how do I help a child NO attention span?

[Littlepurpleprincess]

DS is four. He has zero ability to concerntrate. I am finding everyday tasks impossible and by the time I've got him to school, I am stressed out. I've been driven to tears by shear frustration.

Basically, if I ask him to do something (anything) he says ok, then just sits there and stares into space.

I would never ask him to do anything he wasn't capable of.

I can say "DS please put your school shoes on". he will pick them up, sit down and then....just...drift....., so I say again, "put your shoes on please", he tries to get one foot in, then finds something else to stare at, and so it goes on....it takes him 20 mintues to put his pants on the morning!

I feel like everyday life is impossible with him right now. We get up at 7am, and live next door to the school but we are still late because anytime I try to get him do anything he refuses.

He never says 'no', he just stops.

I've tried disciplining him for it but he doesn't seem to care. He would sit in time out all day if it meant he didn't have to pick that one toy up.

Perhaps he would respond better to getting dressed if the whole task was broken down into chunks a bit. I was just thinking that this might make it a more positive experience again and remotivate him on the whole dressing himself thing. You could put his t-shirt in position and then all he needs to do is push his head or arm through... lots of praise and then when he's good at this start seeing if he will do a bit more each day by himself?

I just dressed my ds at that age. It was a great deal quicker and less stressful than standing over him and chanting instructions. At 11 he is now ready before his sister, although when they were small she dressed herself from a much younger age.

Four is very young. He may have issues, or just be a little immature for his age (not unusual). ds is dyslexic and just not good at hearing instructions. or being organised, but has got much better over the years.