Short attention span in 3yr old

[BarnMummy]

I would be grateful for MN experience please. My ds1 is a gorgeous happy boy of 3 years and 7 months. Seems bright from reports at nursery school but I find that unless he is really engaged in something (craft / drawing / TV) he doesn't seem to be able to focus on completing the task at hand and is very easily distracted. In particular, going to the loo, immediately after he has finished, he never seems to remember about pulling his pants and trousers back up, flushing and washing hands before moving on to the next thing, even when I am standing there waiting to help if he needs it. Literally anything that he might mess about with, he will, from the loo brush to bath toys to books, despite reminders every time that he must wash his hands before carrying on playing.

Am I being unrealistic in expecting him not to give in to temptation / distraction? Is this just 3 year olds / boys in general? Should I be watching out for anything?

I can't remember what it was like to be his age, am an only child and he is my first child, so nothing to compare to!

Thoughts welcome: Thanks!

Little children are excited and inquisitive and will move quickly from one activity to another.
I think what you are describing is entirely normal ( says Pag - mother of a DD who would be so keen to go out and play each morning rarely even remembered her knickers right up until 5 or 6 . Dress and coat, occasionally shoes but often no knickers. Too fiddly apparently )

love the idea of fiddly knickers - visions of bloomers with ribbons!!

thanks though - it's just nice to get some reassurance sometimes!

I have 3 boys and had one girl.

My two eldest boys were just how you describe your DS (DS3 too young to tell but I am not expecting any difference)

I also work with kids and its not more common for boys to be like this than not. Some children have longer attention spans and thats normal too.

Dont worry.

Thank you chegirl - it's good to hear this.

I hope you don't mind me saying this, but have read some of your posts before on other threads and just wanted to say that your daughter was so beautiful.

Thank you Barnmummy. I think she is too

Dont worry about your LO, by the time he is 15 (like my DS1) he will be capable of sitting still for HOURS at a time .