Rebecca 05/25/2010
Question:
My son is 2 1/2, and he can't seem to focus on anything for long. I have friends who are able to take their 3-year-olds to the movies. My son is bored with even his favorite movies within half an hour. About how long should his attention span be at this age? Do I have reason to worry about ADHD?
Having a 30-minute attention span for preferred activities (like a favorite movie) is not abnormal for a 2 1/2-year-old boy. The usual range of attention in this age group is broad.
More important is whether he is acquiring the developmental skills expected at this age, such as more and more language, more complex motor, and more expanded play. ADHD is rarely diagnosed in children this young, and even more rarely treated.
You might consider starting a half-day preschool to see if the structure and social modeling help him with his self-regulation.