How long can your 3 year old concentrate?

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Because ds1 can't concentrate for toffee. He was 3 two weeks ago.

Until now I've been putting it down to being an active, energetic boy, but I've noticed his friends will sit and do a jigsaw etc. I could get ds to do that with continuous one to one talking, but even then I couldn't be sure he wouldn't run off to play. Other children will sit and colour too - not a chance ds will do that for more than a minute or two. Getting him to stick some snowflakes on Christmas cards today was painful - I had to bribe him with virtually every one!

He will sit through a few books actually, but that's about it.

Other experiences please? What will your 3 year old do?

he sounds exactly like my ds.
he is 31/2. the only things he wants to do are cut out with scissors - which i dont mind at all, it's a useful skill for school.
he never wants to draw/colour/write.
he loves a good story though.

Dd has just turned 4 and is very like this! Although will sit slack jawed in front of the tv for as long as I let her! And even then she is sti fidgeting and on the move. She is noticeably more wiggly than her peers though I think, from what I can see at nursery etc

Not much drawing/colouring or writing but plenty of concentrating re imaginative play with toys etc

Is a minute for each year of their life - so I've heard - so 3 mins would be about right for concentration span!

DS would only concentrate on trains at that age - would have never sat and done a jigsaw. DD will but depends on her mood!

Thank you for your replies. They definitely make me feel a bit better! Especially a minute for every year. That sounds about right.

Tgger - yes ds can concentrate fine on playing being in a rocket/ train/ cockpit/ car etc or being a knight.

Mince pie making today was an unmitigated disaster. Even cutting out the pastry circles, which I thought he'd love, lasted for the space of time it took him to cut four. And then he started to 'cut cut cut' the remaining pastry with the edge of a spoon.

He's such a lovely and lively little boy, but he's starting nursery in January and I'm worried he's going to struggle because I can't see him sitting down to join in a craft activity etc. I used to take him to football but he was totally unable to do the games because he couldn't concentrate long enough.

my daughter can concreate max 10-15 mins if we do something interested and up to 1 hours if playing together

There's a difference between being able to concentrate on what someone else wants you to do when you're 3 and concentrating on what you want to do (much easier).

I think mostly they should be able to concentrate on what they are engaged with at this age, not what some grown up thinks they should be .

Really depends on what activity is and mood he's in. 3.5yo DS bounces off the Walls most of the time but occasionally will sit down to read (only certain books mind) and loves his 'big school books' to practice writing / numbers etc' but only now that his two best friends have gone to big school without him. Sometimes will do jigsaws but never if I suggest them... He discovers them in the cupboard and we must do them right now! Which usually means in the middle of the kitchen floor, half way up the stairs or in the bathroom when mummy is trying to have a wee

My 3.5 yr old ds never sits still he wont watch tv or colour in for more than a min. He plays with his babies and buggies pretending to go shopping for hours tho!!! My parents won't look after him as he is constantly on go and they cant just stick the tv on or sit him down and read a book.

At nursery tho he is fine still doesnt concentrate for long but will sit still and attempt craft activities and listen to stories etc because everyone else is and he knows what is expected of him there!!