Toddler play and attention span

**singa06** · 27-05-2012 22:07

My DS is just over 2.5 yrs old and I am not sure what 'normal' attention span for his age should be and when I should raise concern. It seems that he can't play/do something for more than a few minutes before changing tasks, such as playing with his cars, train set, play doh...etc. Even one of the carers at daycare mentioned that he can't concentrate on a task for too long.

**roz2288** · 27-05-2012 22:10

I know for a 3 yr old they expect them to do one activity for about 15mims my son can as long as he is really interested

**kel87** · 27-05-2012 22:12

DS at that age would only sit and watch maybe 20 minutes of a tv show.

I'm not sure what he is like at daycare but if I ask him to colour only now at just 3 will he sit and colour for more than 5 minutes.

I have raised concerns a bit and all the mums I spoke to said it was the same with their boys at that age.

**Bonkers** · 27-05-2012 22:17

Originally Posted by kel87

DS at that age would only sit and watch maybe 20 minutes of a tv show.

I'm not sure what he is like at daycare but if I ask him to colour only now at just 3 will he sit and colour for more than 5 minutes.

I have raised concerns a bit and all the mums I spoke to said it was the same with their boys at that age.

Same with my 2. Aged 3and2. But if a movie is on they wanna watch like today the bee movie they both sat an watched the hole thing.

**singa06** · 27-05-2012 22:22

I'm not talking about watching tv, my DS can do that for much longer as it's stimulating. I mean more like hands on activities.

**2Bboys** · 27-05-2012 22:28

My 2.5 yo would play with his train set for hours.

Coloring in not more than a few lines.

Blocks for about 10 minutes.

In the bath with bath toys half hour or so in the warmer weather.

H is quite spirited though. Very much a 'boy'.

**trishalishous** · 27-05-2012 23:34

DD just turned 2, and having her sit through an episode of Playschool is a long time for her to concentrate.
She will draw or paint for maybe 20 mins, if I sit with her.

**Nemmi** · 27-05-2012 23:38

My son is 2,
He would watch a t.v show that interested him for hours if I let him,

He can do an activity that interests him for at least half an hour, no idea whats normal sorry Ds has been like it since he was tiny (as a newby he would wake, nurse and go under his play gym where he would mostly stay til he got hungry / cranky or tires)

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**heeeeerekittykitty** · 27-05-2012 23:47

Hi singa, my ds is 2 years 4 months.

Tv is no probs he will sit and watch an episode of something , same as the ipad , he would be on it for hours if I let him . but as for an activity , five min MAX at most things ! Coloring in one minute if I'm lucky lol, he's outgrown he's blocks but I would have got around 10 minutes out of him maybe , he's chunky puzzles bout ten to fifteen minutes , cars and train set etc the same.

The only other activity that keeps him entertained within the house for longer than ten minutes is jumping on the indoor jumping castle , he could do that for a half hour at a time easy . He's getting really hard to keep entertained and jumps from one thing to the next all day everyday , he likes to be out and about constantly which can be hard with two young kids .

Id have thought it was quite normal for toddlers to be like this at their age.