Is it normal for my 8 y.o to not be able to remember a three step instruction?!?

Question

Example - make your bed, put your clothes away and clean up your toys. If so, at what age can they multi task?!

Answer 1

This child may be ADHD. My son, 12, also has a high IQ and is a straight A student. Now saying that let me go on to.... He had the same difficulty and was finally diagnosed with ADHD. I was totally against putting him on any kind of medication and one day I decided if they put him on the lowest dose maybe that wouldn't be so bad. WOW the changes it made in him are unbelievable! Keep an open mind and ask your doctor to do a test for ADD/ADHD. You should have to fill out a questionaire and his teacher also then you can know for sure. If it comes up he's not then ask for maybe counseling or something to get to what is going on with him.

Answer 2

Should remember, but if it is something they don't wish to do, easily forgotten.

Answer 3

I have to wonder about ADHD>

My sister used to complain all the time that she couldn't tell her 10 yr old son to do 2-3 things at once, because he invariably forgot the second and third thing.

Answer 4

no, they should be able to remember! I don't know what else to suggest - sorry!

Answer 5

Not being able to follow multi-step instructions is one of the symptoms of ADD/ADHD.  You may want to take him to a pediatrician for a proper evaluation.

The links below are pages one and two regarding symptoms of ADHD.

Answer 6

This could be executive dysfunction. Go to www.schwablearning.org and sign up for free to post on their parent to parent message board. You'll get lots of help there!!

Answer 7

Kids at that age still need simple instructions.Write them up on a apiece of paper.They also need an explanation to go with the instructions.

Answer 8

Of course every child learns at a different pace, so perhaps your child has not mastered this ability just yet.  However, you should work on it with him.  I think that the list you stated is too broad for him to do.  You're asking him to clean his entire room without your help.  It could be that he is overwhelmed by the task.  Perhaps you can make tasks smaller and with your supervision.  Stay in the room with your son and say "First we're going to clean this, then we're going to clean this.  Last we'll be cleaning this."  Help him in cleaning him room to accomplish the task step by step.  Each time you have finished one task, go back to your list "Now it's time to do this."  I think he'll start to get the hang of it and you can slowly phase yourself out of the process.  What I'm saying is SHOW him how to do it and then he'll get the hang of it.

Answer 9

yea, i still cant multi task. make a list, or tell him new things after hes done with each thing. dont tell him a list of things when there is a distraction, coz he'll forget and not pay attetion.

Answer 10

Well,that depends on how you tell them and if they give you the "O.K" signal that they understand.Mabe post a Posterboard with some tasks to do.Remind him constantly but not too much.Enforce positive things on to him,such at treats or favorite luches.

Answer 11

Consider how many steps are involved in each of those instructions.  No, you're 8 year old needs this broken down and probably put in writing.  Try posting the list of things you want your child to do.

And BTW kids don't automatically come knowing what it means to put away their clothes and clean up their toys.  In fact, the part of their brain that allows them to organize is not yet developed.  I bought a series of books for my daughter when she was little that explained exactly what mom and dad meant when they said "Make your bed,"  "Clean your room" etc.

Stick with one complex task at a time.  If it's not done the way you'd like it to be, do it with your child the next time and explain the whole way along what you mean by what you're asking of him/her.

Answer 12

I think that an eight year old should be able to handle those tasks just fine.  i am going through a simular situation.  However my sister two girls who are eight and nine are able to get themselves read for school and ready for bed alone.  I don't know what she is doing but she uses a parenting program called love and lodgic.

Answer 13

the IQ test is not accurate when you take it when you are young. He should remember three step unless he is lazy or have focusing problem (like ADD).

Answer 14

no it's not

        ps. my son iQ is 350  and he's 10 he has the same problem