3 year old very short attention span and crys at everything

[Dreamymama]

So recently my 3 and half and started nursery and had been quite and good since Sept but recently he has started to do random things like put things in his pocket and when the teacher tells him off he just starts to cry and cry. Yesterday they told me he was pushing his friends and when told off he started to cry again.

even at home he doesn’t pay attention to one thing like switches between activities a lot and he’s like that since he was 2. His dad has ADHD and I was wondering if he might have the same like all symptoms match. Is that something I should speak to his daycare about?

He just sounds like he is 3 to be honest.
That's what they are like.

Yes, but it’s not unusual behaviour at that age. They are pushing the boundaries and learning discipline.

Maybe I am just too worried then, I try to get him to listen to me but he will just throw tantrum on of top of tantrum and I just get scared as a mother that maybe I am not raising him to well 😥

Most kids don’t like being told off by their teacher. Mine would have been embarrassed at that age too.

@BoohooWoohoo he is quite sensitive when it comes to being told off, I guess you are right anything I can do at home to help him regulate his emotions?

I would start putting things in place that work either way. My son has adhd and the workshop is all about healthy diet, increasing tryptophan intake, sleep hygiene and (crucially) learning about emotions.

Can I suggest The Colour Monster as a great book to start? Lots of focus on chatting with ds about how we feel when we experience those emotions, the kindness of the girl in the book, the times we might feel like that but reassuring mum is always there to support them.

A huge key is increasing physical exercise (and decreasing any excessive screen time). Get ds running about daily and add in sport groups where possible (doesn’t need to be any sport in particular, go with what he enjoys). Be prepared for him losing interest and encouraging him to stick with it (or swap to another group but don’t make this a habit as can be tricky). Do active activities at home and down regulation activities leading up to bedtime.

Look up PACE parenting as this can be helpful and often has useful strategies connected to it that help children learn about their emotions through you being curious and empathetic.

I wouldn’t start panicking yet, just put things in place and see how it goes first.

@ChaosAndCrumbs thank you so much for this! This is so helpful I will definitely look into all these points

@Dreamymama, very welcome 😊

Hi OP,

How is your son doing now? Im interested as my 3.5 year old son (he’s born at the end of January), has also started nursery recently and I’ve been told the same thing.

He has quite a low attention span and is crying a lot whenever he gets told off or doesn’t get his own way.

Hope you get a chance to see this as I’m feeling quite down regarding his development.

Hey!

my son is now 5 and has started year 1 in Sept. He’s improved a lot from before, he still has a low attention span they did suspect he had adhd when he started reception but then he improved so they think he’s just got a lot energy lol.

he definitely has improved a lot from before and is thriving in school! So don’t worry sometimes it’s just a phase they go through

Thanks for getting back, wasn’t sure if you’d see it. That’s very reassuring! What about sensitivity? Has he also matured in that aspect, my sons going through a phase of crying whenever he doesn’t get his own way at nursery.. they’re saying he’s behind the other kids emotionally.

Sorry to bombard you with another question, it just sounds like yours was a lot like mine right now.

😅

Hey no worries! I know how these things worry us mums. 😅

He is still a little sensitive but I think its just part of personality but he definitely has improved in school regarding it I tried to speak to him about it and it’s okay if you don’t get your own way at nursery we have to share etc. Once he turned 4 he started getting better at that specially when he started school, maybe it’s just they are in a more scheduled routine there that helped him.
but dont worry did he just start nursery? If he did give him a couple of months I am sure he will start to understand and get better xx

Hi DreamyMama,

Sorry for only just getting back to you. Really hope I see these changes in my little one too, yesterday his nursery told me he’s been getting 1 to 1 help with numbers and my mind immediately jumped to possible SEN. I didn’t press the teachers with questions as we’ve got a parent teacher meeting coming up soon, which will hopefully shed some light.

Being a parent is so hard..

Hi Daisy,

don’t worry about it some kids develop at different times I know it’s worrying but things will get better ❤️
the school also thinks my son might have adhd because he just doesn’t concentrate and moves a lot, but these things can be figured out as they grow up. More power to you ❤️