ECE 350
Week 2: Fostering Attention Development as a Professional
University of Arizona Global Campus
ECE 350 Cognitive Development of Infants through Adolescents
Fostering Attention Development as a Professional
How Attention Develops
Explain how attention develops and why it is important to child development.
Attention develops as an infant; it is called “stimulus orienting.” This happens when a baby hears
a noise, they will usually turn their head towards the sound. As infant gets older, they focus for
more extended periods, known as sustained attention. Once the child has developed more, they
use the attention called executive function, and it helps the child focus and control impulses.
Attention is important because it helps screen out irrelevant stimulation to focus on the important
information.
Executive Function
Summarize the role of executive function in child development. Ages 3 and up Executive
function has three main areas, which are working memory, flexible thinking, and inhibitory
control. Children may have trouble focusing, paying attention, organizing, planning, starting and
completing tasks, or shifting focus from one task to another. Just because a child has executive
function does not mean that they can’t be as bright as other children in the classroom.
Activity 1
Red light Greenlight.
In this game, children will learn to think first and act second and gain impulse control.
The teacher will call out red light, meaning stop, or green light, meaning go. Children
will need to listen to the direction that has been given.
Week 2: Fostering Attention Development as a Professional
University of Arizona Global Campus
ECE 350 Cognitive Development of Infants through Adolescents
Fostering Attention Development as a Professional
How Attention Develops
Explain how attention develops and why it is important to child development.
Attention develops as an infant; it is called “stimulus orienting.” This happens when a baby hears
a noise, they will usually turn their head towards the sound. As infant gets older, they focus for
more extended periods, known as sustained attention. Once the child has developed more, they
use the attention called executive function, and it helps the child focus and control impulses.
Attention is important because it helps screen out irrelevant stimulation to focus on the important
information.
Executive Function
Summarize the role of executive function in child development. Ages 3 and up Executive
function has three main areas, which are working memory, flexible thinking, and inhibitory
control. Children may have trouble focusing, paying attention, organizing, planning, starting and
completing tasks, or shifting focus from one task to another. Just because a child has executive
function does not mean that they can’t be as bright as other children in the classroom.
Activity 1
Red light Greenlight.
In this game, children will learn to think first and act second and gain impulse control.
The teacher will call out red light, meaning stop, or green light, meaning go. Children
will need to listen to the direction that has been given.
