Dd1 (6) will not stay still to read.

[muddyprints]

I have given up on listening to dd read her school book tonight because I'm out of patience
While reading she was flinging her legs in the air then rolling back and forward then putting her whole hand in her mouth, then stopping to ask a question about a friend, then doing a forward roll then picking at her lip then pulling her hair in all directions then bouncing up and down so the book was shaking everywhere.
I know she cans it still as I have seen her in assembly and the teachers never mention her fidgeting since nursery when she repeatedly fell off her chair. But at home she does handstands while watching tv. She bounces while eating. She jumps while talking.
Do they all have so much energy and don't stop even when doing homework?

[Indith]

dd fidgets, she is 5. Do does ds1, he is 7. dd reads a bit, stops to talk about the story and what she thinks will happen and starts imagining all kinds of things and goes off on a tangent all the while fidgeting and wiggling and hopping and squirming.

She is better if sitting on my knee cuddling on the sofa or in bed.

[Hulababy]

Could she try acting out the story as she reads - so harnessing in her movements a bit, and mking them all relevant to what she is reading?

[ianleeder]

Oh yes, my son fidget constantly when reading at home. He rocks, swing his legs, rolls around the bed etc. Very annoying, I had to tell him sit still a lot ! He doesn't fidget at school. But most kids fidget as I help out at school with the reading and majority of the kids can't sit still so it's all normal

[muddyprints]

She was fully immersed in the story, she was reading doing different voices and giving me opinion on what would happen next so she is concentrating but the wild movements and picking at the edge of the book then picking the headboard then the duvet then putting hair in her mouth just drive me mad.
It's my problem not hers really.

[sixlive]

Trick is to do after school stuff that is physical gym, swimming, anything, then they can sit still and read. Some kids just need to be more physically active than the average school day. I have a DD like yours I have suggested pitting a timetables chart upside down in her room for when she does handstands...

[muddyprints]

She did swimming last lesson of school till 3 then went to football training till 4.45. So she had done quite a lot of exercise and playtime for her is tag not just standing chatting.
She does 3 hours of gymnastics a week too.
She uses all her energy up till she drops in bed and falls asleep.

[MummyPig24]

Dd is almost 4 and she fidgets constantly, always falling over, falling off her chair because she can't sit still. It drives me potty. Ds is 6 and not a fidgeter at all, so I don't really know how to handle it.

[Cherrypie32]

Exact same here as Mummypig. DD 4 cannot sit still for longer than one episode of Peppa. She's constantly balancing/bouncing on the furniture, chatting, falling about. She literally doesn't sit still until she falls asleep. DS 6 is very happy to chill. DD is very sporty and already writes her name etc she's bright and fun. I do wonder how she will get on at school though when a level of concentration will be required for longer periods.

[LegoStillSavesMyLife]

Have you tried a wobbly cushion?

[ChilliQueen]

DS7 fidgets a bit, moves legs a lot, fiddles with willy FAR TOO MUCH. Am sure that's why misses out words or changes them - brain thinking about willy! A constant "can you please sit still and read properly" conversation is had most nights! And "LEAVE YOUR WILLY ALONE" said every night!

[LadyPersephonefernella]

DD is 4 and does sit still for television but not reading (me to her). It is such a shame as DD sat still for long when I read to her at ages 2 & 3. Ill be watching this thread as I understand your frustrations.

[Uptheanty]

It is really difficult to build concentration.

It is quite age appropriate for her to be fiddly, but it's important to try to be patient to help her work on iteasier said than done

Try "spaced learning". Short bursts of reading- say 5 minutes tops, it will help your dd to focus knowing it won't be too long & build up her concentration in the long run.

[ladyquinoa]

Can you read in the morning instead of evening?

[muddyprints]

I wait till dp is here to entertain dd2 so reading is always evenings apart from the weeknd.

[pancakesfortea]

You have my sympathy OP, I remember this stage. We used to do read a sentence, run a lap of the house, read a sentence, run a lap....

The wriggler is 8 now and will read quietly for hours. It does get better!