Getting a toddler to pay attention to what you’re saying can be frustrating. And if you expect them to follow directions, forget about it.

The thing is, you get it. You know that whether they’re 18-months or 3-years old, toddlers are easily distracted. It’s developmentally appropriate for them to have short attention spans and immature communication skills. You also know that these youngsters are exploring their independence. What mommy has to say can wait, right?

Well, not necessarily. It can be easier than you think to capture... and keep... your toddler's attention. Check out the 9 tips below...

1. Keep it simple 

When you speak, they might be hearing the teacher from Charlie Brown, “Wah wah wah wah wah.” Maybe, instead of saying, “Brendan, darling, I’m hoping you’ll help mommy by putting these trains back in the box because we’re going to the store soon and….,” say ”Brendan, please put your trains in the box now.”

2. Be specific

The directive to “clean up the playroom” might overwhelm your child, especially if there’s a floor full of tracks, engines, dolls, and fish shaped crackers. They just don’t know where to start, so they keep on playing. It might make more sense for you to start with something simpler like, “Put all of the tracks in this green box.” Then you can give the next directive.

3. Ride out their emotions

If your toddler is acting out because they’re really angry or tired, they’re definitely not in a good “head space” to listen to you. Be patient and validate their feelings. It works better than criticizing them for crying or not listening. Then you can move on to what you’d like them to do.

4. Meet them at their level

Instead of yelling something from the other room, move to where they are. Crouch down to their level and look them in the eyes. This gets their attention while also letting you know they are ready to listen.

5. Make them part of decision

Even though they’re young, toddlers like to make decisions. With a toddler, though, you can’t ask them an open-ended question like, “What do you want for lunch?” It’s better when they have two options, such as “Would you like grilled cheese or a turkey roll?”

6. Use the word when

Toddlers want what they want and they want it now, and even though you’ve asked them to put their crayons away 10 times, they’re perfectly willing to leave them all over the table if you’ve told them you’re taking them to the park. That’s when you say, “When you pick up your crayons, we’ll go to the park.” Then they know that the park is contingent upon their compliance.

7. “Repeat after me”

Building listening skills involves receiving and giving information—and it takes both focus and practice. When you’ve asked them to do something, have them repeat back what you’ve said by saying, “What does Mommy want you to do?”

8. Give positive feedback

Why not compliment your toddler when they’re doing a great job listening? It’s so easy to point out when they’re not listening, but positive reinforcement can help them make better choices (i.e. listen!) during future interactions.

9. Make listening fun

There are some delightful things you can do to help your toddler develop listening skills:

•  Use a puppet to talk to them about anything. It works on children’s TV shows, right?
• Set up a treasure hunt. They have no choice but to pay attention and follow your directions if they want to find rewards.
• Give your activity a theme song. In addition to being silly, it can help them learn and make connections. It makes cleaning up less boring for you, too.
• Read together. This might be the perfect way to help your child engage and listen while spending quality time with you.
• Play Games. Practice with games that require listening skills, like name that toddler tune or I spy.

Little kids love getting crafty, but their fine motor skills are often not developed enough to manage traditional arts and crafts supplies. By simplifying the tools toddlers and preschoolers use to create their masterpieces, you can ensure a positive art experience with wonderful results. And you can’t get much simpler than the hand- and fingerprint art project ideas below!

Fun with flamingos

Flamingos are a childhood favorite, perhaps because of their comical leg length and bright pink coloring. With some detailing assistance from you, your child can craft his or her own handprint flamingo! Place your child’s hand in a plate or pie tin of pink paint, then press onto your paper at a slight angle, palm to the bottom edge of your sheet. Flip the page and have your little one finger paint yellow legs and blue water. Add a beak and you’ve got a flamingo-scape art project!

Pretty peacock

Speaking of birds, your child’s handprint can also make a pretty peacock! Just press a hand dipped or painted in blue paint flat onto the center of your paper, then use markers to add legs, curly head feathers, a beak, and other colorful details. You may even want to get out the glue and let your child add real feathers, pipe cleaners, sequins, beads, and more to complete this magnificent art project.

Feeling crabby

Did someone wake up on the wrong side of the bed? Turn that frown upside-down! Printing two hands, wrist to wrist, in red paint creates the body of a crab. Once dry, have your child dip a finger in white paint and press to the center of the thumbprints, then add a dot of black marker to create the eyes. Add red pincher claws and it’s done!

Beautiful butterfly

Brighten Grandma’s day with a beautiful butterfly handprint piece! You’ll need to paint the body first – a simple tube with a round head and antennae on top. Then, using a different color for each print, have your child print two handprints on each side, wrists to the butterfly’s body, to create the wings.

Crafty caterpillar

First, paint your child’s palm green and fingers blue (don’t paint the thumb). Next, press three prints in a row, green palms side-by-side, in the center of your page. Flip the paper so the fingers point down and you’ve got your body’s critter. Rinse your little one’s hands and paint the palm only in red. Press the red palm above a green palm on either end to add the head. Finger paint two antennae and thumbprint two white eyes to create your very own version of that junk-food junkie!

Thumbprint dandelion

Create a colorful garden in your kitchen with this multi-colored thumbprint project! You’ll need to draw the stem, center, and extending lines with a marker. Then have your child dip his or her thumb in one color and print at the end of several of the lines you drew. Wipe and dip in another color and repeat until all lines are capped with thumbprints.

Grab some paper and tempera paints and try one of these creative craft ideas today – and be sure to email some pix to us at blog@learningresources.com

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