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Attention is the foundation of learning. Understanding the different types of attention — and the visual skills that support it — can help you better support your child at home and school.
Attention is the brain's ability to focus on relevant information while filtering out distractions. It is not a single skill — it is a collection of related abilities that develop gradually throughout childhood and into adolescence.
Difficulties with attention can affect a child's ability to learn, follow instructions, complete tasks, and participate in social situations — even when they are trying their best.
The ability to maintain focus on a task over a period of time. This is what we typically think of as "concentration".
The ability to focus on one thing while ignoring distractions in the environment — such as listening to the teacher while other children are talking.
The ability to attend to more than one thing at a time — for example, listening and writing simultaneously.
The ability to shift focus between tasks — moving between different activities or subjects during the school day.
The ability to respond to a specific stimulus — such as responding when your name is called.
Visual tracking (also called ocular motor control) is the ability to move the eyes smoothly and accurately to follow a moving object or scan across a line of text. It is a foundational skill for reading, writing, and many everyday tasks.
Children with poor visual tracking may:
Marble runs
Following the marble with the eyes builds smooth tracking skills.
Balloon tapping
Keeping a balloon in the air requires sustained visual tracking of a moving object.
Torch tag
In a darkened room, follow a torch beam on the wall with your eyes.
Mazes
Tracing through mazes with the eyes before using a pencil builds tracking accuracy.
Visual tracing is the ability to follow a line or path with the eyes — for example, tracing a line from a word to its definition, or following a path through a maze. It is closely related to visual tracking but involves following a static path rather than a moving object.
Visual tracing is important for:
Dot-to-dot activities
Following numbered dots in sequence builds visual tracing and number recognition.
Maze worksheets
Tracing through mazes with a pencil develops accuracy and sustained visual attention.
Tracing patterns
Tracing over dotted lines or patterns before writing independently.
Colouring within lines
Develops the ability to visually monitor and control movement within a boundary.
Break tasks into smaller steps
Large tasks can feel overwhelming. Breaking them into small, manageable steps helps children stay on track.
Reduce environmental distractions
A quiet, tidy workspace with minimal visual clutter supports sustained attention.
Use timers
Visual timers help children understand how long they need to focus and provide a clear endpoint.
Movement breaks
Short movement breaks between tasks help reset the nervous system and improve focus.
Consistent routines
Predictable routines reduce the cognitive load of transitions and help children stay regulated.
Positive reinforcement
Acknowledging effort and on-task behaviour encourages children to persist.
An occupational therapy assessment can identify whether attention difficulties are related to sensory processing, visual skills, regulation, or other underlying factors — and develop a targeted plan to help.
Get in TouchThe information on this page is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Please consult a qualified occupational therapist for assessment and individualised recommendations.