4 year old can’t count till 20

[Sparkles2295]

Hey

Just looking for some advice, don’t know if I should be worried. I asked my little boys teacher how he is doing in class and she’s said she’s really worried he doesn’t pay attention and if she asks him a sum he just says random numbers. When I picked him up after class she took me in and said to him she’s not happy with the work he’s done and he should apologise to her as he only wrote his name and the task was to write banana. He was really upset as he got told off and in front of other children in the classroom when it happened. Should I be worried that he doesn’t know number or read or pays attention and just always in his own world

tia x

The Teacher wants him to apologise for writing the wrong thing? What exactly did they say?

She said ms * is not happy with this you’re a clever boy you can do better what do we say? He said I’m sorry she said that’s it if you want to be able to do things when you get older you need to try harder and went off and left me and my son in the classroom to walk out

Ok so I can understand that you’re not happy with him having to apologise or that this happened in front of other pupils but it does sound as though you had some concerns, hence you asking the Teacher what his progress was like and the Teacher confirmed that he maybe lacks appropriate attention but is bright? How old is your DS is he 4, 4.5 or nearly 5?

What has the Teacher suggested takes place to support him in achieving?

He’s 4 born in May, she mentioned previously he doesn’t concentrate so she implemented reward chart but doesn’t motivate him much anymore. She has said she’ll have a think about it and see what can be done

Ok so if he’s 5 in May I would do this very quick progress checker from Speech & Language UK, just to see if communication ciukd be the reason he’s finding it hard to concentrate.

Let us know if it says he needs sone support

Are you in the UK, and your son is in reception? Some of what you describe sounds a bit unusual, like the teacher wanting him to apologise for not finishing a task. If he was messing about rather than doing the writing, I can obviously see why she'd want to speak to him about that (and to you, if it's a regular occurrence) – but I'd have expected the conversation to focus on the messing about/distracting others/etc.

More broadly, what is your son like at home? Do you think he knows these things at home, can count to 20, do simple sums? Can he focus at home on a range of types of play, sit to listen to a whole story, engage with you to do an activity that you suggest?

What do you do at home with him or outside with him? Do you read to him? Have quiet activities like puzzles or crafts? Do you take him to the library and recommend to be quieter, does he know how to behave in a shop or café, and not run around, ...

Attention can and should be taught at home. Same with expectations to complete a task. You start with easy and fun activities such as mazes whilst you prepare dinner.
And how much screen is he getting?: Is the TV on during the day? Does he use iPad, phone, ....

Make some little games for concentration and attention. As you walk home, ask him to use his laser eyes to spot a black and white dog, a funny hat, or to describe you the house at the traffic light.