3.5 year old still can't sit through cartoons

[SebastianTheCrab]

Just after some advice. My DS started watching animated nursery rhymes when he was about 18 months and is obsessed with them.

I thought he'd grow out of them by now and would transition to stuff like Paw Patrol, Peppa Pig, Doc Macstuffins etc but he is just absolutely uninterested/unable to sit through anything that doesn't have songs and music. He just loses interest and wonders off.

Meanwhile other people's kids of a similar age are starting to watch entire films - we've tried showing him some Disney and Pixar stuff but he can barely get through 10 mins of Aladdin or Lion King before losing interest.

Is it normal or potentially something I should be keeping an eye on?

OK, less snarky response. Cbeebies really is good, but anything with people, rather than any cartoons. Mine didn't like cartoons until much older, but things like Something Special were popular. I'd stick with that kind of thing for now.

@formerbabe

Sorry op, it was a bit snippy of me...I think a three year old sitting through a whole film is quite unusual...and not especially desirable anyway. My dd could concentrate for ages from a young age, unlike my ds and niece who move from one activity to the next.

It's ok. But I think so too, which is why I was surprised to see an Instagram post of Binkie's 3 yo daughter watching a live-action film - that's what made me wonder (serves me right for thinking anything on Instagram is comparable to real life).

I suppose it's more the shorter shows I'm concerned he can't sit through, since they're aimed at his age group, but I'm reassured by most of the responses on here and the fact I know he can concentrate on other things.

He's shown a few other little mannerisms in the past (that I'd rather not get into) that gave me pause which is why I'm slightly on the alert for anything that might warrant concern/further investigation and I think that's what led me to post.

@reluctantbrit

Too fast, how is he in general? Can you read a story to him? Do a simple game or jigsaw?

Maybe start on these and see how it goes. A decent attention span is helpful at pre school and school but there are lots of things you can do to develop it.

Definitely yes to stories and jigsaws.

Glad all seems to be as normal then. And lesson learned - I'll stop scrolling Instagram when I'm meant to be going to sleep

That Instagram post is literally capturing a split second of time. Don’t be under any illusions that binkies 3 year old sat through the whole of the programme. She’ll have been up and down, looking for snacks, pulling out books and toys, rolling on the floor. Binkie has a specific image she has to portray and staged photos to do that. It’s not reality.

Hahaha it's Binkie. Nothing with her is real.

Don't worry about anything else for now, just go along with what's he's happy with, honestly.

Are you worried about a developmental delay or autism or something? Both of mine were 'behind' in relation to their peers. Far behind. Late talkers, late walkers etc. Eldest didn't play, ever (except lego when much older), youngest didn't recognise TV, but loved music.
They're teens now, both incredible capable, both brilliant. One most likely has autism, but is high functioning (I'm autistic, I can see the traits). The other is as neurotupical as it's possible to be.

You really can't know what your kid will be like at this age, it's so young. Just be attentive to his needs and likes, and please never, ever, use a made in Chelsea Muppet as a benchmark.

Turn it on it's head.

Can your child entertain themselves by playing for 20 mins?
Will they happily explore their toys using imaginative play?
If they can this means they are expanding their knowledge and ability to learn. Sitting in front of a tv does not teach new skills.

Children who don't get time playing with their parents but are left playing with the tv on with parents distracted will be able to sit and watch tv.

Children who have lots of stimulation and interaction learn to play and attend at activities and games and don't learn to sit watching a programme.

Oh god he is fine. They are all different.

My daughter at that age only loved the songs in the Disney movies and would join in with gusto. She gave very few shits about the rest of the film until she was about 5 probably. My son (who admittedly has ASD and ADHD) is only just starting to sit through whole movies the last couple of years and he’s 9. He’d rather he up and about playing or drawing than sitting still. He also loved singing and doing actions to songs but would then carry on with whatever he was playing with.

Honestly I would assume anyone who said they were watching the chronicles of narnia with their 3 year old had actually put the film on for themselves (no shame in that) and their small child quickly sloped off to play. Great films but not really made with 3 year olds in mind.

My boyfriends 25 and without fail falls asleep halfway through any and every film They're not for everyone