Play Is Learning: Easy Ideas by Age (and How Long They Can Focus)

silvia palla
Sep 13
2 min read

One of the biggest mistakes we parents make is expecting kids to sit and “focus” for longer than their brains are ready for.

The truth is, children’s attention spans are short and that’s completely normal.

Facts:

A child’s average attention span is about 2 to 3 minutes per year of age. So, for example, a 2 year old can focus for maybe 4 to 6 minutes, while an 8 year old might give you 15 to 20 minutes before drifting.
The prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain in charge of planning, logic, and self-control) isn’t fully developed until the mid 20's. That means kids are wired for short bursts of learning, not long sessions.
Play breaks actually help the brain process new information. That’s why short and sweet activities work better than forcing a child to “stick with it.”

So, managing expectations is key. When we understand where our child is developmentally, we stop pushing them beyond their capacity and everyone’s day goes smoother.

Now, the “2 to 3 minutes per year of age” is a general guideline for neurotypical kids.

For SEN or neurodivergent children (like ADHD, autism, speech & language needs, sensory processing, etc.), attention spans can be much more variable. Sometimes shorter, sometimes surprisingly longer if it’s something they’re hyper focused on.

What matters is watching your child and meeting them where they’re at, not sticking to a chart. Science just gives us a "starting point".

Play & Learn Ideas by Age

0–2 years (toddlers)

Messy play with water, flour, or rice → sensory development.
Stacking cups or blocks → problem-solving, fine motor skills.
Peekaboo → memory, object permanence.
Singing nursery rhymes → language growth.

3–5 years (preschoolers)

Pretend play → empathy, creativity.
Sorting colours or shapes → early maths.
Simple puzzles → logic, patience.
Outdoor obstacle course → gross motor skills.

6–8 years (early primary)

Board games → turn-taking, strategy.
Cooking together → fractions, science.
Lego building → creativity, engineering basics.
Storytelling or puppet shows → imagination, language.

9+ years (older kids)

Creating their own games → critical thinking.
Journaling or comics → self-expression.
Kitchen science → curiosity, observation.
Sports, music, dance → discipline, persistence.

One last thing: these activities are just guidelines, not rules. Kids don’t all follow the same timeline, and that’s okay. For example, my son is almost 3 and already obsessed with Lego, so of course I’m not going to hold him back until he’s 6. If your child still puts things in their mouth, swap Lego for bigger blocks, same learning, just safer. At the end of the day, play is learning no matter the age, the toy, or the setup.

Follow your child’s lead, adapt, and enjoy watching them grow in their own way.

Thank you for reading!

If you’d like to connect, you can find me on

Instagram @silvia.london89

or drop me an

email at thepracticalparent1@gmail.com

I’d love to hear from you.