5 year old son has no attention span

[snagglepuss1]

Hi, I'm a mum of 4 children. A girl, who's 8, son, who's 6, son who's 5 and a baby boy who's 1. My 5 year old started school in September 2012 and I've had concerns since he was in Pre school from the age of 3. He has virtually no attention span unless he is doing/watching something that interests him. He loves playing with his toys and pretending hes some superhero and can create some fantastic things from lego. he has computer consoles, but shows very little interest in them now. He has a fantastic imagination but is often so deeply into his play world that he can do things dangerous to himself or others without even realising it is dangerous. One example is he wandered out of the school playground one day when i was picking his older siblings up, and only got upset once he had made it out of the gate to the main road, a good 40 metres away, he had followed some other children out. a mum kindly brought him back. With toys he can become fixated with one toy and gets upset if someone else wants it, at home or school. Also trivial things can upset him and he needs calming and reassuring when this happens. When addressing him it can take several callings of his name before he responds and then it may take gently holding his face for him to look directly at me. He is unable to sit still most of the time, sitting on the sofa briefly often goes to him climbing on it or jumping up and down, even when told to sit still. He is a very clever little boy and bright for his age, his reading and learning at school is above average and he is very good at recalling songs. He likes routine and structure and is a loving and caring little boy. I have been advised to speak to the teacher who deals with special needs children at his school and will do so. I wondered if anyone could offer me any insight right now though? Thanks in advance.

[snagglepuss1]

Thank you

[Sandman2]

      Well, just in case - the book I recommend the most on this forum is, "The ADD/ ADHD Answer book," by Susan Ashley.    Over here its about $10 on Amazon.  It covers a lot of things all of which you might find helpful.  Keep it in mind and don't forget that we also have an ADHD forum - http://www.medhelp.org/forums/ADD---ADHD/show/175 - if you wind up with questions later on.  Good luck!
  

[snagglepuss1]

Just had a read and while I wouldn't label him based him solely on it, it describes him to a t!

[snagglepuss1]

Thanks I'll take a look at the site. He's going to be monitored in school in a couple of weeks until the end of may, then I'm going back for a meeting with the special needs needs teacher, who is probably going to go externally for help after that. Jut feel better knowing its being addressed. If it turns out to be nothing then ill be happy. But at least if there is an issue it can start to be dealt with now.

[Sandman2]

   If his teacher still feels like its worth talking to the special needs teacher, then I think that it would be worth doing so.  I imagine that she is suspecting something like ADHD.  Here is a site to give you more info on that - http://helpguide.org/mental/adhd_add_signs_symptoms.htm
       Good luck!  Keep us informed.

[snagglepuss1]

Also to add, his class has majority younger children in it, most of them were born February to July. So he would be considered one of the older ones within his class

[snagglepuss1]

Hi, thanks for your response. i spoke to his teacher yesterday at parents evening. It's not the first time we've spoke about my son either. She suggested I speak to the special needs teacher, he turned 5 at the beginning of feb and his teacher said she would expected him to have settled by now as its half way through the school year, although she did say his behaviour in some of the areas has improved.

[Sandman2]

   5 year old boys are not known for their ability to sit still.  So a lot of this does sound within the normal range.  The advice to talk to his teacher is an excellent one.  They see lots of kids and can tell you how he compares.  But I would first talk to his regular teacher.  You want to talk to someone who sees him everyday.  If that teacher has concerns then follow up with the other teacher.
   Oh, you also might check and see how his age compares to the others in his class.  He might be one of the younger ones?