Development of voluntary attention in preschool children
The development of children's attention is the development of the organization of the child, beginning at an early age during the first social contact with the people around him. Adapting to this environment, the childforms and develops the social behavior of the individual. During the first months of life, only involuntary attention is present, since it is aroused. Children react only to external factors. The reaction occurs when the stimuli are sharply changed (temperature change, sudden loud sound, etc.)
At the age of five to seven months the child is already considering any subject for a sufficiently long period of time and examines it by touch. This is especially applicable to bright subjects.
In the first-second year of life, the child has an orientation-research activity, which in the future serves as a means of developing voluntary attention.
People who are surrounded by a small man, themselves direct his attention and guide him through certain incentives. In this way, adults endow the child with those tools that later help him to master his attentiveness, which begins to occur during the period of speech development. The kid first manages the attention of other people, and then his own.
At the age of four and a half to five years, children direct their attention under the influence of adult settings. They began to show attention under the influence of self-instruction for six years.
The attention of preschool children is rather unstable. It has a rather emotional character, because children still do not have their own feelings. By means of volitional efforts and exercises, the child independently manages his attention.
The game, acting as the main activity, occupies the main place in the development of attention to preschool children. Game classes develop the intensity of attention, its concentration and stability. Studies of psychologists have shown that the playing time of a six-year-old child is much longer than that of a three-year old. It can reach an hour, and in some cases even more.
Arbitrary attention in children is formed by training them to new activities. The stability of attention begins to increase after a three-year age and is characterized by a relatively high level by the age of six. This is one of the main indicators of "readiness for a bunch".
Development of voluntary attention among schoolchildren
At school age, the distinction between arbitrary and non-existent children's attention becomes more and more perceptible. The development of voluntary attention receives in the process of education and training. Of great importance is the formation of the interests of the child and his teaching to the systematization of labor. The special role is assigned to the school, where the child forms assiduity, the ability to control behavior, and learns to discipline.
Arbitrary attention of students passes through several stages.
In the first classes in children predominantly still nevertheless involuntary attention. They do not know how to fully control their behavior. To the older classes, the entire attention reaches a high level. Children have been engaged in certain activities for a long time, they control their behavior. In addition, due to the expansion of the circle of interests and the accustoming to systematic work, children's voluntary attention continues to develop actively. The volume, concentration and stability of attention increases when the growth rate of mental development of children increases (by 10-12 years).
Periods in the formation of voluntary attention
In the formation of an arbitrary attention, three periods are distinguished:
- The influence of the educator has spread only to the simplest feelings of the child, which include: innate unconsciousness, a sense of fear, selfish strivings, etc.
- Attention is supported by the feelings of secondary education: self-esteem, a sense of duty, competition, etc.
- Attention is maintained by the habit. A person who does not give up education will never grow to the third period. Arbitrary attention of such people is a rare and intermittent phenomenon. It can not become habitual.
What contributes to the development of attention
Development of voluntary child attention is facilitated by:
- clear formulation of tasks and the creation of a clear presentation of the outcome, to which one should strive;
- development of observance;
- upbringing in the child of a responsible attitude towards learning and the quality of the work being done;
- systematic increase in the volume, duration and complexity of the training sessions;
- the difficulty of employment should be commensurate with the child's capabilities;
- education in the child of serious sustainable interests.
The development of arbitrary childish attention is closely connected with the development of the full intellectual and cognitive activity of the child, his motivation and will. Develop these qualities for many years. This requires a lot of effort and patience.
Qualitative and quantitative indicators of attention help to increase special activities and exercises. Best of all they are mastered in the form of a game. It is worthwhile to spend them not only in the specially divorced for that time, but also, for example, while doing household chores or walking. In this case, adults should be interested in the success of the child's achievements, otherwise no result will be achieved. When the required conditions are met, the child has the ability to work more and more often without motivation, his attention becomes familiar, arises immediately and without effort. Together with this the child forms a common ability to keep attention to what is required, that is, develops mindfulness.
What else affects the quality of voluntary attention?
The physiological changes in the child's organism also affect the qualitative characteristics of the attention. In 13-15 years, children quickly become tired and often irritated, which naturally leads to a decrease in the quality of attention. The cause of poor attention may be the deterioration of health, poor diet or lack of sleep.
Favorable impact on the development of the on-line attention is provided by regular sports activities. In addition to the fact that physical exertion strengthens the immune system, it also contributes to the development of the ability to focus.
Attribution properties are amenable to development and this must be done. The main role, of course, belongs to us - adults who are surrounded by children. Well, always remember that every child is different. Each process of development of voluntary attention proceeds in its own way, which requires a strictly individual approach.
Growing healthful and attentive!