TinyStepper
Toddler on a cushion gently blowing a pinwheel in a cosy corner

Sitting and Listening Game

Practise sitting still and listening for increasing periods — building the attention stamina your toddler needs for nursery.

Activity details

2y–3y7 minslowbothNo prep

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?'

Parent tip

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

Relaxed child lying on a floor cushion with blanket and pinwheel in a cosy calm corner

What success looks like

A few quiet minutes together without pressure. If your child relaxes even slightly, that’s self-regulation building.

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.

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.

Want to try another?

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