Question

When observing a group of children at a daycare center, Emily made the following observations: Five year old children played in one location during independent play time. Three year old children moved between different activities, rather than staying in one location. By analyzing Emily’s observations, what could be a valid conclusion?
a. Five-year-old children have longer attention spans than three-year-old children.
b. Three year old children do not like being in daycare.
c. Five-year-old children are favored over three-year-old children at the daycare center.
d. Three-year-old children are favored over five-year-old children at the daycare center.

Answer 1

By analyzing Emily observation, one could validly conclude that five year old children have longer attention span than three year old children. This has been proven in many studies and it has been established that the attention span of children increase as their age increase.

Answer 2

a. Five-year-old children have longer attention spans than three-year-old children.

The study can suggest that the three-year-old children moving from activity to activity is due to a shorter attention span whereas the five-year-old children can be entertained for a longer period of time.

Attention span development typically increases with the age of the child. Development of children includes their maturity level and ability to take and follow direction as well as keep occupied in an activity. The age of five is often when children begin school and is considered a developmental marker of being able to complete a task when given directions.