5 nearly 6 year and instructions

[adoreyou]

I feel I may not be alone in this and hopefully im just worrying when my DD is just a normal 5 year old.....

Anyway, DD is 5.... 6 in a few weeks. And we are struggling with her lack of being able to follow simple instructions.

Is it normal?

I can tell she's not doing it on purpose to be rebellious. when I point out she hasn't done what She's been asked she just looks confused.

And it's not just us... swimming lessons, she finds it hard to follow the teachers instructions. Needing to be told 3 or more times and still not 100% grasping the task and doing things in a different order/way to what has been asked.

I don't know if it's a lack of concentration or understanding or both!

Is this standard 5 year old behaviour?

Is she like it at school?

My DS is similar and he struggles to follow group instructions in school, often has to have his name called and told directly.

This is apparently not standard, according to his teacher and the SENCO. I think he has ADHD.

I think kids often tune out their parents, especially those who over communicate, but are less likely to tune out school staff etc. So not following cues from others either would worry me slightly.

In my family boys are generally worse at following instructions at 6 then girls. My son was quite useless and my daughter v independent.

There may be an underlying concern so its worth doing your research and knowing what to look out for. But shes very young still and could be a late bloomer or a real day dreamer. Keep your eyes and ears open but try not To worry too much x

Thanks appreciate the replies.

I guess I don't really know what to "look out" for.
I wouldn't say she displays any signs of ADHD for example.... although obvs not an expert.

The school have never mentioned anything to me about any issues they have with her. And it's very hard to get the chance to even talk to her teacher.
I know she is behind with maths and she has to have that explained to her separately after hearing it during "carpet time" if that makes sense.

I just don't know if I'm
Making more of things or not..... like she never puts her shoes on the right feet, clothes are always put on backwards.... no matter how much you try explain these things to her...

What is their hearing like? Swimming pools are noise places. My 5 year old has glue ear which means sometimes she has perfect hearing but at other times especially in winter her hearing isn’t great.

Do speak to the teacher and ask what she's like at school. In the meantime, when you give instructions are you giving simple, on one-step instructions after getting her attention? She may need her name said first and then given one thing to do at a time, then when she's done it given her next instruction. Some children find it more difficult to process multi-step instructions.

My DD is like this - at 3 we found out (because a friend grabbed her as a guinea pig for a research study) that she didn't really understand much of what we said to her, she still can't follow through on more than one step of instructions. At school she just copies everyone else. We suspect ADD (brother has ADHD but she doesn't have the hyperactivity).

We did think of getting her hearing checked a while back as she would always need us to repeat something to her.... but she was just about to start school and they were meant to do hearing tests in reception which never happened thanks to covid.
We haven't noticed it as much recently.... but maybe worth checking I guess?

We had a couple of hearing tests for DD and the first time she just failed but then passed, we think due to a cold the first time. You'll be sent to get this checked first with any SALT referral so might as well get it booked in.

She doesn't have any speech/language problems. The odd Miss pronunciation here and there.... but I think I will look into a hearing test. She has private health cover so shouldn't be too much trouble to get a referral

Our DD didn't have any speech problems either, just the comprehension problems.

That's similar to my DS @adoreyou, he doesn't quite "get" that all class instructions / instructions given on the mat apply to him. Similar in clubs, he often has to be told directly to stop talking when the leader has asked generally for quiet.

He's fine doing work at the table when the children are in their smaller groups, he can follow those type of instructions.

His understanding and communication has always been very good so this is what makes me think it could be something like ADD/ADHD. Also my DH definitely has some similar traits although he's functioned totally normally as an adult.

Also don't rely on school mentioning this type of thing - my DS' didn't really.