Reader Question: How do I get a little one to sit at an activity and not just stay there for only 2 minutes?
1) Know your child. Use what they like as part of the activity. If your child hates flowers, don’t use flowers. If they love trains, use trains in the new activity even if it doesn’t make much sense.
2) Don’t set rules or tell them how to do it/what to do when they are playing. Set it up and let them explore. Take a quiet step back. Intervene only if there is a safety concern.
3) Rather than asking them to play, start playing yourself. They want to do things that they see we value. If you play, they will join you.
4) Sit close, or work close. Fold washing next to the activity, or set it up nearby while finishing work for work.
5) Accept that not everything works for every person. Children have preferences just like adults. Do more of what they like, with a few activities that might challenge their preferences thrown in.
6) They may not be ready. Children develop at different rates. Be patient and continue to give plenty of opportunities to play.
7) Use the same activity (like a play tray) a few days in a row. It gives them time to think about it and come back later. Some children take time to warm up to the idea of new activities.
8) Concentration takes a long time to develop with little ones. Keep trying and over time concentration should improve. I find reading books they love helps to extend concentration, as they tend to be willing to sit and listen for longer periods of time.
9) Ask a friend or sibling to play too. Making it social can be fantastic for some children. Often children learn from each other.
10) Relax. Well done you for trying!!!!
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