If you want to focus children's attention, you first have to capture their interest.Attention Games is filled with interesting and child-tested activities that can help children of all ages become better at focusing and paying attention. By sharing the upbeat, joyful activities inAttention Games, you can enhance your child's intelligence, boost his confidence, increase his ability to concentrate on one thing for long periods, and show that you care. Developed by Barbara Sherparent, teacher, play therapy specialist and pediatric occupational therapistthese activities are specially designed to encourage kids to expand their powers of attention in ways that will help them throughout their lives.

BARBARA SHER, M.A., O.T.R., conducts workshops for parents, teachers, therapists, and children around the world. She is the author ofSmart Play: 101 Fun, Easy Games that Enhance Intelligence (Wiley),Self-esteem Games: 300 Fun Activities That Make Children Feel Good about Themselves (Wiley), andSpirit Games: 300 Fun Activities That Bring Children Comfort and Joy (Wiley).

Introduction 1

How to Contact the Author 5

Part One Games for Infants 7

Follow My Face 9

Stick Out Your Tongue 11

The Glory of Hands 13

Sock on a Bottle 14

Perfect Rattles 15

First Exercises 17

Visually Amused 21

A Light Touch 22

Can You Hear What I Hear? 24

A Very Merry Unbirthday 26

Pokey Pudding Hole 27

Dangling Toys 28

Bat the Ball 31

High Chair Fling 32

Ice Cube on a Tray 34

If It Doesnt HurtIts a Toy 35

A Spotlight in the Dark 37

Whats out There? 39

Whered It Go? 41

Part Two Games for 1- to 3-Year-Olds 45

Bracelet of Leaves 47

The Enchantment of Water 48

Follow the Floating Feather 49

The Knocking Game 50

Ping-Pong Balls and Coffee Cans 51

Surprise Me 53

The Feely Game 54

What Is That Sound? 55

From Beginning to End 57

Being a Radio 59

Catch a Falling Scarf 60

Instant Picture 61

Youve Got Mail 62

Kaleidoscope 63

Magnet Hunt 64

Put a Lid on It 66

OohSmell This! 67

Whats in the Sock? 69

Part Three Games for 3- to 6-Year-Olds 71

My Story Is the Best Story 73

Another Viewpoint 74

Art de Deux 76

Batting Practice 77

The Happening Book 78

Lessons from the Rocks 80

Mismatched Tea Party 81

Plenty Peanut Hunt 84

Regroup Time 85

Shadow Games 87

Deck of Cards 88

Hand on Top 89

How Many? 90

Indoor Picture Hunt 91

Mexican Yo-Yo 92

Mini-Montessori 94

Going on a Monster Hunt 97

Paint the World 99

The Perfect Gifts 100

Sounds Right 104

Word Matching 105

Part Four Games for 6- to 12-Year-Olds 109

All the Things You Can Think Of 111

Back Writing 112

Belly Counts 113

Expanding Interest 114

Focused Fidgeting 116

Guess How Old 117

How Do You Look? 119

Junk Box Art 120

Name the Sounds 121

Navigator 122

Police Report 123

Ring of String 125

Shelf Paper Story 126

Thinking Box 127

Im the Teacher 129

My Mind Is a TV Screen 130

Paper Plethora 132

Potato Puppets 133

Sensory Matching 135

Tile Painting 137

Backwards Time Management 138

Toe Stepping 140

Toothpick Art 141

Part Five Games for Teens 143

Accentuate the Positive 145

Achy Breaky Heart 146

Annoyed with the Flower Bud 147

Five Good Moments 149

Getting the Priorities 150

My Special Things 152

Im Like That Sometimes 153

Imagine That! 155

Send Joy to Bulgaria 156

Life Is a Movie, and You Are the Star! 158

List Your Options 160

Name the Consequences 162

Postcard Diaries 164

Scriptwriter 165

Self-Portraits 166

Ten Breaths 167

The Home Videographer 169

Waiter, Take My Order 170

Flip-Flop Stamps 172

Word Puzzles 173

Index 175