To worry DS doesn’t watch TV?

[soiswitched]

Yes stupid but … he’s four now and most of his friends seem to be getting into Disney, even movies like polar express and home alone and DS just never keeps still.

He used to like fireman Sam and geckos garage, and he used to watch the short Julia Donaldson films but it’s as if he’s losing the ability to sit and watch something.

Can he sit and listen when required to do so at school/nursery?

If so, then i wouldn't worry- watching TV isn't really something that is necessary and much better for him not to be sat watching a screen.

If he can't, I still wouldn't worry - he's still very young. Let him engage in active play (assuming that's what he's doing).

Some kids are like that, it may or may not mean anything so don’t worry! 4 is still really young. 2 of my kids were into movies from quite young; the 3rd can barely last a whole film now at 9!

TV won’t teach him to sit still. Can he sit still reading a book or colouring or playing a jigsaw or similar game, alone, and also with someone else? If so, I wouldn’t worry.

DD was a little older than him and asked to remove little TV from her bedroom, didn’t want it. 20 years later - perfectly adjusted young woman, doing a PhD in science that took plenty of focused study. Your DS will be fine 😂

No, TV won’t teach him to sit and concentrate. Better to avoid it if possible (not judging, we have loads!).

Can he sit and listen to a book, colour a picture, do play doh, etc?

Thank you - I know I probably worry about nothing.

So can he sit still … yeeees and no … I’ve certainly had no complaints and only positives from nursery. He sits well and listens when I read to him. However jigsaws - no. He’s just not interested. And he is wriggly! So I went to an event on Wednesday where they were playing pass the parcel and he sat but wriggled constantly.

But to be fair I’ve also known him really engaged and concentrating, I guess it just depends, I don’t want a screen addict definitely not, just seems such a big difference between him and other kids.

Same for one of mine. TV wasn't interactive enough so he got bored. He prefers playing or doing something.

Home alone at 4 seriously. You're worried about that.

Wriggling is really normal for children at that age, especially boys. You need to stop worrying.

I’m a little bit worried that his concentration levels and ability to follow a plot, characters, story, seem vastly different to that of his friends - it isn’t about the specific film. I wouldn’t actually want him watching home alone. But he wouldn’t follow it and that is a worry.

Thanks @bridgetreilly

He sounds like a normal 4 year old. I also don't think you can equate sitting and watching a screen with being able to follow a plot, characters and story.
Does he follow the stories in books?

He wouldn't follow it because he's 4.

TV is mostly boring rubbish anyway.

Is he your first child, OP?

But other four year olds do.

Sounds normal for 4. My dd had no interest in films or Disney. It's only been in the last 6 months she suddenly interested in watching films. She is 8. She preferred to play with small world toys or draw.

Is he your oldest vs other 4 year olds you know who have older siblings? 4 is v young to expect full concentration on a feature length film.

When my daughter was 4, she went to watch her brother (6) in his Panto. As parents had occupied all the toddler seats, she got to sit in the front row next to the Headmistress. She was absorbed and sat perfectly still watching well.
At the end the Headmistress commented on how absorbed she'd been.

I tell you this not to make you feel bad but a) because it was so unusual
*b) because yesterday as an adult she received an ADHD diagnosis
*
Your son just sounds like a lively boy.
Also parents do lie, I'm not convinced that many of those 4 year olds really follow a long film.

Mores the pity, stuck in front of the television. Read them a book. If you are genuinely worried see a professional, don't diagnose something unfounded with Home Alone as your reference point.

That’s interesting because I was thinking four would kind of be the turning point in many ways, where he would engage with maybe slightly longer stories and films like Disney or similar, I can’t really remember when I did but I’m sure I remember watching a couple of films at his age.

@sparkleandshine7 please just don’t reply, you’re being really rude.

Surely it's good that he's not interested in screens?! Hopefully he can spend more time on other activities which are better for his development - making things, reading, playing, arts and crafts etc?!

I think that’s my worry @Longtimelurkerfinallyposts , it’s kind of symptomatic of the fact he doesn’t seem to engage awfully well with ‘four year old’ things, but he is my first and so I could be way off on what I might expect them to be able to do.

DS1 (8) couldn't concentrate on a film at 4, but could concentrate fine on building a train track for ages and could also concentrate fine (but was a bit fidgety) at school. He probably started enjoying films at around 6?

DS2 (almost 5) has a 'calmer' personality and will happily watch a film at 4, but he's not interested in non-animated ones yet.

DS1s never actually seen Home Alone, thanks for popping it into my head...it might be a good film to watch Christmas eve in the evening (DS2 will be asleep by then hopefully).

I feel like everyone is hyper focusing on the particular film 😂 I personally wouldn’t want him to watch Home Alone at this age because of the language, but I did give some other examples of the films watched and there’s no way DS could manage that. So it does make you wonder.