Is 13 months really 'late on the learning curve' for not sitting through story time?

[Linguaphile]

We just went to a play group this morning, and my very active 13 month old twins were more interested in greeting the other children than in sitting still. At the end of the session, one of the helpers explained to me that they need to be sitting quietly with me so that they don't distract the other children (it's a 0-4 playgroup) . I asked her if they were really meant to be able to sit through 30 minutes of stories at that age, and she implied that my children might just be later on the learning curve and asked if they sit through bedtime stories either... which they don't (it's more of a calisthenic story time).

A I being really dense for not realising that they were meant to be able to do this by their age? And how on earth do I train them to do it? It's nearly impossible with two as I can't just go chase after one without then losing the other and spending most of the hour playing whack-a-mole. :(

Good lord no way could mine sit through a story at that age, especially in an exciting place where there are other little people.

Stupid woman.

I don't think my nearly-3yo can sit quietly for 30 minutes.

Your twins sound normal to me. And I did laugh at whack-a-mole !

I have a 2.5 year old and an 11 year old. Both were nightmares at story time and either screamed the whole time or wouldn't sit still. I just gave up going in the end. Dd is very social now and in top sets at school so I genuinely think they just don't suit some children!

13 months is way too young to be worrying about this.

Oh, bollocks, I don't think a single child in my entire extended family would sit still for that long at that age. Unrealistic!

I did actually LOL. Maybe for 5 mins with a biscuit in hand, maybe on mum's lap with a bottle at bedtime but no way for 30 mins in a room full of other children and exploring opportunities.

Are the other 1yos really sitting still for a 30 min story? Can the leader help? My friend, who runs a toddler group, takes the most boisterous child, or a child from a parent who has her hands full with 2 onto her lap for (short) song time.

Ha! Maybe she just wishes babies would sit still for that long? My 4 year old can barely sit still for 30 minutes.

Very amusing. Smile and nod.

She is crazy and I would put money on the fact she has no dc.

Oh thank goodness, glad I'm not the only one then! Was really worried on the way home that my children were 'below average' or something! think she may have assumed they're a bit older as they both have lots of hair and have been walking quite well for a few months, but still...

Phew. Mumsnet to the rescue again.

thats complete rubbish !!! my 1 yr old doesn't know the meaning of the words "sit still" ...she'll play with something for 2 minutes, toddle off and explore something else, come back to the first toy for a few minutes....when i read to her, she lasts 4 minutes TOPS

I would think a 13 month old who sat through a 30 minute very advanced and possibly a bit concerning TBH!

DS's teacher's only negative comment about him at last night's parents' evening was his inability to sit still on the carpet.

He's in Year 1.

Anyone who thinks they can (or should) corral children of that age for 30 minutes of storytelling is insane.

Who on earth thinks 13 month olds even want 30 minutes of stories?

No way! My 16 month old never sits. Until there are 2, you can't expect it.

I'm 37 with no diagnosed ADHD or anything similar and I'd struggle to sit through mins story time.

Hth!

? 13 MONTHS!

I remember taking my just turned two year old to an art class, he couldn't sit still and just did laps of the room or tried to paint my head! Needless to say we only lasted a few weeks.

Now he is nearly three and old enough for classes and some sustained concentration.

My own view is that children are not really ready to listen and follow instructions in an adult led way, or to play with other children in a way that is reasonably reciprocal, until they are most of the way towards three or even later.

Dd 21 months won't sit still for any longer than 5 mins roughly the time it takes her to eat a biccie...

I look after a 23 month old and at group we avoid story time for this exact reason. She tells the story with puppets laid out on the floor. The children are expected to sit and just look at them. Not happening. Quite a lot of parents just take their children to another room for a different activity.

I'm a member of a forum for Early Years practitioners and whenever someone has come on complaining that children (up to reception age) won't sit for ten minutes of story time they are told that they are being unrealistic and that trying to insist that they sit still is a sure-fire way to turn them off books.

Some children will naturally sit and listen because they find stories really engaging and are able to sit still for long periods. That doesn't mean they are good, well trained or more advanced. They just have different needs and interests.

I've childminded an awful lot of children and I would never in a million years plan an activity that required a 13 month old child to sit quietly and listen for 30 minutes. It is a recipe for disaster.

Half an hour of stories? I'd be shuffling in my seat at that. I used to help run a toddler group, we'd have one, short, very animated story at the end while everyone ate a biscuit, then songs and dancing. 30 minutes of stories is crazy.

I think they have mis-named their 'play'group.

Good lord, I hope this woman was just some randomer, and not actually a childcare professional. How absurd.

Typical attention span at a year old is 1 minute and so it's perfectly normal that your dc don't want to sit in a group and listen to a story. Obviously when they are sat on your knee sharing a book one to one,being encouraged to point and turn pages, then it's much easier to read a whole book to them. I suspect she has her learning curves mixed up

13 months? 30 minutes? Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

"Later on the learning curve"? HahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaHA!

one of the helpers

Pfffffffffffffft

You can safely ignore anything that comes out of her mouth

Even if your two look 'older' they don't look like they are 4!

Every child is different. DD would sit through 30 minutes of stories at that age without a problem at all but she's always LOVED her story-time. Even now at school, DD would rather sit at the table and do colouring/reading while all the other children run around in the playground.

But at 13 months I don't know of many (if any) other children who would have done it. A ridiculous suggestion!!