how can i get my 6 yr old to concentrate at school as he is getting behind.

Since your post doesn't give out more details, it is more a shot in the dark, but maybe one of them rings a bell with you:

1. Think about nutrition - I'm not going into the whole Jamie Oliver spiel but additives and processed food aren't great. If he has sugar spikes and troughs during the day, the troughs mean that he can't concentrate (and it's beyond his control, he won't be able to 'make' himself sit up and concentrate). Quick-release carbs predominantly have that effect, i.e. processed breakfast cereals, white bread, sugary drinks.

2. Is he getting enough sleep? My godson and goddaughter (twins) both suddenly needed 10 - 11 hours when they started 'proper' school and their mum didn't allow them to sleep that long - they were completely zonked out during the day as a result. When they came to stay with me for a few months (long story), you could really see the difference.

3. Tying in with 2., no stimulants such as coca cola in the evening, no stimulating activities such as computer, TV, etc. at LEAST an hour before bedtime. a) they will have trouble falling asleep and switching off and b) when they do eventually sleep, it is mostly rather disrupted sleep.

4. Finally, find out whether something else is on his mind that takes the focus away from school even when he is physically in the school building. Is there a family situation he finds worrying, has one of his pets died........anything like that can distract him from what he should do. As adults, we can compartmentalise (this is outside work - that is work - I'll deal with it later etc.), kids that age can't do that, or at least not to that extent.

Hi thanks for your comments. I make sure he doesnt have coke or fizzy drinks or lots of sweets. Im very consious about the food and drink i give him as my step son was hyper active. The only time he will sit and concentrate is when he is doing something that he wants to do. Yes he does seem to like the tv and seems to go off into a world of his own. He is very imaginative just hates reading and writing. We walk to and from school most days which is 3 miles for him. So he gets rid of some energy before he gets home. He suddenly has little outbursts of loudness. then he goes quite again. Ive had his hearing checked and all seems fine although im not convinced. He is a very loving little boy and everything has to be just so. For example his favourite colour is green there fore he must always use a green cup, he always has to sit on the same seat, the same seat side in the car and up at the table. I listen to him read as and when i can as i have two other children and help with his spellings. He seems to be very highly strung at times. When he goes to bed at night i have to put him back to bed at least 5 times before he will staythere. He gets up and climbs into bed with his sister and disturbs her. Then he is very tired the next day and not want to go the school. I always keep the same routine for him and the others. We get up then dressed, breakfast, teeth, hair, shoes, and then ten mins of tv or books before we leave for school. I try my best with him as im a qualified nanny myself and i feel bad that sometimes i dont know what to do for the best for him. I dont want him to suffer and fall behind. Thankyou for listening and for your ideas.

well when i was about 6 or 7. Year 1, Year 2.
I indeed found concentrating hard i also hated reading, writting and spelling and my handwritting and reading age were terrible for my age.I to also had my ears and eyes checked god knows how many times and i was fine but my teachers thought there was something wrong.

There could be alot of reasons why your 6 year son doesn't concentrate but there hasn't been much discusion in this topic about learning difficulties (yes they do exist and are not myth)one of the reason i couldn't concentrate well is because i'm dyslexic (a learning difficulty) and wasn't diagnosed till i was 10 so school was pritty bad for me as i could hardly understand anything my teachers tried to teach me so i stoped trying and lost concetration easy as trying and making lots of mistakes usually got me into more trouble than doing nothing.

Some symptions are.
Reluctant to read aloud or read at all.
Dislike of writting and spelling.
Unable to concentrate for long periods of time.
Cannot remember all the alphabet.
Cannot remember home address or phone number.
confuses d's with b's.
spells the same word diffirently in the same paragraph.
You may have to repeat commands as the person can hear you but doesn't take in what you are saying.

(pre-school) difficulty in learning and singing along to nersury rhyms.

If you havn't looked into this than it might be a good idea to do so.
Hope this insight helps you and your son.

hi thanks and yes his father and i think he is dyslexic. He cant concentrate for long periods, he gets his b and d round the wrong way, he forgets words very easily, hates spelling tests and books full stop. He never listens to me. He has no sense of danger or fear and therefore will run across the road without stopping to think or look!! His dad and half brother are both dyslexic too. How do i go about getting help for him? Would my GP help?

i wouldn't be suprised if your son is dyslexic my dad is and it is most likely it was past onto me through him but i never blamed him.
I think it's a matter you must discus with your sons school i couldn't really advise you very well as my parents where the ones that spoke to my school but in secondairy school year 7 i had a learning support tutor that i would go to like 3 times a week in my english and science lessons.
my advice would be to educate yourself on it as much as you can thats what my parents did anyway.