Attention span in 4yo

[monkeyflippers]

My dc (4yo) teachers keep telling me that she has a short attention span and not much concentration (although seems to be fine when doing things she loves) which I think is starting to be a problem. Wondered if anyone had any experience of this?

Ta

My 6yr olds the same, i try and do her homework and homereaders and its like shes on another planet. All i ever get is 'I hate school its boring. She's been seeing the special needs teacher since reception. She seems to be better with her as its one to one. Her last teacher said she sits for a few minutes listening then just switches off. The teacher suggested getting her ears checked and they needed syringed. This seemed to help a little at 1st but shes starting to slip back again. Both the class teacher and special needs teacher says she had concentration problems. I think she has dyslexia but the school dont want to test her for another year.

9.9 dd here who just can't concentrate except when it suits her.
She was found to be shortsighted aged seven and had grommets put in at 8. Both helped with being able to see and hear instructions, but that is dependant on her paying attention in the first place.
She is often away in her own little place with a book. The reading is lovely, but when it interferes with getting dressed and brushing her hair it isn't.

Thanks you both for your replies.

I think she can hear fine, although she does shout a lot but I don't think there is a problem there. I think she switches off a bit when she thinks something is going to be too hard but I find that she can do it (she usually surprises herself) once she does actually concentrate. I just have to keep drawing her attention back to what she's supposed to be doing. It takes a lot of perseverance and patience.

I'm hoping that it's just because she is so young still and wants to be playing and doing this and that.

fifi25 - do you think the possible dyslexia is making her lose interest and avoid it as it's just too hard at the moment?

kreecherlivesupstairs - mines often in her own little worls as well, usually drawing and sticking things. She's a creative one. She concentrates on that fine!

Im not sure she doesnt seem to mix well with the kids at school and tends to like her own company but is fine at home and with her sisters friends. My eldest daughter is the opposite and sails through school. I know there is something wrong but theres not really a lot i can do till the school decides to move on it. She tends to read words backwards. She can read a word on one page then cant on the next page. At 4 i wouldnt really worry too much. Mines 6 and they are giving her another year and shes still on reception work. My other option is to get her tested privately but i think i will just wait and go with what the school decides. Theres definately something wrong with her concentration and the teachers confirm this.

My daughter shouted so i would definately get her ears checked.

Ah fifi sorry you're so worried! Is it normal for them to test in another year time?

My school are saying that they dont want to label her and the special needs teacher is giving her a year to improve. I have heard that some schools are reluctant to push for a diagnosis due to funding, dont know how true this is. It must depend on the school. They seem to assess them in reception then decide who needs to see the special needs teacher in yr1. Theres 4 in my daughters class who get extra help. My other daughters 9 and told me last night there are still kids on yr1 homereaders in her class yr4 so i am not as worried now. Shes good at maths its just the reading and writing and concentration.

Hi, my DD (4yrs)is the same. Her report from nursery came as no surprise. She is happy as larry when doing arts and crafts but when it comes to learning or listening to others, she has no concentration. Very demanding too, wanting to do something different every 5 mins - or it seems that way! Nursery have suggested only doing very short spells of learning with her at home (10 mins on letters, numbers or writing) which is working well and does seem to be increasing her attention span. I reward her when she concentrates well with a sticker in her sticker book and she loves it. At nursery they are holding a small talk time session just for her and her friend who start school this year, and this also seems to be doing the job. I think the key with my DD is not to overphase her or she gets aggitated. Keep it simple and fun, and the rest comes with time

I wouldnt worry too much at 4, i also know kids who have been in with the special needs teacher for a year and gone to top of class. Some kids just need a bit of 1 to 1. They are still very young at 4 and could thrive at school. I didnt get told till the end of reception that my daughter needed extra help.