Toddler has ants in his pants!

[Chocness]

Not literally of course but just won't sit still.

Lovely DS is 22 months old, he's always been very inquisitive which is great however, it's starting to get on my goat a bit esp at our weekly lessons that we attend. We go to a music lesson each week and a football class. At the music lesson we sit around for much of the lesson playing instruments etc. at the football lesson there is lots of running around which I thought would be right up his street as he loves to walk and run. At both classes he will not listen to instructions from me or the leader and will not sit down at the required times at either class. I spend most of the time trying to catch up with him, giving him repeat instructions to x, y and z or giving him some time away from whatever we are doing to calm him down (and me if I'm honest as I get a bit frustrated at repeating things so much). I've considered giving up the classes but I think they are good for his social development amongst other things plus I really enjoy them as it's the only chance during the day I get to speak to adults. I'd appreciate any advice on how to manage these situations. A part of me thinks I shouldn't get frustrated about him wandering around and just leave him to it whilst all the other children are listening to the teacher/coach but there's another part of me that thinks I should still be trying to get him to follow instructions and be involved with the rest of the group otherwise he is going to get a big shock when he starts preschool etc... Thanks in advance for the benefit of your experience.

[juneau]

He's not even 2 yet! Lots of DC struggle to sit on the mat even when they start school at 4 or 5 years old, let alone 22 months. Please just let him be. Sit and enjoy yourself, encourage him to participate, but don't stress. And if the leaders of these classes get irritated by his wandering then find some other classes where it doesn't matter as much. Seriously, he's entirely normal. He's little and small DC often have minimal focus or attention.

[RTKangaMummy]

I totally agree with Juneau

He is still tiny

[Chocness]

Thankyou Juneau, just needed the hand of experience here as first child and still feel I have no idea what the hell im doing some days!! Makes it even harder when all the other lo in the classes are doing what their mothers ask them. Thanks again

[Jackiebrambles]

You have a very normal boy!!

No way my ds would have sat happily at a music class until he was at least 3.5. We didn't do those sort of classes basically!!

So don't worry at all. He'll get there.

[Chocness]

Thanks RTKangaMummy. The funny thing is that he the size of a 3 year old in height!!! I need to remember he is still v small and just go with the flow on this one.

[Jackiebrambles]

I also found that the girls in those classes were quite often happy to sit and play the instruments whilst my son was running for the bloody door.

I have since had a girl and she is so different.

awaits flaming

[Chocness]

Jackie, our sons are very similar!!! (Likewise on the music class front!) Thankyou

[mscongeniality]

My DS is 21 months and he is exactly like that! There's no way I could take him to an organized class. He goes to nursery 1 day a week and sometimes to soft play. He won't sit anywhere at all unless he wants to!

[Sabsy1]

My little one is 20 months old and exactly the same as yours and I often felt exactly like you, as it seemed like all other kids could take an instruction while my ds couldn't and I felt so frustrated!
I then realised that, that sort of classes just don't work for us! Take your little one to the classes where he is welcome to move around and explore! We do a mini gym class, messy class, toddler sense, talking tots class and swimming lessons. All class leaders are happy for him to move around and explore. Whenever I do a taster class and it looks too formal and structured (how ridiculous is that for a toddler age???) I don't bother anymore.
My ds started walking at 8 months and he is super fast and running, climbing, jumping all the time... it's impossible to expect from him to sit still for 45 minutes!
I felt very judged in certain classes and felt like I was a bad mum, but now I realise that a lot of toddlers are super active and that there's nothing wrong with my ds.
My advice would be to definitely carry on with classes, but find ones which are informal and not so strict!