To expect my 4 year old to sit quietly for an hour

[Soph88]

All I wanted was to watch the big questions. It's a debate show so need to be able to hear it. She was colouring for a bit (perfect), then started harassing the cat, then the singing started! I tried asking nicely and bribery. I then threatened sending her to her room. I reckon added up she managed 20 mins of being quiet in total.
She just couldn't manage to sit quietly for me and I feel a bit like I was expecting too much from her.
Would you expect a 4 yo to sit for a hour quietly (with toys, colouring etc)?

Depends on the child. My 5yo still struggles to keep quiet for that length of time. My 3yo plays by himself for a couple of hours at a time. That said. I wouldn’t totally ignore, id pause the tv to let him show me what he’d built, ask him to make/draw me something specific. Generally I just don’t bother trying to watch anything properly if they’re awake.

You got 20 minutes?! Ds can't sit down and shut up for 20 seconds, he's nearly 6. Just watch it in 20 minute sections on catch up. Lower your expectations and be grateful for what you've got, your dd sounds like a little angel!

That sounds like a fun Sunday dinner for your dd

Do you not think it might have been a good idea to work out whether an hour of tv-watching quiet in preparation for a Sunday lunch of discussing it, with a four year old, was an unrealistic expectation before the acquisition of said four year old?

Ok my op probably should have said entertain herself for an hour rather than be quiet. I don't expect no interruptions she's 4 just lower levels of noise. I won't expect this of her again and tbh I didn't go in expecting it this morning was just hopeful.
Also she loves Sunday dinner with my parents.

Just put subtitles on.

Sorry but I think an hour is too long to be quiet for a child that age. They just can't do it. My four year old is literally never quiet, she even talks in her sleep. I totally understand the need for adult stuff and stimulating topics to make you think. But I would record it and watch it in the evening after little one was in bed. xx

something about me asking specifically for a bit of quiet triggered her to make more noise

I think this is key! With my lot, the more I really needed them to be quiet, the less likely it was to happen. It wasn't deliberate naughtiness, more like the "don't think about a blue monkey for five minutes" thing - once it's in your head you can't not think about it!