Preschoolers will improve the ability to focus as they try to remember information. Teachers can choose from a variety of memorization activities. Children can play "Concentration" with alphabet flash cards, matching uppercase and lowercase letters. Teachers spread the cards out face down and the students turn two cards over to see if they make a pair. The children have to remember where the cards are so they can make matches as the game progresses.
Sorting is an activity that improves motor skills as well as the ability to focus. Most preschool classrooms are already supplied with sorting items like alphabet tiles and shapes. Children can also sort blocks or manipulatives like plastic counting blocks. The act of separating squares, rectangles, triangles and circles from a pile of assorted shapes requires preschoolers to concentrate on a specific task.
Listening activities are effective for improving preschoolers' ability to focus. Teachers have children close their eyes while they make a sound like crumpling papers or moving a chair and have the children identify it. Teachers can also hide a ticking timer somewhere in the room and let the children take turns looking for it. Both these activities require children to focus on the sound.
Preschoolers enjoy writing activities. They are just beginning to explore their writing skills using jumbo pencils and crayons. To increase focusing abilities, teachers get children to write in unconventional ways. For example, students use their fingers to write letters or numbers in sand or on a paper plate covered in whipped topping. They will pay attention as their attempts at writing take shape.