My Son is 4 years old and goes to preschool. It is very hard to keep him occupied in school related topics.?

Question

he gets distracted very easily. Looses his patience and says he does not want to learn anymore. What can I do to help him be more patient and expand his learning.

Answer 1

Short attention spans require constant change, though this is like giving a dog new food because he doesn't like the old one, you reward the behavior you're trying to modify. So, keep the changes just out of reach of his attention span. If he's beginning to get bored at two minutes, make him do something for two and a half until he has no problem with it, then maybe small changes. Also, give him things that take that long to solve, or do, so that it's like a speed contest. And everything should be a game, as best as you can make it, especially cleaning the room, etc. Rewards are best if they are not money, candy, or TV time, but things like effusive praise (works almost as good on my nine year old as on my labrador), hugs, more attention, or playing a game with them can be great rewards, ones he has to work to earn. In short, keep it like the carrot on a stick, just in front of him, making HIM reach for it with his attention, not forcing him to do it. If HE does it, it will stick almost every time (and get ready to find out how smart he is, and how fast he learns, and just try to keep up, you might consider home schooling), but if YOU make him do it, he will resent both you and the learning process, and maybe even the thing being learned.

Answer 2

You have to remember that he is 4 years old. At this point in anyones life you have no clue what is going on. All that you care about is haveing fun. Maybe if you try and make some games using the school related topics, then you could teach him in a fun way. Also he won't really know that he's learning, then we it comes to those topics he would remeber all the fun times he had with his mom teaching him this information, and he would have retained all of it. All depending on how and what you teach him. There are some many other factors that could come into play, but here is an idea for some fondation. thank you

Answer 3

Make the activity a game. All kids love to play, especially with Mom or Dad. In preschool with special needs students everything from getting off the bus to snack time is fun. Who can stand up the tallest in line. Who can be quiet while we walk down the hall. Then praise, praise, praise when the activity is done correctly. Don't give them food or candy or you will be doing that all day. A simple pat on the back and "good job John" is enough. Preschool kids are looking for attention and praise. Nothing should look like work.

Answer 4

4 yr. olds respond well to kinetic learning. Rather than telling a story act it out, same with a scene in a painting - take the atmosphere of the painting and make it into a dance. Preschoolers relate colours to taste, smell and touch and what they say will give you an indication of where their attention span is at. Rather than pen and paper exercises pre-schoolers prefer building things, and can count all the orange blocks in their creation and do math while setting the table (if your grandparents where here how many plates would we need- that sort of thing), and they love spotting letters in signs. 4 is a fun age and you need to have fun with him while learning else he will resent the entire activity. Bonne chance, oh they pick up languages very quickly at that age, my son spoke 3 languages at 4, mainly silly sayings, but he found it fun to be a little parrot.

Answer 5

Developmentally a four year old is still trying to remember the meaning of language. They are still learning what words to use and what they mean. Much of their learning at these stages is done through play. Fantasy play, or using "private speech" are some ways a four year old is processing their reality. If your school related topics include: pretend play, beginning to share ideas in play with peers, making "friends" with peers, then their may be another question. Yet, if the school related topics are learning to write words, letters, "academic" topics, then let him go at his pace. You can always expose them "early" to academic topics, but each child will ultimately learn at their own pace. Reading to a child everyday may not make them a reader at age 4, and a reader at age 4 may not love to read as an adult. There are no guarantees!---Just be patient and your child will learn from you.

Answer 6

I agree with the other answers. It's not him that needs to be more patient; it's you. I don''t mean that in a bad way, but just switch gears. Also, be sneaky and stick in "school stuff" during play activities. What color is that bird? What shape in the picture? What day are we going to the zoo? If you cut out coupons, get some extra and let him practice cutting on the lines of the ones you don't want. You get the idea. All kids like to be like mom and dad. Be patient and this too shall pass.

Answer 7

4 year old boys are busy, that's the way they are. Use toys like legos, or hot wheels to make patterns, or sort in like colors. Sorting games, and games where you pick out what is the same/different help in math and concentration. Take for example red and yellow legos. Build a tower alternating colors, or create your own pattern. Have your son repeat the pattern you made, then crash your tower apart with the hot wheels Short incriments of time work best, 10-15 minutes. Take breaks by playing chase or who can run fastest backwards, along those lines.

Answer 8

Depends what you call school related topics. I know kids who love reading at that age, and being read to. I was sent in the back yard to do laps when I couldn't sit still. My mother turned everything into a learning experience. A walk turned into a lesson on flowers and how things grow, playing in the sandbox turned into a mini engineering lesson on materials etc. If you expect him to sit still and take notes it isn't going to happen. If learning is cleverly disguised as play he'll never stop learning.

Answer 9

Keep the learning sessions short. This will allow his brain to process the information and wonder a little bit more. In addition, reenforce when he is paying attention and particapating in the session. Some kind words may inspire him/her to get more involved. On the flip side, make sure that you keep him on task. This will become a routine, which all kids need, and the attention span will extend longer each time. You will know when it is time to stop.

Answer 10

make short lessons- my 5 year old is exactly the same way. i try and keep him going for 5 minutes at a time- that's enough. read the article from a few months ago in Newsweek its about what to really expect from boys and how best to approach learning. i go between math,mazes,Lego,exercise go quick and simple . this saves both of your patience if you know what you can realistcally expect and, make sure not to compare to a girl the same age. boys start going around 8 years old so play now ,and you'll be surprised by what they learn from it.