| Stage |
Level of development |
Characteristics |
What it might look like |
1
0-12 months |
Can pay fleeting attention, though highly distractible |
Attention is held by dominant stimulus in the environment |
Turns to sound of door banging, or to mum talking. |
2
12-24 months |
Rigid attention to his/her own choice of activity |
Does not look up when name is called. Will look if touched as called. |
Does not look up when name is called. Will look if touched as called. |
3
2-3 years |
Single channel attention. Can attend to adult’s choice of activity if under adult control. |
Can shift attention from an instruction, then back to the task as long as an adult helps transfer attention. |
Will look up from puzzle if chin is touched, and then back to puzzle when pointed at. |
4
3-4 years |
Single channelled attention: under child’s control. |
Child needs to give full attention, visual and auditory, to instructions, but doesn’t need adult help to do this. |
Can listen and then do something, but only one thing at a time. |
5
4-5 years |
Integrated attention – for short spells. |
Two-channelled attention. Child can take verbal direction without needing to interrupt the task and look up. Ready for class teaching. |
Can listen to instructions whilst looking down at a book. |
6
6 years |
Integrated attention |
Can maintain integrated attention for a longer period of time, as necessary to concentrate adequately in the classroom. |
Will stay at an activity without reminders. |