Attention

Home > Strong Foundations > Learning and Participation > Perception and Attention > Attention

For children to learn they need to be able to attend to and concentrate on the information being taught.

There are different types of attention needed for the classroom and children need to be able to switch quickly between them depending on the demands of what they are expected to do.

  • Divided attention: enables your child to handle multiple pieces of information at the same time.
  • Immediate attention: enables your child to be attracted to what they need to focus on.
  • Focused attention: enables your child to ignore irrelevant information or stimulation so they can focus on the important aspects of the task.
  • Sustained attention: enables your child to maintain focus long enough to gather the necessary information and complete the task.

5 4

What happens if my child has trouble with attention?

Listen to Dr Chris Chapparo explain attention
Other links

Click the following link to watch a series of short movies about brain function including ‘attention’. Changing Brains

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples of all communities who also work and live on this land.

We are committed to providing a child-safe environment, prioritising the well-being and protection of every child in our care.

Important Message: This information is not intended as medical advice. Do not make changes to treatment or medications without first discussing with your treating clinician.