This is normal toddler stuff, right?

erbear

Over the past few weeks, I've spent a lot of time with Kate and her "friends" (kids in the moms group...I work, most of them do not but I've been on vacation so we've seen them a lot more). 

My kid is active. Never sits still.  She's a talker (I'm talking full sentences) and she never slows down. Her attention span is pea-sized (she'll play with something for 3 minutes, then on to something else, can't get her to watch more than 3 minutes of a TV show, etc.).  She never just sits in my lap (unless I'm reading a story to her). We took her to church on Christmas Eve and she wanted to stand, walk, talk, etc.

I've seen some of the other kids like this too, but some of the others are so....mellow. It makes me worry that something is wrong with my kiddo. What do you think?

MallardDucky

I think you are worrying to much, its completely normal

Mommy2B_Hart

My kiddo is exactly the same way.  I love that he's so active, but am secretly a little jealous of the mellow kids we know too!  I don't think you have anything to work about, except your own exhaustion!

LoveEeyore

What are you thinking is wrong with her?

My first has always been very calm, bright and focused and then suddenly at 3 hit a switch and is a wild child.  Not naughty but a little whirlwind.

My twins both will sit on your lap for days if you keep reading books, but other than that, won't attend more than a few minutes to anything besides spaghetti.  In teacher training I was told take a child's age in years, multiply it by 1.5, and that's how long the child can reasonable be expected to sit and focus. 

Maybe try to get her more exercise?  Try Mommy and me classes on the weekends?  DOn't worry.  I imagine your DCP would have brought any concerns to your attention.

wanticecream

I can see why you'd be worried.  I think it's a mom thing.  But what your kid is doing sounds pretty normal to me.  My son is pretty much teh same way.  Sometimes though he gets really shy and "mellow" but the mellowness wears thin pretty quickly and he's back to his must get into e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g mode.  Sounds much like yours....except that mine does talk yet.  He'll say words here in there but that's it. 

rosesandpeonies

My daughter is the EXACT same way.  I bring her to Little Gym and Kindermusik and she truly is the only one that won't sit still.  I started to get worried also because at Kindermusik all of the kids participate and hang out with their mom's etc.  I asked my sil and she said my nephew was the same way and she ended up taking him out of his music class because of it.  I am not going to do that because she does enjoy it....but I know exactly what you mean.  I just think it has to do with personalities etc.  My daughter loves running around.  When the dr. asked me about reading to her I told him I get one page done and she is off and running...he said its just her personality.  I worry on and off because my brothers and sister have ADHD, but seriously I think that each child just has different personalities and ours just are very active   The absolute only time my daughter sits with my is her bottle at night.  That is it!

Tonya_G

Mommy2B_Hart:

My kiddo is exactly the same way.  I love that he's so active, but am secretly a little jealous of the mellow kids we know too!  I don't think you have anything to work about, except your own exhaustion!

Uh huh. Same here. DS was always on the go when he was younger- still is. DD's just like him. I wonder how the heck people have these meek, mild children, b/c mine are a couple of whirling dervishes. But, at the end of the day, I love that they're curious and spunky and they are a lot of fun.

dragon_chica

I think you're overthinking it, which is in typical mom fashion.  Take your DD for who she is.  An energetic extrovert.  Please don't worry about it too much and don't start wondering if you should be considering ADD or ADHD.  Children with low attention spans are the norm.  Having taught Kindergarten for 3 years I've gotten used to always having to transition to new activities in a short amount of time because kids that young can barely sit still.  Some kids can accomplish it a lot sooner than others but that doesn't necessarily mean there's something wrong with your kid.  Parents are so quick to want to put a label on their child's unidentified behavior to give them some comfort.  As though by having a label they can somehow find ways to fix it.  Just enjoy your child!

janice74

My son is always the most active and spirited child around and I will say, it worries me too, even though there are no red flags.  He just has a lot of energy.  I can barely get through church with him and had to remove him from Christmas Mass.  He is also the only child running off during playgroups and parties.  The other kids just sit there calmly with their moms and are content to play with a toy.  DS MUST explore.  He's just curious and spirited, but it can be completely exhausting. 

So, to me, TOTALLY normal, but I'm glad you brought it up, because I do worry about it on occasion, too. 

dragon_chica

fredalina:

dragon_chica:

I think you're overthinking it, which is in typical mom fashion.  Take your DD for who she is.  An energetic extrovert.  Please don't worry about it too much and don't start wondering if you should be considering ADD or ADHD.  Children with low attention spans are the norm.  Having taught Kindergarten for 3 years I've gotten used to always having to transition to new activities in a short amount of time because kids that young can barely sit still.  Some kids can accomplish it a lot sooner than others but that doesn't necessarily mean there's something wrong with your kid.  Parents are so quick to want to put a label on their child's unidentified behavior to give them some comfort.  As though by having a label they can somehow find ways to fix it.  Just enjoy your child!

i don't agree with that statement at all (at least not in my case).  More like identifying problems early helps to get occupational therapy and other services that can have a measurable impact. The earlier that services are started, the better the child usually does.

(In our case there were other factors like a behavioral issue that was about to -- and ultimately did -- get her kicked out of school that we wanted to get a handle on, too, and the director of her school saw sensory concerns as well, but i digress).

I understand what you mean.  Where I'm coming from is the 8 years I've spent teaching and watching as way too many parents of my students who are quick to tack on the ADD/ADHD label to explain why their kids are so hyper or have short attention spans.  It never occurs to them that it could be because they're JUST 5 y/o.  They want to have that label to say, "Oh, it's because Timmy has ADD" and then everyone can nod sympathetically.  

Obviously if there are severe behaviors that are clearly not the norm than the sooner it's diagnosed the better for you and the child.  But ADD/ADHD has become somewhat of a trend (shoot, people joke around that they have ADD) it has become the first "diagnosis" parents like to make.

macchiatto

Normal!

Baby428

Yep DD never sits still either so to me I think this behavior is "normal"

Ivana_Stolichnaya

My LO is mellow.  It takes her awhile to warm up to new surroundings.  She's not in daycare so new people and places are slightly overwhelming to her.

mistresscox

I think it's just a personality thing.  My DD is the same way-she is a complete ball of energy, loves to run around, play, short attention span, loves to talk (full stories in her little language) and is just generally a very active kid.  That is not surprising though because I was (and am) just like that.  She just got my personality.  

We have 2 "friends' that we hang out with a lot-one is almost 3 and is the same way, and one is 15 months old and is so mellow-he could just hang back and watch the world go by and be happy about it.  But again with personalities-the 3 year old's mom is a busy body too, and the 15 month olds parents are very laid back.  This is just when their personalities are really starting to show, so we as parents start to see those differences.  Rest assured though, it sounds like she's fine!