Comments on: Baby, Interrupted – 7 Ways To Build Your Child’s Focus And Attention Span

By: Melisa

Melisa — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:06:45 +0000

Hello Janet,
I have a 13 month old son and i found your articles very useful and inspirational.
Until he was about 8 months old, i have always tried to entertain my boy. I was even streessed about whether i was keeping him busy and entertaining him enough. When he was about 8 months old, we made a quite big gated play area for him. He was playing happily by himself there. However, since he’s about 11 months old, he only wants to stay there when there is me, his father or another adult play mate is there. Otherwise, he just stands up holding the barrier, crying or shouting to us. I tell him softly thatt he can play by himself etc. but he just doesn’t want to. What do you suggest? Is his age already too old for a gates play area? (ours is 6 x 8 ft.)

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:02:45 +0000

Hello Janet,

Thank you for your blog. I came across it quite by accident in my search for ways to stimulate/develop my 5 month old’s mind. I’ve read almost every book on infant/child development, and of them, I go back to Super Baby and Brain Rules for Baby time and time again. I’d like to get your input on DVD programs like Brillkids (little reader program) and Your Baby Can Read. Many child experts agree that T.V. and education DVDs actually hinder a baby’s progress — and I agree with them — but I am also torn as to whether I am providing enough on a day-to-day basis and fear I may not be maximizing his full potential at this critical stage.

Thanks, Janet, and please keep up the wonderful work you are doing for so many parents!

By: Susan Mayclin Stephenson

Susan Mayclin Stephenson — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:33:10 +0000

This was a great article. For over 40 years I have been helping parents around the world learn to observe and protect their child’s concentration and “flow” and appreciate the resulting peace and happiness. Video clips here give parents ideas of just how valuable this work of the child is: http://www.michaelolaf.net/BirthtoThreeDevelopment.html

By: janet

janet — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 01:46:31 +0000

Cheers!

By: patrick

patrick — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:20:57 +0000

Wonderful Janet, fantastic and that is exactly what we needed. Cheers

By: janet

janet — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 18:46:36 +0000

Hi Patrick! The playfulness is wonderful, but don’t lose the honest interaction. If she’s crying, acknowledge that she’s upset and talk her through what you are doing. If she seems especially upset and uncomfortable, tell her that you will take a little a break and then pick her up and hold her (if it isn’t a mess moment), until she calms down. Often, slowing down and staying present in the experience, inviting your daughter to participate is the key to diaper changes being a far more pleasant, relationship building experience. This is counter-intuitive for most of us.. When our babies seem uncomfortable we want to speed up! But babies want to be included in their life…not have things done to them. Connecting with our children during tasks like diaper changes, also encourages them to be focused and attentive.

Here’s a post all about diaper changes: http://www.janetlansbury.com/2010/05/how-to-love-a-diaper-change/

By: patrick

patrick — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 20:54:05 +0000

Hi Janet, great article. Quick question (hopefully).

We have a 4 month old, she is fantastic. Sometimes she will cry and get upset during specific tasks, such as changing a diaper.

My question is, what is the best way to deal with her crying as usually I have tried to distract her with smiles or faces that make her laugh, or even toys.

Should I be going about this another way and only pull faces, etc, when she is focusing on me?

Thanks, Patrick.

By: mieda

mieda — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 09:21:05 +0000

After I have read your post, i make sure that I don’t interrupt my son when he is playing or doing something on his own. I also told my husband not to interrupt him so that he can focus or pay attention on what he is doing.Hopefully later at school he can pay attention to what he will learn.
Thank you Janet.

By: Angela/OneSmileyMonkey

Angela/OneSmileyMonkey — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 04:51:56 +0000

Just found your site and this article. I absolutely love all the information. We already practice a lot of what you recommend in the article but it is great to see it all in one place. We usually give our son a toy or something else to play with while changing his diaper and after reading this I will avoid it and let him see/concentrate on what we are doing I will definitively share this article on my Facebook page. Thanks for posting!

By: Kiki Foster

Kiki Foster — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:18:03 +0000

Hi,

I have twin girls and one is very attentive and understands to bend, pick up and move an object that hinders her from walking or getting to anything else that she wants at that time, when she is putting shapes in holes or doing puzzles she takes her time, thinks about it and carfully places pieces where hey should, not becoming easily frustrated- life is safer and easier so far this way.
The other one just goes for it and just walks/runs over books, toys, etc. tripping and sliding, when she does a puzzle it takes her a matter of seconds to become frustrated, making a screaming noise, she asks for help immediently without trying and if I don’t give it to her she is likly to chuck the toy else where and walk away. To grab something not within reach she will struggle and trip over things for it. It just seems so much harder and maybe this is because it is in comparison to her sister. I love how rambuctious and clumsy she is, it can be entertaining and cute but I am worried she won’t grow out of it and struggle through life- which some people just do but if I can make it easier I would like to.
Originally I thought my question was “How to increase my daughters attention span” but I guess it is “How do I get my daughter to pay attention?”
I love what you write and agree with so much of it so hopfully you can offer some tips.