DS needs help with his attention span (long)--any ideas?

[Rock'n Robin]

Well I had a real wakeup call yesterday. I went to DS's preschool to work his Halloween party and asked how he was doing. The response was the same as last year--he wanders around and has the attention span of a gnat (my words not theirs). They suggested perhaps if things don't change he go to pre-K in my school district next year instead of regular K.
DS is 4. BDay is June 10. He's the youngest of 3, and spends 2 full days and 3 1/2 days a week at his grandparents and is pretty spoiled there. They work with him on letters sometimes when they remember!
I am very conflicted. I will already be pushing 57 when DS graduates college. If I hold him in pre-K he'll be a week away from age 19 if he graduates! But he is little for his age too. There are benefits on both sides.
However, DH at this point is ADAMANT that DS will go into regular kindergarten next fall. He has absolutely no educational background, but thinks the preschool teachers opinion isn't enough.
The steps I've taken so far are 1) see if preschool can add him the other two mornings so he has school every day 2) went to Target and got number flashcards, thinking skills for preschool, a wipe-off alphabet board and some 24 piece puzzles (suggested by teacher to work on attention span) 3) am packing away about 1/2 of his toys this weekend to streamline and enable him to concentrate more (I'll give them back later) 4) got him a "leap pad" for Christmas.
As for myself, I deleted minesweeper from my Computer and am limiting myself to 15 minutes of internet time each day at home (not counting work).
Any other ideas? I plan on having "school" with him each day and working on some of the stuff I mentioned. I even got him a pencil box with pencils and crayons. I also plan on setting a timer for 10 minutes and increasing it so he works for a set amount of time.
Robin M.

 

[peg2001]

Robin,

This is just my opinion but I hope you consider what I have to say. Slow down on the academics (flashcards, etc.), let your son be a little boy, and give him the extra year in pre-K. It is actually much more common now for kids to be 6 or almost 6 when they start regular kindergarten than it was when you and I were that age. What they teach in kindergarten is what they used to teach in first grade. So, weird as it seems, the kids are learning the same material at about the same age, but in an earlier grade.

I REALLY believe that your son will benefit from a year of pre-K and will be much more sucessful in school if he is allowed the extra year to mature and gain a longer attention span. School should be FUN (especially at first and I fear that your son will soon dread it if he is pushed faster than he is ready.

Please forgive my bluntness, but your age has nothing to do with it. I have talked to many parents and I have never heard a parent say that they regret waiting the extra year but I have heard many say they regret NOT waiting the extra year.

I agree that the decision belongs to the parents, not the preschool teachers, but they see a lot of kids and I would weigh their opinion with all due consideration.

Good luck in whatever you decide.
Peggy

 

[Pam]

Robin,
We went through the exact same thing that you are experiencing when our son was in preschool. He would wander around, especially when it was song and dance time (he absolutely hated that!) If there was an activity that interested him, he gave 110% - but woe and misery to all if it he perceived something as boring!!

We talked to the preschool teachers when he turned 5 the very end of April, and they recommended we wait an extra year. We did this and have never regretted the decision! DS is now 14 and in the 8th grade. He's an honor student, sings in the chorus, plays the trombone in the band, has participated in a several county-wide reading competition for the last 2 years, and is one badge away from Eagle Scout! He will graduate from high school a month and a half after he turns 19. At least 8 other kids in his class are high achievers whose parents also waited an extra year to send their child to school.

DS has always loved the outdoors and anything history related. He would spend hours building camp scenes, forts, battlefields, etc. He devours books like crazy. It's no surprise that he wants to be a Park Ranger.


A lot of parents, not only in DS's preschool class but others as well, went ahead and sent their kids to kindergarten the year we waited - several of the children had to repeat either kindergarten or first grade, some third grade, and many of the kids have really strugged each year with the workload, etc.

Pam

edited for numerous spelling errors due to the Pepsi not quite kicking in this morning!!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would be more concerned with the social skills in his class. Is he getting along with kids and following the teachers directions? That is the critical piece.
The academics will come for a whole 12 yrs.
Having a late b-day would really make me think about an extra year of pre school.
Good Luck and I am sure you will find the answer that is right for your son!

 

[ripleysmom]

Robin, if he needs an extra year give it to him. At the same time though perhaps just take a wait and see attitude. In 6 months things could be very different for your son.

I think adding the extra time at the pre-school is a good idea but as for the rest of it, relax.

 

[janette]

I wouldn't push him into Kindergarten. He might just not be ready. My 8yo DD has a June birthday and we have her placed in the younger class. It was a little different because we also knew that she had a reading disability before she was in public school. That combined with her maturity made it a pretty easy decision.

I have an 11yo with a September birthday. The way I look at is that they are really closer in age in the grades they are in now than if my younger one had started on time. There is no way all children will fit into the guidelines.

I would keep finding the toys that he enjoys and have education value. That way he thinks of it as playing and doesn't feel pressure. Learning at that age should be fun.

Does your school have a developmental 1st grade? Some schools have an extra class between kindergarten & 1st for the kids who aren't quite ready for 1st grade after kindergarten. It's a good option for the kids who need an extra year.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

You know I have adjusted to the fact that DS might need the extra year, but DH hasn't. He said this morning we could wait and see in the spring.
HOWEVER, one big obstacle--our school district CUT the "readiness kindergarten" they offered this year, and due to dire budget circumstances I doubt it will be offered next year. I don't think a 3rd year of preschool with the same curriculum, etc. would do him any good and I don't know of any good pre-K programs offered around us. If I find any, I don't know if they will have availability in the spring for next year--or even if a different good preschool will.
Robin M.

 

[piratesmate]

You didn't mention how he feels about school. Unless he already hates his time there, I think that the additional 2 half days may be a good thing. Spending a bit more structured time every day may help him.

However, I agree that you should take time to reconsider doing a bunch of academics with him at home. There are other ways to work on attention span without using academics to do it, such as playing board games or card games...maybe get a good, age-appropriate computer game such as JumpStart Pre-K or one of the Putt-Putt games.

Another thought - there is a big difference between having a short attention span for EVERYTHING and not liking to sit for prolonged periods of time & therefore having a short attention span for classwork.

Also, I wouldn't worry about trying to "decide" about the pre-K vs regular K right now. You may see a lot of change before June. I don't know about Ohio, but in PA you can still register for Kindergarten/1st grade (whenever they start into the public school system) in late August.

Deb