In this episode, we talk about how to increase attention span.
I used to get frustrated, thinking I had to hold the toddler's attention to make progress. But here’s the thing: toddlers aren’t made to sit still. Their attention spans develop gradually, and knowing what to expect can make a world of difference in how we approach (and plan) our therapy sessions.
Between 8 and 15 months, babies can maintain attention to a task for up to 1 minute16-19 months: 2-3 minutes25-36 months: 5-8 minutes3-4 years: 8-10 minutes
Basically: a one year old can attend for one minute, two year old for 2 minutes, by 3 attend for at least 5 minutes and by the time they are 4…10 minutes.
These numbers are based on typical developing toddlers. Meaning no delays, disorders, or other difficulties in their development.
AKA: Not the ones we see in speech therapy for toddlers.
They’re going to need even more flexibility and support to stay engaged.
So, if you're having a hard time keeping littles on your caseload engaged during sessions, take heart, friend! It's normal.
The key is to remember that progress doesn’t always happen in a straight line, and a toddler's ability to attend to tasks increases over time. It may also parallel with other development they experience.
Here’s the encouraging part: while you might not always hold their attention, there are strategies you can use in your sessions to support and develop their focus over time.
Share this podcast with a fellow SLP that could use some encouragement about the little ones on their caseload! You are not alone!
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