ABSTRACT
Attention control, like motor skills and language, follows a developmental sequence. Small babies are attracted to any novel stimulus such as a new sound or pretty lights, but as they develop they are able to hold their attention on tap for activities which attract them for increasingly long periods of time. Sometimes it is difficult to shift anyone's attention if they are really engrossed. Think of a ten-year-old deep into the latest Harry Potter book. As children develop, they gain more control over the focus of their attention and will learn to give attention to what adults ask them to do, rather than only following their own interests. This voluntary control of attention begins to develop from the age of three to four years. Adults may choose to focus their attention on many types of stimulus — visual, tactile, taste, smell — as well as sound. Taken out to a wonderful restaurant, we may choose to focus our attention and sustain it on taste and fail to listen to what our fellow guests are saying. Too long and we may seem very rude!
