The five minute attention span

The boys can't seem to spend more than 5 mintues doing something and it's driving me NUTS. Playdoh, blocks, reading, coloring, other random toys .... 5 minutes, done. They have a birthday in two weeks and I CAN'T WAIT for new toys! I'm sure that will last all of 5 minutes but a glorious one at that.

I also find it hard to teach them anything. Izak is a little better at sitting still but not by much. It makes me feel like I'm not doing my job. Especially when I'm with other moms of singletons and they are far ahead of my boys. We bumped them up to 2 days a week in daycare for socialization and learning and I feel like that's helped them but it's still really hard the days they are home.

What age does the attention span get a little longer? Give me some hope please!

 

Don't worry about teaching them anything while sitting at a table. Kids learn a lot just from day to day things. Talk about things you do, see, hear, etc. Make observations about everyday things. Let them explore some things and free play on their own. If learning is too formal, they may get bored. Every child learns at a different pace, so don't feel bad if other kids seem to be ahead. Have fun with learning and they will learn. Try not to compare with other people's kids. You are doing a wonderful job--it's not easy raising twins!

 

Hi - I agree with the PP, I'm sure you are doing an awesome job and don't need to worry at all that you are not teaching them. I just read a really good article (but can't find it now) about how young children (less than kindergarten age) learn from playing best, not formal teaching. They also said that although it may appear that some kids are way further advanced there is usually an evening out (or catching up or whatever) around the age of 5. So for now...incorporating a little bit of learning time into play time is definitely the way to go.

As for the attention span thing in general- wow, I know what you mean. I used to stay at home part time with my kids and I would do a million activities (or so it felt) and then look at the clock and it would only be 9:30am. LOL.

 

Not sure how old your kids are, but My kids were the same with a very short attention span around 2-2.5 years. It was awful for me I was so frustrated all the time. I noticed around 3 they started doing things for longer periods and now they will occupy themselves literally for hours. So it does get better! Just takes a little time.