What Is the Normal Attention Span of Kids at Various Age Levels?

Attention span of children is the total time that a child applies to any task at hand.



Less attention span will be marked by low concentration and easily distracted mind. Attention span of children increases with age. Normal attention span of a child is 3 to 5 minutes per year of the age.



So, a two year old child should be able to concentrate on a task for at least 6 minutes, kindergarten kids should be able to concentrate for 15 minutes and so on. The duration of watching television is not an accurate measure of attention span.

Attention Span of children is limited; it grows and develops with age if handled properly. Children lose focus and patience easily and this is truer of the male child, whereas girls have longer attention span.



Attention span is determined by the type of programming the brain receives. Attention span of an average child is as long as the age of the child. There is less attention span in younger and toddler kids in comparison to the older children.



The attention span is more while performing tasks which match their abilities and interests.

Kids with poor attention span generally give over attention to irrelevant details of tasks, have overactive imagination that detract them from their main task and have difficulty in remembering verbal directions although their intelligence level might be normal. The kids activities may also have symptoms like restlessness, impulsiveness and they always seem to be in a hurry. They jump from one task to the other in quick succession.



These children are more often than not disruptive, aggressive and are characterized by immaturity. They might also have poor self control, low self esteem and lack of confidence. They find it difficult to express themselves or speak out their problems to parents, teachers or elders.



Parents have to use too many physical punishments to organize them; they repeatedly meet with accidents, can not make friends and are often suspended or expelled from school.

These children can be taught to be more in control of their minds if they start performing Yoga exercises. Attention span can be increased and awareness and concentration levels can be heightened even in preschool kids, if they regularly do Yoga. Their hyperactivity can be diverted into constructive channels and they can learn to be patient and focused with the help of various Yoga forms.