Capturing Attention in the Age of Screens: Science-Backed Tips for Teachers
Preschool educators know it firsthand: today’s children arrive with shorter attention spans and greater distractibility than ever before. Whether screens are the cause — or simply a reflection of busy family lives — the result is the same: teachers are now competing with fast-paced, high-stimulation media for children’s focus.
But here’s the encouraging truth: children’s brains are remarkably elastic. With intentional strategies, teachers can help build the habits of focus and attention that children need not only for school success, but for lifelong learning. Research in neuroscience and child development offers practical tools to strengthen attention in ways that feel natural in a play-based classroom.
1. Use Short Bursts of Novelty
The brain is wired to notice what’s new. A small surprise — a new prop in dramatic play, a change in routine song, or a “mystery bag” activity — can recapture attention quickly. These small shifts keep curiosity alive without overwhelming children.
2. Embed Movement Into Learning
Movement and attention are deeply linked. Activities that get children standing, clapping, or marching while learning words or numbers help reset the body and refocus the mind. Even quick “movement breaks” between activities can renew energy and attention.
3. Create Multisensory Experiences
Research shows that children remember and sustain focus better when multiple senses are engaged. Pouring sand while retelling a story, tapping rhythms while reciting a rhyme, or using textured materials in art all help anchor children’s attention.
4. Establish Rituals That Train Focus
Predictable routines — like starting circle time with a breathing exercise or ending playtime with a song — give children cues that it’s time to settle down and pay attention. Over time, these rituals become internalized self-regulation tools.
5. Model and Praise Sustained Focus
When a child shows deep engagement—stacking blocks carefully, drawing intently — acknowledge it aloud: “You’ve been concentrating so carefully on that tower!” This validates focus as a valued behavior and encourages others to try it.
Screens may shape the world children are growing up in, but they don’t define children’s capacity for attention. With strategies grounded in brain science and nurtured through playful practice, preschool teachers have the power to help children grow focus, persistence, and curiosity that will serve them for a lifetime.
About the Author
Laureen Reynolds is Highlights Early Learning's Director of Product and a former preschool teacher.