The Power Of Play: Attention Symphony

Have I mentioned how much I love the opportunity to do these posts?  I do.  I love it!  Thanks so much!

When most adults think of play, they think of being out of control.  They picture mass chaos.  Mayhem.  MADNESS!  But truly? Play is the best way to teach a child about paying attention and impulse control.  Sometimes I think we have become a little unrealistic about expecting kids to pay attention for so long.  They are expected to sit and listen for much longer than I ever had to in school.  This is a great activity to do with your family and your kiddos.  It requires 2 or more people plus you.  And you? You get to be the conductor!  This activity requires kids to cue into a visual cue.  They must wait for the cue to act and they must sort out the distractions of others to know when to play and stop.  Adults can play along of course to add more to your symphony.

Attention Symphony

Ages: 5 and up

Goals: Improve attention and impulse control skills

Materials required: colored scraps of paper and “musical instruments” (these can be pots and pans, clapping hands, stomping feet, kazoos, whistles, etc…)

Directions:  You are the conductor of the symphony.  Allow kiddos to choose their “musical instruments”.  (Everyone should have a different one.)  You should have 2 pieces of matching colored paper per person in your symphony.  For example, 2 blues, 2 whites, 2 yellows.  Place one piece of colored paper in front of each person.  The conductor holds all the second papers.  Tell your symphony that they will only play their instrument when you are holding their color in the air.  When you put their color down, they must stop and wait for it to come up again.  As the conductor, hold the colors up to signal playing.  You can hold up as many as you want and put down as many as you want.  Give opportunities for solos.  Test them a bit with fast changes and regrouping.  I usually have a “grand finale” at the end where I hold all the colors up at once and shake vigorously to prompt a loud finish.

Hope you enjoy this one.  Have a playful day!

Best,

Tina

Tina is a full time working mom.  She is a mental heath therapist (LSCSW) and registered play therapist supervisor (RPT-S).  She is married to an incredibly tolerant and patient dude and has “just one” adorable tot.  She laughs too loud, talks too much and usually creates a scene.  She can be found writing on Bull in a China Shop in her spare time.

Tagged as: kids, power of play