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Original poster

If you have a 3 year old, could you answer a question for ds, please?

38 replies

BertrandRussell · 15/07/2019 14:34

How long roughly would you expect her to stay focussed on an engaging story or a song? Would she join in with actions? And what do you think is the longest time she would enjoy a session with a song, a story, an activity and a bit of free play before, as he put it, anarchy took over?

OP posts:
GroggyLegs · 15/07/2019 14:42

15 minutes? My 3yo is generally fine with a book at bedtime, two if we're talking & lifting flaps. He'll join in the actions/rhyming words at home, but I'm told he rarely joins in at nursery.

But in a new environment with new people he'd probably be all over the place, anywhere but engaging in the activity. And if he's tired, game over.

Did your DS have unrealistic expectations of a quiet storytime with a rapt toddler audience?

Windyone · 15/07/2019 14:45

When my DS was 3 he might not have engaged at all despite my best efforts...

Teddybear45 · 15/07/2019 14:47

Depends on the child. Four DN will engage for as long as the story / song / activity goes on. One DN will engage for a bit then try to do their own thing.

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3 year olds
Original poster
BertrandRussell · 15/07/2019 15:50

“Did your DS have unrealistic expectations of a quiet storytime with a rapt toddler audience? “
Grin it’s the other way round, actually- they are wondering whether to try a bit more structure because a lot of them seem to like it!

OP posts:
Original poster
BertrandRussell · 15/07/2019 19:20

Just bumping this in case anyone has any more data for him.

OP posts:
hidinginthenightgarden · 15/07/2019 19:24

Depends how much she likes it. 15 minutes is average I’d say. If she really likes it then up to 40 minutes. If not you have 3 mins!

Stabbitha · 15/07/2019 19:29

7 minutes 23 seconds is the longest I think.

CBeebies will engage her for longer.

A sand pit for hours

Story. Nah.

3 years and one month old. 2 months prem.

NannaNoodleman · 15/07/2019 19:29

Depends on motivation... bedtime stories can go on for up to an hour if they're in the mood.

Song with actions are usually about 10 minutes maximum.

Some days it's all absolute bedlam though and they're behaviour resembles some baboons I once saw in an African National Park.

Cantsleeppast3am · 15/07/2019 19:30

Nanna my 3 year old behaves like a baboon 90 percent of the time!

Notashandyta · 15/07/2019 19:32

Totally dependant on child! Anything from a minute to an hour

Moonflower12 · 15/07/2019 19:32

I teach 3-4 year olds. Sometimes they are engaged for 10 minutes, sometimes not at all.

I blame the moon /wind/non-uniform day!

MakeLemonade · 15/07/2019 19:35

We do a singing class that is 30 mins, 15 min break and 30 mins. Lots of three year olds and most of them remain engaged with the whole session, my DD is 3.5 and she loves this class and stays engaged throughout.

If it’s not something she’s enjoying though then you’d be lucky to get her attention for 30 seconds.

ParkheadParadise · 15/07/2019 19:36

Depends, at bedtime a story can go on for hours.
Usually it's about 15mins.

Camomila · 15/07/2019 19:37

I guess it depends, a well organised nursery could probably spin it out to an hour/hour and a half with an older pre-school class.

Do story (complete with actions and maybe puppets)
Get DC to stand up/sing related songs/do actions/dance to engage the fidgetters.
Then group time with a worker at each table doing a related activity (20mins max I think)
Then free play

SurfingGiantess · 15/07/2019 19:39

In college I learnt the average attention span of a child is about 2-3 mins per year of age. So therefore 6- 9 mins depending on how interested they are. Mine are a bit older now so I can't remember Hmm

InMyOwnParticularIdiom · 15/07/2019 19:40

At my local church playgroup they do song and story time which lasts about 15 mins. DD (almost three) couldn't cope with this at first and ran around like a loon. Now we've been going for a term she understands what is expected and will at least stay in the story time area for the required time.

She will sit still for the story but during the songs she's inclined to run around in demented circles, but at least in the right area of the hall. She will do actions to certain songs (especially sleeping bunnies) but isn't interested in others.

It helps that snack time is immediately after story time and can be used as a bribe motivator.

The other children of the same age tend to be a bit better behaved, DD is a self-willed spirited livewire.

Confusedandworried321 · 15/07/2019 19:43

DS age 3.6 will sit and have story after story with me/DH/grandparent for as long as we'll sit with him! Yes he would probably join in on some actions if encouraged.

Like Groggylegs DS though I don't suppose he joins in at nursery and he probably gets distracted / refuses to sit in a group for a story, as he likes one on one or small group time. If he was allowed to choose the story it would probably engage him in a group setting for longer.

Camomila · 15/07/2019 19:45

My example was our after lunch routine when I worked in a pre-school...as you had to keep all the DC in one place while someone tidyed the tables after lunch/did nappies/handovers etc. I think it'd be harder to do at a birthday party where DC are all excited!

Sammy867 · 15/07/2019 19:48

Depends on the activity
Crafts about 10minutes, role play a few hours. Lego about 30minutes, swimming about an hour, dancing indefinitely.
She can watch a movie she’s interested in from start to finish (beauty and the beast is her favourite) and we now read chapter books at bed as the books without chapters were too short so we’re having to read 3-4 books.

CuppaSarah · 15/07/2019 19:51

10 minutes for an engaging story and/or song. He wouldn't join in the actions, but would love watching them. With an activity and some free play he'd be good all day to be quite honest. He's an easily entertained soul and saves the chaos for at home.

Original poster
BertrandRussell · 15/07/2019 19:57

So sounds like max 10 minutes. Maybe less because a lot of these children are from disadvantaged-challenging backgrounds and a lot of this stuff is new to them. Thank you. Keep it coming!

OP posts:
BubblesBuddy · 15/07/2019 19:57

My DDs were big on music and actions and moth went to a pre school music and movement group. Lots of actions, props and they loved it. 30 mins from memory.

Mine were very engaged at nursery and could certainly concentrate at 3. Stories at home could last for 2 hours.

Your DS might also like to try nursery rhymes or “poems for the very young”. My DDs really enjoyed rhymes and silly poems. Great language acquisition. We still say them now! (Yes I know! But they were fun!)

ems137 · 15/07/2019 19:58

At just turned 3 - maybe up to 5 mins. Sometimes she would choose the book and still not be able to focus, she'd be dancing, wriggling, talking, picking toys up etc. Songs - maybe a couple of she liked them.

At almost 4 - probably 10 mins (2 stories). She still likes to butt in sometimes with something important to point out and occasionally needs reminding to sit still. Songs - same really, maybe 2/3 songs if she likes them.

nutellanom · 15/07/2019 20:00

How long roughly would you expect her to stay focussed on an engaging story or a song? Would she join in with actions?

5 mins if really engaging? Quite variable though depending on mood! Yes she would join in with actions.

And what do you think is the longest time she would enjoy a session with a song, a story, an activity and a bit of free play before, as he put it, anarchy took over?

Our 2 hour toddler group is a bit too long as he goes a bit crazy towards the end. I'd say 1.5 hours about right.

BubblesBuddy · 15/07/2019 20:00

If from disadvantaged backgrounds, I would still aim high. This helps these DC stay in touch with their better off peers.

I’m even more keen on poems and nursery rhymes for these DC. Especially poems. Also rhyming books or ones with repeat lines.