Attention / focus in 4.5 year old

[Chuggachu]

Wondering what to expect of a 4.5 year old child in terms of focus/ attention span/daydreaming?

My daughter’s preschool has feedback that she daydreams. While they do not feel that this is alarming or excessive, they think that she is less focused compared to her peers. She pays attention during lessons and does well for the most part, but sometimes wanders off to do her own things - retrieve a book, look at what her classmates are doing etc, or just daydreaming. From my own observations, I find her to have a very good memory and focus when she deals with subjects of her interest (sometimes to the point that she’s unresponsive to the world) and rather distracted when tasked to do things she’s less interested in.

She is sociable and generally a very happy child.

She is not as articulate as some of her peers, although she started reading children’s books on her own over a year ago and presently writes 2-3 sentence stories on occasions. Her gross motor skills are not great. Although her fine motor skills took a while to catch up, she now writes rather neatly if she wants to.

How can I work with my daughter on this?

She’s 4 years old and in preschool. It’s possible she’s wandering around the classroom seeing what others are doing, choosing a book etc. for no other reason than it’s allowed because it’s preschool so not a formal classroom and she fancies a change of activity.

Also, it’s very normal for kids that young to refuse to do things they don’t want to do and think are boring, especially if they think it’s optional. Hence why preschool and even to a certain extent reception is heavily focused on learning through play. Their attention span at that age is also typically about 10-15 minutes. Writing several sentences with neat writing and reading at not even school age sounds quite advanced though! Just based on what you’ve written I wouldn’t be concerned. She’ll probably increase her focus once she starts school because she will have matured a bit and the expectation will be higher than in preschool.

On the gross motor skills, does she visit playgrounds, soft play, do you take her to kick a ball around the park, does she have a scooter and/or bike, does she do any sporty activities outside of school eg ballet, gymnastics, swimming, football? Those sort of things all help. If you’re concerned she’s very behind then see the health visitor or doctor to discuss.

Is she pre-school or Reception?

I've been in Early Years for years and years.

I would keep an eye on the combination of lack of focus, being focussed on something to the extent of being unresponsive, whilst also being able to read and write independently.

Has she actively been taught to read and write, or is it something she's picked up on her own?

It might not mean anything at all, but could also be a sign of hyperlexia and/or neurodiversity.

Thank you for being so responsive!

she’s in reception.

ive been reading to her since she was born, so I think she might have picked up reading that way. As for writing - I would say that I noticed how she was trying to copy letters and gave her come tracing tools to get started.

we put her in swimming class the beginning of this year and she enjoys it. Hopefully that will help her with her gross motor skills. /: