Question about child development

**lottaLove** · 07-04-2007, 01:10 PM

I have a question for you ladies. I have put DS in an AM summer camp session for this week, the session is supposed to be for children ages 3 to 5. DH went to pick up DS today at noon, and the instructors told him that DS is wandering around too much. Like when it is time to sit down and have circle time, DS would rather wander around than sit down with the other kids. Now I know DS is the youngest in the bunch, most of the other children are closer to 4 or 5, and he just turned 3.
My question is, would you consider this normal 3 year old behaviour? The instructors are almost making us feel as though DS needs more discipline, or he has an attention issue. We use the 1-2-3 Magic method at home, and have never had problems disciplining DS. The conflict I am having is that I feel as though they are expecting DS to act older than he is, and then making us feel bad when he acts like a 3 year old.
If this were your child, would you consider the wandering behaviour normal? I don't know if I'm over-reacting to what the day camp instructor has told me, or if I'm under-reacting to DS's behaviour.

**PrairieRose** · 07-04-2007, 01:39 PM

I probably wouldn't worry about it too much since he's just turned 3....that's pretty young to be expected to follow lots of instructions and behave with lots of structure in a routine. If you're not comfortable with it take him out of the camp. That's what I'd do rather than be made to feel as if something's wrong with him....I think he's just young.

**Its_Donna** · 07-04-2007, 01:54 PM

I completely agree with PrairieRose...these are camp counselors not child psychologists and what's normal anyway? He's 3 y/o and 3 y/o wander around, bounce off the walls, whine, throw fits, are selfish, etc...IMHO he's a typical 3 y/o. They really shouldn't try to compare him to other children...we are all individuals with our own characteristics. Don't worry!

**claimsgirl66** · 07-04-2007, 02:08 PM

My nephew is 3 1/2 and getting him to stay still for more than 5 minutes....well...pretty much impossible. He is an active little boy and just a bundle of energy, and more curious as to what else there is to see that what he is "supposed" to be doing.

I think when we were kids it was called "ants in your pants". I would not worry too much now, just see how he does in a year or so. He may just be a naturally curious little boy!

**many houseapes** · 07-04-2007, 04:16 PM

I have a 3 1/2 y/o little boy....& I agree w/ the others here.I have had 6 boys & I believe that to be normal behavior for a little boy that age.

My older 2 sons were misdiagnosed with ADD /ADHD when they still attended an actual school setting. The only "problem" that they had was that they were highly intelligent children & they were easily bored w/ how their teachers were teaching the class....they wanted to move on to other creative things after they were done with their class work & their teachers were not meeting their educational needs....so their "ADD/ADHD" posed a "problem" for their teachers.

I believe that there are very good teachers out there, but sadly, there are many that would much rather have the child on ritalin than to take the time and work with a boy that is exhibiting "normal little boy behavior".

Your son will be okay....I wouldn't let these so - called experts get under your skin. After all....you know your son much better than they do

**YankeeMom** · 07-04-2007, 06:41 PM

Definitely sounds like normal 3yo behavior. Shoot, one of the biggest objectives of preschool is to get them to get used to a routine and sitting & paying attention for longer & longer periods of time.

**pita1213** · 07-04-2007, 06:51 PM

with a 3 year old boy, you're lucky if you can get him to sit still long enough to eat all his food. when you put him in a new environment with neat things to look at, it'd take a miracle to keep him from wandering around and looking at the neat things. little kids are curious by nature. i think they are expecting him to be like the 5 year olds.

**lwlynch** · 07-05-2007, 12:40 PM

I watch 5 three and four year olds. They wander and get up all the time. We work slowly on trying to stay put and do something for more than a minute. There is nothing wrong with any of them. It takes time to build up to paying attention. Alot of times, these daycares and teachers would really prefer that they all sit there like a bunch of zombies, and make their life easier. We play and work on listening, sitting and concentrating all day here. Hang in there everyone has an opinion, usually my mother would say. "Consider where it is coming from before you get all worked up." Good luck anyway.

**Cricket1** · 07-05-2007, 04:11 PM

Does he attend any preschool or anything like that throughout the school year? My boys started preschool at 3 1/2 and that is what they learned there--to sit in circle and to listen, etc. Sounds normal to me.

**Jerseygirl** · 07-08-2007, 09:05 PM

A 3 year olds' attention span is expected to be just that, about 3 minutes, especially for a non active activity - plus he's a boy which generally equals more interest in gross motor activity, less interest in fine motor activities / verbal interaction etc. Worry if the wandering happens constantly to avoid interaction with all people, avoids socializing or touching all together etc. ---Kellie