Four Year Old Developing Normally?

I have a 4 1/2 year old son who is extremely bright, and having no trouble learning to identify his letters and learn their sounds.  As an infant he cried a lot, didn't sleep well, and wanted to be held all of time.  Some of my concerns are as follows...  When coloring a "coloring book" type picture, he usually won't even try to color neatly, but instead scribble, and usually only uses one color, instead of picking different colors for different things in the picture.  He says that it is "too hard" or that coloring "makes me tired."  When tracing letters of the alphabet, he is the same way.  He will only trace a couple of letters, maybe attempt to write one or two on his own, and then he says the same things as with coloring.  He has a lot of difficulty sitting still when something doesn't interest him.  At church it is SO HARD for him to sit still for any length of time.  He is usually laying on the chairs, sometimes crawling under them, talking outloud at inappropriate times, etc.  It doesn't matter how much I tell him to whisper in places where a loud voice should not be used, he will still use his normal voice.  When something interests him, he does fine.  At the library during story time, he will sit on the floor with the other children and attentively listen to 3 stories.  When he is engrossed in something like t.v. or looking at a book, it is very hard to get his attention.  He seems so focused on the t.v./book, and we have to say his name several times, or sometimes even turn the t.v. off.  He also has trouble following directions.  When I ask him to go get his p.j.'s on, he will inevitably find something else to do on the way to his room, like playing with the cat or seeing a book laying on the floor and deciding to look at it, etc.  When he does a project that involves using a glue stick, he will eat the glue.  No matter how many times I have told him NOT to do it, he still does.  Do you think he may have ADHD or are these typical behaviors of 4 1/2 year old boys?  Thank you!

[RockRose]

It sounds like what you have there is a boy.  ;D

Best wishes.

[Matts_Mom29]

I have a lot of trouble getting my son to sit down to colour, paint, play with play-doh etc.  I have had people involved with him for health reasons and one of the things that was suggested to me was to get him to do "Heavy work" before sitting him down to concentrate on something.  "Heavy work" is getting them to do things like carry a heavy backpack up and down the stairs, help you carry rocks across the yard or drag bags filled with leaves across the yard.  Apparently this centres them and allows them to focus better.  It really does work.  I know that it's not always possible i.e. before church, but sometime if you're able to, try it before you want him to sit down and colour or trace letters etc.  Good luck.

[Cleveland Mom]

Matt's mom is right on with her suggestion, too.  It also works with my son.

[Cleveland Mom]

I like Rock Rose's comment LOL!  Your son sounds pretty typical.  I have a 4 y/o son, too.  He knows lots of stuff, letters, numbers, counting...  He also detests coloring.  He used to dislike writing but, I work with him everyday and within a couple of months he has actually taken an interest in it.  Alot of the moms of 4 y/o boys report their sons will have nothing to do with drawing and coloring.  Boys develop their fine motor skills more slowly with girls, generally speaking.  All 4 y/os have a limited attention span, have poor impulse control and are prone to silliness at times.  Best wishes, too!!!

[jd1419]

I have a four year old boy also--10-15 minutes is usually the time fram of concentration for them.  He doesn't eat glue-but everything else is right on--he usually only colors in one color-sometimes two--doesn't like to practice his letters--other than he has his name down pat.  He doesn't sit still in church--so it is easier for me just not to take him.  I think this is all normal boy behavior--though in pre school he does excellent--listens to the teachers very well--but still has days were he does stuff that he knows they don't like.  I think your little gut is normal.

[tiredbuthappy]

i have to agree with the others- definitely a typical little boy! i see parents get frustrated all the time, but in reality they are just being normal.
some expectations are so high these days. when we were younger, we weren't expected to know how to write before kindergarten. many children, especially boys at that age, just aren't interested or feel frustrated because they haven't developed the fine muscles needed for writing, coloring, and tracing. (by the way, i just found a site that gives great suggestions for fine motor development- http://www.hummingbirded.com/fine-motor.html).  and there's a reason why glue is non-toxic... for some reason some kids tend to eat it. (i bet he'd probably nibble at play dough too). and as for church... well, even i have trouble sitting through it and wish i could behave as he does there.