...to expect my 18 month DS to sit for 5 mins?

[AddictedToCoffee]

I took him for a session of nursery rhyme singing and signing (his 3rd one ever) and after the first 10 mins he had had enough and wanted to get out. Spent the next 20 mins walking up and down the stairs of the library, which he was much more interested in!!! He much prefers the indoor play areas where he gets to run around and expend his energy.

Should he be made to sit and join in or is this being unreasonable? Other mothers have said that if he isn't 'taught' to do it now, then he'll have real problems when he starts school.

My ds is 18 months old. He occasionaly sits down at home but only when it suits him.
They are too busy at this age to sit still for a good while!

Even at school it would be pushing it to expect a 4/5 year old to sit for 30 mins!

He should be running around exploring things at 18 mths!

I remember when DS got to this point. We were taking him to a really nice music class (which we were paying for) and it was great while he was immobile but as soon as he got on his feet properly, he refused to sit down and behave during the sessions. We stopped going and just kept to the more free play groups where he can run around. He's just turned 2 now and still refuses to sit still for more than 5secs!

I tried a Monkey Music class with my 18mo DTs and they sat still for about 90 seconds, then got bored and wanted to investigate the ipod the crap music was coming from. The lady doing the class was saying very quietly "we don't touch that" and they were hell bent on proving her wrong, then kept trying to escape the room. They spent the last five minutes pressing their faces against the glass pulling 'rescue me' faces at passers by.

Anyway, I got home and the Monkey Music coordinator had left me a voicemail saying "I heard you obviously found the class very difficult on your own and you'd be welcome to bring a nanny along to help you with the boys next time." &

So any time you want to be judged as a poor parent with delinquent toddlers, head straight for a Monkey Music class - £20 for the privilege! we choose to go to the park instead now, all very

"Even at school it would be pushing it to expect a 4/5 year old to sit for 30 mins!"

My DS goes to a SN school. He is 4. I was actually really impressed yesterday at harvest festival when they all sat for 45 minutes! OK we stood up for a song at the start and the end, and they stood up when their class each did their bit of the assembly but I was soooooooo proud.