Attention Deficit in Toddlers?

[Modeps]

My dad watches my daughter every week for 2 days. He said something to me this morning that got me thinking, although I think he's being a little bit paranoid.

My daughter, 21 months old, doesn't usually spend time playing with one specific toy. She'll play with something for 10 minutes, then switch it up and pick something new for 10 minutes... repeat. Yet when the TV is on, she can just watch Tigger and Pooh for as long as we let her (usually only a half hour of TV allowed)

I've noticed it before, but really didn't think anything of it, just chalked it up to her being so young... He said that he didn't think it was a good thing. Last time he noticed something, he was correct (she had mild nystagmus which she seems to have grown out of mostly) and he's got more experience than I do at this type of thing.

Anyone with kids have any insight? Are yours the same way with toys? Do you think its just being overly cautious?

 

[Anubis]

ask your doctor

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: Anubis
ask your doctor

Plan to at the next visit... he just brought it up this morning.

 

[FoBoT]

that is unpossible

all little kids are like that

 

[mindmaniac]

Yeah, I think you're being overly cautious. Why don't you just put her on medications and squelch any indivuality in her that you can? Would you rather have some little robot that focuses on some boring toy for eight hours? Sorry to be rough but we're talking about a kid they don't have long attention spans.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
that is unpossible

all little kids are like that

/thread



God i hope you don;t micro-parent like that till they are 18. they will so fucked up from all the drugs and other BS you put them through.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

a strict diet of cheerios and ritalin should cure this behavior in no time.

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: mindmaniac
Yeah, I think you're being overly cautious. Why don't you just put her on medications and squelch any indivuality in her that you can? Would you rather have some little robot that focuses on some boring toy for eight hours? Sorry to be rough but we're talking about a kid they don't have long attention spans.

Your post sounded like it was starting off good, then it quickly turned into you being a douche.

 

[crystal]

I would be amaze if my daughter (23 months) focus on 1 toy for over 10 min. And yes, she loves to watch elmo, micky & cat in the hat. :/

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: FoBoT
that is unpossible

all little kids are like that

/thread

God i hope you don;t micro-parent like that till they are 18. they will so fucked up from all the drugs and other BS you put them through.

Micro-parenting eh? So, I guess paying attention to what my daughter is doing is bad. I'll stop that right now. I never once considered that she would need to take drugs.

 

[Queasy]

That is just a toddler being a toddler. My son was the same way when he was that age and my daughter is the same way at 2 and half years old. Though, my daughter is highly possessive (something my son didn't have to worry about when he was 2).

 

[allisolm]

here

"A normal attention span is 3 to 5 minutes per year of a child's age. Therefore, a 2-year-old should be able to concentrate on a particular task for at least 6 minutes, and a child entering kindergarten should be able to concentrate for at least 15 minutes. (Note: A child's attention span while watching TV is not an accurate measure of his or her attention span.) "

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: crystal
I would be amaze if my daughter (23 months) focus on 1 toy for over 10 min. And yes, she loves to watch elmo, micky & cat in the hat. :/

Originally posted by: Queasy
That is just a toddler being a toddler. My son was the same way when he was that age and my daughter is the same way at 2 and half years old. Though, my daughter is highly possessive (something my son didn't have to worry about when he was 2).

Thank you both for your constructive posts. This is the type of feedback I was looking for.

 

[cardiac]

My oldest son, when he was 2, and is now 11, is on Adderal for ADD, and doing fine (He's actually going to be coming off it this year), would play with one toy for hours on end. So, the theory that they have ADD if they don't play with something for hours is shot (At least in my experience.)

Bob

 

[MmmSkyscraper]

/me runs off and chases a squirrel with a stick

 

[pontifex]

I like turtles!

wait, what is this thread about?



Seriously though, my 2 year old niece is exactly like that

 

[blackdogdeek]

my 21 month old daughter is the same way.

 

[rivan]

I'll agree with the other posters - I think you're being over-cautious. Both of my kids roughly fall into the 3-5 minutes per year of age.

Still, if it's something you're concerned by, never hesitate to bring it up to your pediatrician - and I applaud your diligence... better over-cautious parenting than under-attentive.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: crystal
I would be amaze if my daughter (23 months) focus on 1 toy for over 10 min. And yes, she loves to watch elmo, micky & cat in the hat. :/

Originally posted by: Queasy
That is just a toddler being a toddler. My son was the same way when he was that age and my daughter is the same way at 2 and half years old. Though, my daughter is highly possessive (something my son didn't have to worry about when he was 2).

Thank you both for your constructive posts. This is the type of feedback I was looking for.

No problem. I should add that you should expect this to get better but not dramatically better until they get much older. Especially boys. It really depends on the child and his/her personality though. My son is five and still has trouble listening, following directions, and staying still when he is supposed to. He's no where near as bad as some other 5-year olds that I have seen though.

My son is playing in a basketball league at the YMCA right now and there's a boy his team that is absolutely horrendous. He'll just run around wild on the court, doing cart wheels, trying to provoke the other kids on the team into play fighting, completely ignores the coach, etc etc. The sad thing is, he's the coach's son!

 

[blackdogdeek]

Originally posted by: Queasy

My son is playing in a basketball league at the YMCA right now and there's a boy his team that is absolutely horrendous. He'll just run around wild on the court, doing cart wheels, trying to provoke the other kids on the team into play fighting, completely ignores the coach, etc etc. The sad thing is, he's the coach's son!

this might sound horrible, but i'd love to see those games.

sometimes when my 4 year old daughter acts up i can get really frustrated. then when we go out and i see other kids i think "thank goodness our girls aren't like that".

 

[dainthomas]

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: mindmaniac
Yeah, I think you're being overly cautious. Why don't you just put her on medications and squelch any indivuality in her that you can? Would you rather have some little robot that focuses on some boring toy for eight hours? Sorry to be rough but we're talking about a kid they don't have long attention spans.

Your post sounded like it was starting off good, then it quickly turned into you being a douche.

Where did you get that?

Don't let your dad's paranoia rub off on you. Have you honestly never seen a child before?

 

[bonkers325]

all kids are like that. just dont think that the TV can do most of the babysitting for you

 

[Throckmorton]

Lobotomy. It worked for the Kennedys

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: dainthomas

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: mindmaniac
Yeah, I think you're being overly cautious. Why don't you just put her on medications and squelch any indivuality in her that you can? Would you rather have some little robot that focuses on some boring toy for eight hours? Sorry to be rough but we're talking about a kid they don't have long attention spans.

Your post sounded like it was starting off good, then it quickly turned into you being a douche.

Where did you get that?

Bolded for you.