This resource is part of our new Executive Functioning Skills series. Im a speech-language pathologist who takes travel assignments for work and travels the world for fun! For example, to find todays date, Making it a cancellation task. That is to say, the level of resources that we direct to a given stimulus can fluctuate, being able to carry out tasks practically without paying attention (automatic tasks) and others demanding high attention resources (controlled tasks). Here you have two tasks, stirring and chopping, and each one requires carrying out a pattern of movements and a different cognitive load since chopping an onion requires more attention and caution to avoid cutting ourselves than stirring the soup. You are able to use divided attention successfully because of muscle memory and/or habit. Then, remove the tray and have them write down as many items from the tray as they can remember. Divided attention is the ability to process two or more responses or react to two or more different demands simultaneously. Anyone familiar with a classroom can imagine all of the stimuli which is thrown at a child at any given time: a fly on the window, the first snowflakes of the season falling outside, a flickering fluorescent light, a fellow classmate with a bad cough, a janitor cart passing by in the hallway, a students pencil that drops, a tapping of a shoe, a rumbling belly waiting for lunchthere is a lot going on which challenges selective attention! Create or modify your custom Access Pass subscription to get instant and easy access to handouts, Thanks for sharing ! Get access to thousands of digital and printable activities for adults and kids and much more. E.g. The ability to divide focus between two tasks and complete them simultaneously. Attention Training, Attention Tasks, Alternating Attention Tasks Alternating Attention. Alternating attention is the ability of mental flexibility that allows you to shift your focus of attention and move between tasks having different cognitive requirements. Alternating Attention Task. Divided Attention: What It Is and How to Improve It Our goal is to support the community of healthcare professionals providing cognitive rehabilitation therapy by regularly adding new resources . 5 Alternating Attention Tasks (No Language Required)