Concentration (or lack of) esp in boys

[lechatnoir]

My 5 year old DS has the attention span of a gnat & I'm wondering two things: is there anything I can do to help & how on earth is he even going to learn anything at school if he's not listening?

The few times I've asked his teacher how he's getting on she mentioned his lack of concentration (clearly she's noticed ) . They get goals each week and his often includes things like 'good listening' or 'always look at the teacher' but no real constructive help or suggestions.

His hearing is fine, he's happy & as far as I?m aware at the 'right' stages for all aspects of development (whatever that means !) but I assume this is a fairly common issue so I'm wondering what, if anything, I can or should be doing?
LCN

We were told to persist / encourage to finish tasks. So, for example if your ds is doing a puzzle and breaks off half way through, say to him, 'come on, 2 more pieces then we'll stop'.

Five year olds are supposed to have the attention span of gnats, they are learning so much so quickly. If he is not ready to sit still for any length of time at school, please dont make him practice it at home, it wont make it any better, and will just make him miserable, and you stressed. Instead encourage him to run around, have fun, and get rid of the energy he has been "leaking out" all day at school. It will come in time, usually, and if not then is the time to start worrying not now when he is just being a normal little boy.

Aaargh, mine's the same. Actually, it's not that he's not concentrating, it's just that he's concentrating on arranging his pencils/the spider-fly drama in the corner of the classroom/the wind blowing through the leaves of the tree outside the window... ANYTHING except what the teacher is saying.

Drives me mad. I have no useful advice.

Just because a teacher has 'noticed', doesn't imply that there is a problem.

Childrens' behaviour does tend to have girls' behaviour as the gold standard, but boys are sooooooooooo different.

Chances are, your DS' teacher has 'noticed' that most of the boys in the class are easily distracted

If you are worried, I would turn this on its head and ask what your school is doing for boys in Recep/Yr1. Girls are very keen to sit quietly and concentrate hard to produce neat work and thus please their teacher. Boys prefer sticking/model making/ walking around. At that age, their fine motor skills are often not as developed as girls, so they have difficulty with 'prolonged' periods of writing

I would make sure his class regularly do outside activities for numeracy/literacy; make sure the projects are boy friendly.

I would also make sure the timetable is sorted so that desk/mat time is regularly interspaced with moving around activites/craft stuff.

I would also ensure that, at home, pencils/paper etc are freely available so that he can write and draw what and when he wants.

i have a DS in yr 6 and two DC in yr 9 &10 the one in yr 10 was just like this in first and middle school it worried the heck out of me and is now heading for A* in everything so please enjoy now while it lasts as they are only ickle for a short time and if things dont improve at school or you really feel their is cause for concern see the school sen / inclusion teacher and or GP but its probably just typical boy behaviour

Same here too - DS's teacher mentioned lack of concentration, she also said that this was common. She gave me a sheet of activities that help concentration - and they were all the things DS doesn't do and has never done, e.g. puzzles, board games, memory games.

Also, the sheet mentioned reading to DCs, which we do every day, but DS still prefers picture books, and isn't really into chapter books that much yet.

We always make sure we walk to school and he usually has a good run around on the field before he goes in - so plenty of excersise and fresh air.

We also limit TV if necessary, but he doesn't really concentrate on that either.

Ahh now my DS has quite astonishing concentration where TV is concerned Gabid - I'm pretty sure I could leave him in front of the TV, go out for the entire day come back & he'd still be glued to it .

Thanks for the replies it's always good to hear other experiences & advice (Trailmix - I hear you). I also totally agree about not pushing him at this early stage in his education - he loves telling & listening to long stories so does have the capacity to concentrate, but, things like reading, writing, drawing etc and he'll switch off, mess around, talk about something/anything other than the job in hand!
I like the idea of asking school how they tailor their teaching to boys & will raise this next parents evening

Thanks again for the reassurance and advice.
LCN

Well, my DS does concentrate on some things, he used to built elaborate Lego vehicles, builds models out of cardboard boxes, draws.

If you say glued to the TV - does your DS know what's going on. If mine sits in front of the TV for a longer time he is usually tired and does not get the stories.

Also, mine concentrates better/stays on task when he can talk and be actively involved - that may be a boys thing. Learning by doing rather than listening and watching. Does the school give them enough opportunities to talk, do, move while they are learning - a question that could be asked.

I think all boys are the same, because they are not ready for school at this age- other countries that start them at 7, find them more eager to learn and easier to teach; consequently abroad the gap between girls and boys at reading/writing is less profound too.

My DSs were the same, yet they could watch in one sitting the Sound of Music (over 2 hours!!) so I think there isnt much that you could do that would work- in short you fighting nature!

Yes, I am assuming starting school later could be a solution but have not seen or looked for any evidence - would be interested though.

I was worried about my spring born DS starting school at 4. Reception was very play based, now he does what is expected of him at school - but he finds reading and writing boring. He genreally enjoys school though.