Attention Training Games

Selective Attention

Visual

1. To set this game up, arrange some cards in an array of three rows by five columns. You will have a rectangular pattern of cards that will serve as distracters for your child when you lay down each card.
2. Before playing, write down the order of the cards so that you know what the correct sequence is.
3. Tell your child to mark the recording sheet every time a red card follows, or comes right after, a black card.
4. Place each card randomly over one of the cards on the 3 x 5-card array. Your child has to remember the color of the last card and just follow the next card placed without regard to the cards in the background.
5. Again, count errors -- subtract from the total marks to get the number correct, which allows you to calculate the percent correct.

Auditory

Pre-record two tapes for this game. A dual-cassette recorder with separate volume controls is ideal. (Use two other tapes with numbers recorded in very soft and normal, louder voices to teach the difference between the two volume levels before starting this game.) It is most important during the game that when both the Main and Distraction tapes are played, the Main tape be noticeable (stand out) against the background Distraction sounds.

1. Record the Distraction Tape. Using the three decks of cards, speak very softly as you name the cards more specifically (for example, "red three," "black king," "red five," "red two," etc.) than you will when you record the Main Tape. Record for one minute.
2. Record the Main Tape in a normal volume of voice, saying only the colors as they come up in the deck (being sure to shuffle the deck prior to this recording so that a different sequence of colors will come up than on the Distraction Tape). For example, the only words on the Main Tape might be: "Red, Black, Red, Red, Black, Red," etc. Record one minute of the Main Tape again at the rate of one card per second.
3. Put both tapes in the dual-cassette recorder to play at the same time (or, use two tape recorders).
4. Play both tapes and direct your child to mark the recording sheet when he hears the word "red" following, or coming right after, the word "black." Also tell him to pay attention to the louder tape.
5. Count the errors as usual and calculate the percent correct over one minute.

Alternating Attention

Visual

Before starting this game, tape three 3 x 5 cards on the table in front of your child, beginning from her left to her right. The first card (#1) should be marked (where you can read it) "R after B," which stands for "Red after Black." The next card (#2) is marked "B after R"; and the third card (#3) is marked "R after B."

1. Shuffle the three decks of cards.
2. Put the cards face up, one per second, for 20 seconds in a pile under Card #1. Tell your child to mark the recording sheet every time he sees a red card following, or coming right after, a black card. Do this for 20 seconds.
3. Then, after a 10- to 15-second break, say that the rule has changed. Now your child should mark the recording sheet every time he sees a black card following, or coming right after, a red card. Place these cards in a pile face up, one per second, for 20 seconds under the card marked #2. Stop after 20 seconds.
4. During the next 10- to 15-second break, say that the rule has changed again. Tell your child to mark the recording sheet every time he sees a red card following, or coming right after, a black card. Place these cards under Card #3 in a pile. Stop after 20 seconds.
5. Check the number of errors written on cards #1, 2, and 3. For each pile, subtract the errors from the total marks to get a total correct and then calculate the percent correct.

Auditory

Shuffle the three decks of cards. Record three rounds of calling out the cards on tape before you begin. Each phase will last 20 seconds. As in the previous game, tape the index cards to the table in front of your child, with Card #1 on his immediate left and marked "R after B"; Card #2 marked "B after R"; and Card #3 marked "R after B."

1. Tell your child to mark the recording sheet every time he hears the word "red" following, or coming right after, the word "black." Round 1 is played for 20 seconds, then stopped.
2. During a 10- to 15-second break, tell your child the rule has changed and now he should mark the recording sheet each time he hears the word "black" right after the word "red." Round 2 is played for 20 seconds, then stopped.
3. During the next 10- to 15-second break, tell your child the rule has changed again and he should now mark the recording sheet each time he hears the word "red" after the word "black." Round 3 is played for 20 seconds, then stopped.
4. Subtract your child's errors from the total marks, then calculate the percent correct.

Divided Attention

Visual and Auditory

Divided attention is when you have to be aware of information from more than one sensory input. For your child, this situation may be one in which she must watch a video, movie, or slides (visual input) and listen to the teacher's comments about what is being shown (auditory input). This game helps your child improve that skill.

1. Pre-record a tape using the randomly shuffled three decks of cards for a one-minute time period. You'll use the same principle (red after black) for the visual and auditory sequences.
2. Give your child a divided page with Visual written on the left and Auditory on the right. Tell your child to mark the left side of the recording sheet when she sees a red card following, or coming right after, a black card and to mark the right side of the recording sheet when she hears the word "red" following, or coming right after, the word "black."
3. At the same time the tape is played, put the cards face up, one per second, in a pile to your child's left with the tape recorder on her right.
4. After one minute, score your child's performance as usual: Count the total number of errors, subtract from the total cards marked, and calculate the percentage correct.