Encourage the preschooler to slow down. While it may be nearly impossible, for example, to force a child to continue playing with a toy she's lost interest in, encourage your child to notice the details in a storybook picture or your backyard. Ask her to point out details using games like "I Spy" to notice colors and shapes.
Practice listening. Many preschoolers are visually distracted. If you're talking to them and they notice something happening on the other side of the room, they may take off without even realizing you're still there. Try reading books to them without showing them the pictures, encouraging them to paint the picture in their mind. Or, play games like "Simon Says" or "Red Rover" that force them to listen to what's going on and act accordingly.
Limit media. Television, computers, and the constant chatter of the radio are major sources of distraction for preschoolers, who are learning at a young age to multitask these days. Constantly flashing and changing images encourage a short attention span, hampering efforts to develop focus. Limit electronic media time to weekends or just an hour a day -- and ensure your preschooler has plenty of "white space," or stimulation-free time.
Practice mind-body integration. Many preschoolers are so distracted they seem hardly aware of what they're doing. It's like their bodies are being jerked about by their minds as new sights and sensations come their way. Simple exercises, like brief times of sitting in a chair without moving, teach self-control. Or, give them cards, one at a time, with a mouth or an ear on them, indicating when it's time for them to talk or listen. The card serves as a mental reminder about physical control.
Model focus. Preschoolers are highly observant, and if you are constantly on and off the phone, checking your email, cooking dinner and talking to your spouse all at the same time, your child is going to pick up habits of overstimulation. When you're talking to your child, focus on him, giving him your full attention. Teach him that when speaking to others, attention and focus are signs of respect.