Hi everyone,

Hope everyone is ok. I have a question about attention span in toddlers and thought some of you might help me out by sharing their experiences.

I have a 4 year old son who will be going to school this September. I'm worried about his attention span. He seems to be able to concentrate quite well on cartoons and when we read books to him. However, when it comes to playing with toys, esp. on his own and things like colouring in with no adult involvement, he doesn't seem to have any interest at all and doesn't concentrate on any such activities for longer than couple of minutes. I've started teaching him how to write some letters and also his name, he'd write 4-5 letters and then abandon the task altogether. I was just wondering if any of you experience the same or does my child have Attention Deficit? Thanks.

Hi, i dont think you really have much to worry about, all children are different, Why dont you have a word with your health visitor but i,m sure your little boy is ok.

Hi, thanks for your reply. I'm not sure my health visitor has any brains in her head. I really hate the woman. She is very stupid and ignorant. I only ever used to go and see her, so that I could weigh my son when he was a baby. I haven't really bothered much since. So, I don't think she'd be of much help.

Thanks again for taking time to reply.

hi there well my son is 2 in a week or so and he dont like playin on his own either. he wont even go into the garden without someone else. i dont really know if this is normail. but i cannot ask my health visitor as she is so dippy its unreal

quote:

Originally posted by TIGGERKID:
Hi everyone,

Hope everyone is ok. I have a question about attention span in toddlers and thought some of you might help me out by sharing their experiences.

I have a 4 year old son who will be going to school this September. I'm worried about his attention span. He seems to be able to concentrate quite well on cartoons and when we read books to him. However, when it comes to playing with toys, esp. on his own and things like colouring in with no adult involvement, he doesn't seem to have any interest at all and doesn't concentrate on any such activities for longer than couple of minutes. I've started teaching him how to write some letters and also his name, he'd write 4-5 letters and then abandon the task altogether. I was just wondering if any of you experience the same or does my child have Attention Deficit? Thanks.

Maybe once your child starts school, and sits with other children doing the same task, the enthusiasm or interest might just grow naturally.

Id still keep an eye, but wouldnt worry too much.

Certainly not an expert, but three grown up well two and one almost, you have nothing to worry about. If he finds it boring then he will have no interest, just want to move onto something more interesting. With my second oldest I tried to get him involved with drawing and ABC's, Disney and cartoons, but he had this weird interest in all things to do with the weather. I was so worried. When he got to school he got down to sand pits and finger painting and playing with water.
Don't worry. Once he is amongst other children he will join in with them. Probably the only reason his attention is the way it is, is because he doesnt want to know at this particular time. All children are different. Find out what floats his boat, then you will see how much time he will spend doing just what he loves to do.

quote:

Originally posted by TIGGERKID:
Hi everyone,

Hope everyone is ok. I have a question about attention span in toddlers and thought some of you might help me out by sharing their experiences.

I have a 4 year old son who will be going to school this September. I'm worried about his attention span. He seems to be able to concentrate quite well on cartoons and when we read books to him. However, when it comes to playing with toys, esp. on his own and things like colouring in with no adult involvement, he doesn't seem to have any interest at all and doesn't concentrate on any such activities for longer than couple of minutes. I've started teaching him how to write some letters and also his name, he'd write 4-5 letters and then abandon the task altogether. I was just wondering if any of you experience the same or does my child have Attention Deficit? Thanks.

try cutting out cartoons and tv or cutting it down and get him to do other things, seems to work with my toddler.

I wouldn't know if your child has Attention Deficit, but if it helps, my 9 year old daughter was the same. She's just been diagnosed as having ADHD. She'll concentrate for ages on stuff that has excess movement and therefore holds her attention, or stuff that requires input if she's interested, like computers, television, or her gameboy advance game, but can't do stuff like amusing herself a lot. She loves art and craft, because she can use her imagination, but struggles at school with writing things down, and listening in the class, she fidgets a lot-I would maybe chat to his teacher at the start of term, because not only will she value your input about how you find him at home, but if you let her know you think he may have an attention deficit, she will know to keep an eye on him, and see if she can pick up anything? Then if she does, you can take it from there. Most schools are pretty good at spotting anything like that now. Hope that helps.