How to Build Concentration in Toddlers: 5 Simple Activities to Try

We can support toddlers by providing them with meaningful and purposeful work. Many simple activities can help to build concentration in toddlers. This concentration-building work almost always requires the use of their hand, which supports their mind and helps them gain life expereince through this various work. I have 5 simple Montessori activities you can easily have your toddler do that will use their hands and help to build concentration.

“Movement of the hand is essential. Little children revealed that the development of the mind is stimulated by the movement of the hands. The hand is the instrument of the intelligence. The child needs to manipulate objects and to gain experience by touching and handling. ”

Maria Montessori
The 1946 London Lectures, p. 36

Scooping

Scooping is a practical life skill that we can allow our child to practice in isolation with different materials. To set up a scooping activity, have two small dishes. I like to use plastic ramekins for this, but any small dish will work. Offer a teaspoon or tablespoon measuring scoop for the actual scooping. You can use a variety of different materials and change them out seasonally. Seasonal items may include mini pumpkins, plastic fall shapes like leaves, pumpkins, or acorns, and jingle bells. Other items you could use would be dried beans, dried rice, lentils, or small pasta noodles such as macaroni.

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Pouring

We can support the development of concentration by offering pouring as a practical life activity. Offer this naturally throughout the day as it fits, such as at meal times and pouring in the bath from cup to cup. We can also isolate this activity to other times.

Pouring water is one option but it isn’t the only one. Our child can pour many different things, transferring them from pitcher to pitcher. We love these stainless steel pitchers which are a perfect beginner size and come in a set of two making it perfect for pouring transfer work.

Mediums to Pour

• Water
• Dried beans
• Dried rice
• Pasta noodles
• Jingle bells
• Dried lentils

Chopping

The kitchen provides so many opportunities for concentration and meaningful work! Prepare your kitchen with some child-friendly knives that allow them to get involved in chopping while being safe. Here is the set I recommend which has all great beginner knives that you can use throughout childhood.

I started with chopping soft foods like bananas and cooked meat with a wooden chopper. Then, slowly, we moved into foods like cucumbers and peppers using the wavy chopper.

Peeling

Peeling with a child-safe peeler has been a great practical life activitiy that has supported the development of concentration in our twin toddlers. It requires hand strength, and focus and has a lot of built-in repetition. At 24 months old I still need to support this work, helping apply the right amount of pressure so they can peel the potato or apple.

Threading or Lacing

Threading and lacing activities require the use of both hands and coordination between them which is such great work for our toddlers. Not to mention the finger dexterity required to hold the bead or pasta noodle with one hand and poke the string through the hole. You can easily set up a DIY threading activity with pasta noodles and a string tied to a basket or tray or make your own with some chunky wooden beads.

I also love the threading activity in the Adventurer Play Kit from LovEvery and would recommend this as an introductory threading activity.

I hope you enjoy trying some of these toddler activities that will help support both fine motor development and concentration with your little one. If you are looking for more toddler activities and Montessori inspiration, check out these posts!