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
Which age fits
- Preschool (ages 3 to 4)For the youngest kids, moving works better than sitting still. Red Light, Green Light already works at preschool age, and Tap the Color and Wavy Line Trace follow soon. Short rounds are plenty, and you play every activity together.
- Kindergarten (age 5)Now numbers and rules come into play. Roll and Circle combines counting with careful searching, and in Simon Says everything depends on one particular phrase. Many kids this age also love giving the instructions themselves.
- Elementary school (ages 6 to 10)School-age kids can handle longer tasks at the table, for example Dot Rules with several marks at once. The activities work well as a short start before homework. Older kids like explaining the rules to younger siblings.
The exercises
- 1Tap the ColorYou call a color, your child taps it with the matching hand.
- 2Roll and CircleRoll the die, then find and circle exactly that many dots.
- 11Wavy Line TraceFull instructions in the printable packYour child slowly traces a colored wavy line with one finger.
- 12Dot RulesFull instructions in the printable packEvery color gets its own mark. Work through the whole sheet.
- 22Simon SaysFull instructions in the printable packOnly join in when the sentence starts with “Simon says”.
- 23Red Light, Green LightFull instructions in the printable packMove on green, freeze like a statue on red.
Which activity when
| Situation | Matching activities |
|---|---|
| Before homework, to settle in at the table | Wavy Line Trace, Tap the Color |
| After school, when energy needs to come out first | Red Light, Green Light, Simon Says |
| For kids who love counting and searching | Roll and Circle, Dot Rules |
| In the waiting room or on the go, no materials | Simon Says |
| With siblings or in a group | Red Light, Green Light, Simon Says |
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.
What if my child doesn't feel like it?
Then skip the activity. A game that is forced isn't a game anymore. It often helps to let your child pick the activity or call out the rules for once.
Which activities work without printing?
Simon Says and Red Light, Green Light need no materials at all. For the other activities you need a template on letter or A4 paper, ideally printed in color.
Further reading
- Kindergarten readiness activities: 10 playful ideas
- ADHD homework tips: structure instead of a daily battle
- Impulse control games for kids you can play at home
- Attention span by age: how long can a child focus?
- Focus activities before homework: a 5-minute routine
- Routines for kids: simple steps with one picture each
- Screen time recommendations by age, and what matters more
- How to help a child focus: what you can do today