What’s Up With These Attention Spans?

We all know getting a two-year-old to stay “on task” is about as easy as getting our moms to hand over our birth certificates and social security cards the moment we turn 18—unnecessarily complicated.

Do all of our moms act like this over our birth certificates?

And that was before the pandemic. Now, studies are showing that it’s even harder to keep kids’ attention, even for shorter periods of time. If we’re being honest with ourselves, classroom chaos has had us all mentally teleporting out of the room at some point. Those short attention spans can lead to some pretty challenging behaviors.

But never fear! If you can master the art of commanding their attention, you can turn classroom chaos into classroom control. Here are a few tips to help you do just that.

1. Know Your Students

Understand this: there is no single approach or strategy that works for 100% of children. The first and most important step in keeping their attention is getting to know each of your students. Learn about their family dynamics, their likes and dislikes, and their strengths and areas for growth. This helps you connect with each child in a meaningful way. Once you’ve built that connection, you’ll start to see what works (and what doesn’t) to get their attention.

No matter what the experts say—or even what you read in this blog—sometimes you just know what works for a particular student. Trust your instincts and build on what you know to be effective for your kids.

2. Build Relationships with Parents

Like teachers (no judgment here), parents are also overwhelmed and overstimulated by this unprecedented attention-span crisis. As professionals, it’s our job to support parents with empathy, information, and resources. A strong parent-teacher partnership is vital to every child’s success. When parents reinforce the methods used at school—and when teachers do the same for home routines—the child is more likely to excel. Teamwork really does make the dream work.

3. Be Realistic

How y'all expect literal toddlers to act

A few months ago, I was giving a seminar at a preschool when a teacher asked me how to better manage her classroom behaviors. She explained that her two-year-olds wouldn’t sit down for table time. Naturally, I asked her how long her table time was. She said, “30 to 45 minutes.”

My immediate response? “GIRL, BE FOR REAL.”

Before implementing strategies to improve attention, revisit the stages of child development and ensure your expectations are developmentally appropriate. If your expectations are unrealistic, you’re setting yourself up for frustration and your students up for failure.

4. Have a Schedule

The key to self-regulation is regularity. Notice how similar those words are? A consistent schedule helps teach kids what to expect. After a week or two, they’ll begin to notice the daily cues. They’ll know breakfast comes after drop-off, table time comes after circle time, and nap happens after lunch.

For anxious kids—like the ones desperate to go outside—these predictable cues reduce stress. They’ll understand that their turn is coming, which helps them focus on the current activity and transition more smoothly to the next one.

5. Plan Ahead

Having a clear lesson plan will make you feel confident and empowered to lead your class. It also ensures that you have everything you need for the day. When materials are prepped and ready, you cut down on those moments of “miscellaneous time” where students lose focus and chaos creeps in.

Pro tip: Incorporate your own hobbies and interests into your lesson plans. When you’re visibly engaged and having fun, your students are more likely to follow your lead. Enthusiasm is contagious!

6. Do Music and Movement First

Sometimes kids can’t focus simply because they’re brimming with energy. They wake up in the morning—or after nap—supercharged and ready for action. That energy often translates into restlessness or lack of focus.

Before starting a structured activity, let them get their wiggles out with some music and movement. A quick dance session, yoga stretch, or silly game can work wonders in preparing them to sit down and focus.

7. Use Attention Grabbers

Attention grabbers are like magic—when used correctly. A good call-and-response (especially if it’s loud, silly, or involves movement) can snap kids out of their daydreams and redirect their focus.

Keep your attention grabbers consistent, like “One, two, buckle my shoe!” for lining up. When kids hear the familiar cue, they’ll know exactly what’s expected of them and can transition more easily to the next activity.

8. Start Small and Build Gradually

Consistency and patience are key. Building attention spans takes time. Progress happens over weeks or even months, not overnight.

Start by encouraging focus in one specific area for a short period of time, then gradually increase that time as developmentally appropriate. For example, a child who initially struggles to focus for 5-10 minutes may, over a few months, sustain attention for 20-30 minutes.

Sure, that may not sound like a huge leap. But those extra minutes can make the difference between just reading a story and adding time for comprehension practice. Small wins are still wins!

9. Listen to the Kids

Kids are far more likely to stay engaged when they’re interested in what they’re doing. Instead of forcing them to learn what we think they should, incorporate the things that already capture their curiosity.

The trick? Go undercover during free play. Get on their level, join their games, and be nosy about their conversations. Once you know what excites them, find ways to weave those interests into the day. When learning feels fun and personal, kids are much more likely to pay attention.

10. Put Your Phone Down

Kids learn by watching us. If we’re glued to our phones every time they vibrate or light up, how can we expect them to stay focused?

When you’re in the classroom, give the kids your full attention. During activities, don’t just supervise them while scrolling—participate. Show them that you’re just as present as you expect them to be.

Adapt or Quit

The post-pandemic classroom isn’t what it used to be—and neither are the kids. They need more engaging, interactive activities to stay focused, and as educators, we have to evolve with them. The same old strategies just don’t cut it anymore.

That doesn’t mean we roll over and accept shorter attention spans or escalating behavior challenges without a fight. But it does mean we need to adapt. We can sit around reminiscing about the good old days when kids could sit through a 5-minute story without squirming, or we can face reality and figure out what works now.

Progress won’t happen overnight, but it doesn’t have to be perfect to make an impact. Small wins build over time, and those wins matter—for you and the kids who rely on you every day.

Tens of thousands of early educators quit each year. If we’re going to stay, let’s stay with intention. Try these tips, share your own ideas, and keep experimenting. One small step at a time, we can turn chaos into connection—and keep classrooms fun!

Don't panic. Things are under control 😎