TinyStepper

Sitting and Listening Game

At a glance: Practise sitting still and listening for increasing periods — building the attention stamina your toddler needs for nursery. A 7-minute, low-energy indoor activity for ages 2y–3y. No prep needed.

Built by a parent of toddlersBest for 2y-3y

Field-tested ideas shaped by direct parenting experience and advice from reputable sources, including NHS Best Start in Life and NSPCC child development research.

2y–3y7 minslow energyindoornone messNo prep

Start with just 30 seconds. Sit opposite your toddler and say: 'Let's play the listening game — I'm going to tell you something, and you sit still and listen.' Tell a very short, engaging anecdote (what you saw on the way home, what the cat did this morning). Then swap — they tell you something while you model perfect listening. Gradually extend the duration over days and weeks. Nursery requires sustained listening during stories, instructions, and group activities, and this is a genuinely difficult skill for toddlers who are used to moving freely at home.

Best for this moment

for calmer, lower-pressure moments, especially when you need an indoor option.

Parent tip

Start before you overthink it. No-prep activities work best when you begin while the moment is still recoverable.

What success looks like

A good outcome is a few minutes of engaged play, some back-and-forth with you, and a small sign of progress in focus and attention.

More help for this situation

Instructions

Get ready
  • Sit facing your toddler at their level — on the floor or at a small table
  • Explain the game: 'I'm going to tell you a tiny story — your job is to sit and listen'
  1. Sit facing your toddler at their level — on the floor or at a small table
  2. Explain the game: 'I'm going to tell you a tiny story — your job is to sit and listen'
  3. Tell a very short anecdote (30 seconds): 'This morning I saw a big red bus and it beeped its horn!'
  4. Ask one question to check they were listening: 'What colour was the bus?'
  5. Celebrate: 'You listened so well! Now it is YOUR turn to tell ME something'
  6. Model exaggerated good listening while they talk: eye contact, nodding, no interrupting
  7. Gradually increase your story length over the coming days — from 30 seconds to 2-3 minutes
  8. Add a gentle challenge: 'Can you remember TWO things from my story today?'

Why it helps

Sustained attention develops gradually between ages two and four, and toddlers typically manage only 3-6 minutes of focused listening at this stage. Practising in short bursts at home builds the neural pathways for attention regulation without the additional social demands of a nursery group setting. The turn-taking element also strengthens conversational skills and the understanding that listening is a two-way process — a core EYFS Communication and Language goal.

Variations

  • Play with sounds instead of stories: close your eyes and identify three sounds you can hear in the room.
  • Use a 'listening walk' — go outside and stand still for one minute, then list everything you heard.
  • Add a physical element: your toddler claps once every time they hear a specific word in your story.

Safety tips

  • Keep it genuinely brief — pushing past your toddler's attention limit creates frustration, not skill.
  • If your toddler fidgets, let them hold a small object — some children listen better when their hands are busy.
  • Choose a distraction-free spot away from toys and screens — visible distractions make the challenge unfairly hard.

When to pause and seek extra support

Stop if your child becomes distressed, unsafe, or consistently frustrated by the activity. If play, behaviour, or development worries keep showing up across settings, check in with a qualified professional.

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