My 5 year old can not focus at school

[Kmum31]

Dear mums I really need some advice on my almost 5 year old DS behaviour at school. The teacher is complaining about him not focusing and misbehaving. She often tells me that he hits children even though when he plays with friends outside of school he never hits anyone. And recently heard from one of the teachers that even if he apologises he does not feel remorse for what he has done. It's like he behaves different at school and at home. I was told that there will be someone coming to observe his behaviour at class but that was a few months ago. I am extremely worried that he will be labelled noughty when maybe there is something more going on.

[ppeatfruit]

Oh I'm so sorry Kmum If it's any help I speak as an ex E.Y. teacher and I KNOW as does anyone who has studied child development and most teachers know, that a lot of 5 year olds (esp. boys) find concentrating very difficult (they are just unable to) at that age.

A lot of European countries don't start academic work till 6 or 7.

[addictedtosugar]

Sorry, no formal advice, but the unable to concentrate sounds like my son last year. We didn't have the extra concerns about hitting, but I was starting to panic. However, very suddenly last month, something has clicked in his head. He is still a fidget bum, and would rather be doing anything than sat in a classroom, but he can now, just before his 6th birthday (Y1 - your son must still be reception?) sit and write half a page in his exercise book when the topic interests him.

We worked on sitting and concentrating on things that interested him. My best buy last summer was a superheros colouring book, which finally got him concentrating long enough to colour in a whole picture. Top Trumps has also been really popular. So basically getting him to sit and concentrate at home, but on fun things, and hoped it extended to school.

Lots and lots of exercise after school also helped (and was a nightmare to fit in after school, homework and work!)

[Kiwiinkits]

Also, manage his TV / screen viewing. TV is a concentration-killer. Anymore than an hour a day is too much IMO (but this is just a self-imposed limit).

[DiDiddlyIDi]

What does he have for breakfast? I discovered that when i had dairy for breakfast I struggled to concentrate.