What can I do to help DS? :(

[NoVegBeforeSkeg]

DS is really struggling with school-he's just coming to the end of reception.
He has such a short attention span, can't concentrate enough to take anything in.

I had his report, and it's terrible.
He was so excited to hear what his teacher had said about him (nothing good actually)
I didn't tell him that btw.

His teacher keeps telling me to read with him at home, which I do.
He spoke to me like I'm an idiot, telling me how important books are for children.
DS has loads of books, he just isn't interested at all. When we're reading I have to keep tapping him, as he'll be looking out the window, or messing around with his feet or something.

He can't write or read anything other than his name.
He only knows a few phonics.

Do you think there is any help I could get him, or does anyone have any suggestions with things I could do?
I went along to the phonic workshops the school ran, and tried the games they suggested- still am trying.

I'm getting fed up with the 'blame' all on me tbh
I really am trying.
DS is a bright boy, he knows where rain comes from (been quite a hot topic lately!), and all sorts of random facts about stuff. He just can't sit and read.

Sorry this is so long and rambly.
I feel like I'm putting him down, I honestly don't want or mean to sound like I am.
He is a great kid, and I love him.

Any advice would be fab- thanks in advance!

My dd is doing Reading Eggs on the computer.

She is not interested in reading really. She likes listening to books but not reading them!

That sounds just like my DS.
He has the ed.psych in school tomorrow to observe, do some 1;1 with him to see what help he needs, his IEP mainly says "Be able to sit still for 5 minute periods" he is incapable of 30 secs let alone 5mins! His report is not great at all, his scores on the EYFS are 2-6.

Oops, pressed send too quick.

He knows 6-8 phonics, has no interest whatsoever in books (or learning for that matter) I really don't know what to do.
We have parents evening later today so I will be asking.

Keep going, I'm not an expert but I remember hearing Michael Rosen on the radio about reading, he said that so long as a child is reading it doesn't matter what they are reading. He went on to suggest football programmes anything that they are interested in. Maybe try to find simple books in subjects that he is interested in, it sounds like he likes science, weather etc? The phonics ones we have are really dull.

We went to a school talk about moving from R to Yr1, they said that the average girl is better able to concentrate at this age than the average boy. My boy is definitely average in this respect

Keep it fun and make it enjoyable for him. My DH learnt to read really late, he much preferred being read to, once he got going he didn't stop and still loves his books.

Dd is coming up for 8 and has attention problems. We are working on developing strategies for her. One thing which is successful is clearly identifying specific targets for the child and then having a reward system - such children can be very motivated by rewards. For dd this means she has a special book to write down instructions from the teacher. Everytime she concentrates enough to understand a task first time, she gets a reward. For a younger child, the goals would be easier and more straightforward, so sitting still for 10 minutes.

It has nothing at all to do with intelligence.

My dd is only interested in animals. I have tried to go with it by getting non-fiction reading books for her and I got her some books of animals to cut up as she can't use scissors to save her life.

She dies know her sounds because I taught her them myself using Jolly Phonics.

Have a look at reading eggs. I think you get a month free trial so you could start in the holidays.

I've no real advice OP - just wanted to say don't beat yourself up. Your little boy sounds lovely and it will 'click' for him when he's ready. Don't let the teachers make you feel bad - keep on asking for help and trying to keep it light and fun for your DS. He'll be fine - honest.

Read anything with him - as long as he is interested. My mum volunteers with VRH and uses all sorts of materials - footy reports, newsround website, etc. She finds making it "real" not just fiction/stories really helps. She also gets the kids chalking outside or writing in the mud/with stones. Anything to break the barriers down.

My blog may be helpful - it has lots of tips about encouraging reluctant readers.

fightforyourchild.blogspot.co.uk/

1. Hug him till the stuffing comes out.
2. Be nicer to yourself, you're a great Mum.
3. Observe him, and think about what really interests him. If you are trying to read to him and can't get his attention you are pushing water uphill. So he knows where rain comes from? Is science his 'thing'? If so, get some basic books on topics that really engage him, preferably with lots of pictures, and sit and look at them with him, then perhaps do something related eg how about making a rainfall chart. Which day did most rain fall this week? You can do lots of things like this. Then find a short story about rain (or whatever else) so that the reading part seems more relevant and he is more involved. (Shirley Hughes Alfie stories are good at this sort of thing). Also don't discount short poems.

School needs to work out what kind of learner he is and feed that back to you, so that you are better able to support him. Also don't forget he is still very young and boys can easily be a good year behind girls at this age. Good luck!

Thankyou all so much for your brilliant advice and reassurance.

Will have look up reading eggs later Savoy, and also your blog Creative, thankyou :)

Feel a lot less panicked now. I know it sounds silly to be so stressed, but sometimes feel very alone in it all!

DS has similar concentration problems with reading books - so much so that I've given up with them. I don't want to make it a fight.

But he LOVES reading eggs, and is doing really well on it. It has shown him that he does actually know more than he thinks he does. There is lots of repetition and lots of chances to get things right. And you get a free month to start with, then if you search for promo codes you can get extra free time.

How old is your DS? Mine is an early summer born and sometimes that seems to be very young for all that sitting down concentrating. I hope that as he matures, he'll grow into school a bit more IYSWIM. You aren't alone in this. I posted last week after DS's report.

DS is very similar to this. He had a lot of problems socialising for the first two terms so the school and I concentrated on dealing with this first. Now he has a few friends but he has a few speech and motor skill issues so we are dealing with those. Of course we read at bedtime and he is being taught phonics etc like everyone else but as you can see it is not as important as the other issues so don't worry too much that your DS is a bit behind. His teacher sounds rubbish though, I hope you get a more supportive one next year.

I have an older child and I noticed that year 1 was where the real breakthroughs occured. She didn't get phonics at all and couldn't blend or anything at the start of reception but by the end of year 1 she was reading really well. I am hoping DS will have the same experience. I do send him to a 'tutor' for reading and writing. I know that sounds OTT but it is just a friend of my MIL who was a teacher and she sees him for 30 mins every week. He loves her and it really helps him to get some one on one with an actual teacher rather than me who has less patience and no idea if I am doing it right!

They are still so young and will come along in leaps and bounds in the next two years. Try not to worry and try some of the suggestions on here but don't push it too much as you might put him off.

Sorry that should have read "couldn't blend or anything at the end of reception

I just want to reassure you really...they are SO young...in the UK we expec muchmore of these tiny little girls and boys than the rest of the world does.

In some countries they don't begin to learn to read until they are 6! He'll get there...my DD was NOT interested and at the end of reception she could barely read.

SHe's just finished year two with marks which have exceeded my expectaions and put her right where she should be in some subjects and well above national average in others.

I just bet he'll be different by this time next year.

Try and stretch his concentration in other ways:
play board games,
make lego models (which are good because the instructions involve just pictures - no reading)
drawing/making junk models

• anything where he will have to sit still for a short period of time, and gradually stretch it out.

With reading - take him to the library and get him to choose books he is interested in - as others have said, boys especially often prefer the non-fiction books. Short facts are easier to concentrate on. Encourage him to look at writing everywhere - even just getting him to spot shop names that begin with the same letter as his name will help engage him. Play I-spy with sounds to help him listen to the phonics eg I spy something beginning with 'sh' - for shoe, but start with teh really simple sounds - again his name 'sound' might be a good place to start. Above all keep reading with him - even if he is not concentrating on the book, it will help. Try getting him to spot the main character's name on each page or similar games. I am sure it will click at some stage - he is still very young.

I used to make bedtime a bit later if DS would listen to a story - 'it's seven o clock now, so you have to go to bed...or you could have an extra 10mins if we spend it reading a story together?'.

At the first fidget, book away, light off, into bed.

Also agree with everyone who has said to build concentration in other ways (Lego etc), and that it doesn't matter what he is reading - comic for favourite TV show?