Would you consider a 2 mins concentration span ok for 5 y old?

[genieinabottle]

I don't want to post this outside of SN even if the question title isn't really SN.

DS is 5, asd, in ms reception.
His teacher is good at minimising his difficulties for a reason i cannot fathom out.

At parents' evening, we discussed that DS is hard to engage in adult led activities (really!! ) and that when it comes to activities he hasn't chosen his concentration needs some improvement.

Teacher says it's about 2 mins sometimes 3 on a good day. She said he needs lots of encouragement and praise to motivate him as he disengages quickly and gives up when he struggles with something.

For once i can agree with what she said. ...shame she didn't actually write that on the rosy report she sent to his paed.

Anyway as she finished telling us that, she quickly adds that it isn't that bad really and he defo will no need specific extra help for that, considering that other children in the classroom can only focus for 10 seconds!

Yet again she was comparing DS to others and minimise his needs and difficulties. Which if what school have been doing since he has started.

I will add that DS when following his own agenda can focus for a long time.
If a book interest him he can sit and look at it for 15-20 mins or read the book with me for 5-6 mins which is about average imo.

The 2 mins concentration span is for stuff like sitting down to write or draw, paint,...all stuff he doesn't like.

Looks like i've found the answer to my question on this website www.kidsgrowth.com/resources/articledetail.cfm?id=1007

According the info DS should be able to concentrate for approx. a mininmum of 15 minutes.
2-3 minutes is definately not that good then!

And i think it is linked to the asd and his struggle to engage in stuff that isn't of his interest.

So despite what teacher says, imo it isn't gonna get better unless the issue is properly addressed is it?

genie My ds has a 35 minute attention span with a boring unrewarding, uninspiring SALT.

He has a 3 hour attention span with his ABA tutor who is engaging and fun.

I don't know what is 'normal' but I think you're being fobbed off.

Dd3 (4) had as one of her iep targets to sit at an adult led activity for 3 minutes so definitely an acceptable area to work on.

DS(6 nearly 7) ASD, can concentrate about 10 - 15 mins if it is something he enjoys, think it is about max of 10 mins if activity he finds difficult - reading, writing etc.

Think our school may use this against us when wanting 1-to-1 in his statement as they will say he couldn't cope with too much 1 to 1.

dd2 (5 years ASD) can concentrate for about ten minutes if engaged on something. She has a ten minute timer at school. She can do longer if very engaged and motivated.

On the main board they always qoute an attention span should be the child's age +- 2 mins. So a 5 year old should have a concentration span of 3 - 7 mins.

I guess it depends how you define 'concentration span'???????

But from the posts by the teachers on the main board I'd say this is what teachers think a child's concentration span should be.....

Can I just qualify my post. DS's attention span was nothing like that. It quite possibly is nothing like that in a busy classroom, although I think it is within the realms of normal in that he will sit and listen in carpet time, just as long as his peers, even if he doesn't understand everything.

As I'm sure you must know, anyones attention span is longer when the content of what you are attending is interesting and motivating for you.

A 3 hour ABA session will be very carefully structured so that the pace is fast, there are breaks that require attention but less demanding stuff, but the programme is indivualised and his tutor is 'tuned in' to his level of attention. When he looks like he's losing interest the game is hyped up, when he is highly alert and attending, the task might be extended to get the most from him.

However, he has been doing this for so long now that he understands HOW to attend, even when it is boring, so his attention span is quite long, probably longer than most of his NT peers. I expect he has been 'trained' into it.

But I think the important thing to remember is that attention span is not innate or a consequence of a disability. It can affect it, and in cases such as ADHD possible quite significantly. But short attention span is not part of the diagnostic criteria for ASD.

Now, if the child is not understanding, language they are hearing is too complicated, they're confused, bored, pace too slow etc etc. then the attention span is likely to be less.

I would suggest that you ask the teachers what strategies they have or are going to put in place to extend your ds' attention span and keep him focussed for longer and how they are going to measure the impact of this.

They could start with a very rewarding activity and measuring how long he can attend that, then try again every day to see if it can be extended, using both your ds' improvement and the improvement of their own ability to engage him. This can be transfered over to a less rewarding situation.