, so they work on the go or as a short break before homework. Start with an easy round and only make it harder once it goes well.
Children's attention can be strengthened through regular practice, including with simple games without a screen. Whether that carries over to school and everyday life is scientifically open. That is why these activities are practice and time together, not therapy.
Source: Diamond & Lee 2011, Science
The exercises
- 1Zig Zag TracerYour child slowly traces a colored wavy line with one finger.
- 2Color Hand SequenceYou call a color, your child taps it with the matching hand.
- 9Dice Dot SearchRoll the die, then find and circle exactly that many dots.
- 16Dot RulesEvery color gets its own mark. Work through the whole sheet.
- 21Simon SaysOnly join in when the sentence starts with “Simon says”.
- 22Red Light, Green LightMove on green, freeze like a statue on red.
Frequently asked questions
What age are the focus activities for?
The first activities suit children from age 3. Each activity shows its minimum age and has ideas for making it harder for older kids.
How often should we practice?
Short and regular is best. One activity a day is enough, for example before homework. Stop while it is still fun.