DS is 5, not yet in school (we're in Scotland). For a while now he has been getting into these excited states where he just cannot listen and often needs to be physically removed from games with his siblings and other kids.
I wouldn't say it's listening full stop because if I ask him to, say, lay the table, he will be right there and do it but it's just when he gets over excited. His nursery agree that he's very sweet and helpful and great company one on one with an adult, or in situations with one adult and just a couple of kids, but that he really struggles to regulate his excitement and sometimes his anger.
Yesterday he kept running over to his older sister when she asked him to stop (she was waiting to go into her swimming lesson a few metres away from us). When I told him to go run somewhere else, he went off and did it immediately - it reminds me of toddlerhood when they understand positive but not negative directions!
Anyway. Sorry it's a bit long but DH and I were talking about it last night and we both ended up feeling a bit worried about what will happen when he does go to school. Can this be normal 5 year old behaviour? How can we best support him? I don't really see it in DS' friends, and our oldest has always been incredibly mature, articulate and logical so getting her to follow instructions has always been a breeze.