Children Attention Span By Age

Ages 2-3

Mental

-attention span 3-4 minutes longer when he enjoys

-short memory

-Actions & objects much easier to understand than words

-Confuse real & imaginary

-Believes all you say

-Able to choose between two possibilities Can follow two different directions

Emotional

-Extremely curious

-Ritualistic: needs order in daily routines Repetition

-Doesn’t understand teasing

-Meets frustration with crying, kicking, biting

-Meets correction with temper outbursts

Social

-Completely self-centered

-Willing to conform

-With guidance, recognizes others’ rights and waits briefly for own turn

-Imitates parents in worship

-Attitudes toward others, authority, parents, & God is formed in these years

-Wants to help & please

-Nervous system sensitive to over-stimulation by noise and confusion

Ages 4-5

Mental

-Have attention span of between 5-10 minutes

-Reasoning is based on appearance, observation powers not accurate

-No understanding of cause and effect

-Unable to consider the motivation behind action

-Fantasy is at its height Has a great imagination

Emotional

-Learns to develop attitudes concerning right and wrong

-Tries to sort out real from what is pretend

-Aware of what people think and say about him Fears people laughing at him

-Enjoys obedience and thrives on praise

Social

-Imitates adults

-Leadership is beginning to show and tends to be bossy

-Can learn to share with one or two others

-Learning to understand fairness

Ages 6-8

Mental

-Have attention span of 15-20 minutes

-Are concrete and literal minded

-Have little realization of chronological sequence

Emotional

-Tells you exactly how he feels: sick, happy, or miserable

-Thrives on praise and acceptance

-He exercises his feelings rather than self-control

-Self-confidence in his ability to know what and how things are done

Social

-Are concerned about group acceptance

-Likes to assert himself. Wants to be first, best, biggest and to win

-Can begin to give of self. Starts to demonstrate generosity and kindness

-Protective attitude toward younger children

Ages 9-12

Mental

-Have attention span of 30-45 minutes

-Likes to be challenged

-Can learn abstract concepts like sin

Emotional

-Growing understanding of principles behind rules

-Self-righteously & rigidly applies his code of rules

-Sensitive to his own failures and shortcomings

-Able to see own actions & motives objectively

-Able to analyze failures & makes plans to act change

Social

-They want to join, to become affiliated with the beliefs and values of the important adults in their lives

-Can begin to sacrifice self-interest for others

-Can learn not to compare himself with others