Is there anything I can do for this little boy in my daughter's class?

Question

Okay, long story short:

My daughter is six (in Kindergarten), and there's a small boy in her class who is half Hungarian. His father is American, and speaks English, but his mother is Hungarian, and speaks very little English, so his father always speaks Hungarian so his wife can understand.

The little boy doesn't speak very much English, and the English he can speak is in a heavy Long Island accent, because that's where his father is from.

With the combination of not being able to speak much English, the heavy accent (I live in vermont, and he sounds different to all the other kids in his class, so they make fun of him), none of the kids want to hang around with him, and he seems very lonely.

Is there anything I can do to help this child? His parents don't seem very attentive, and I feel so sorry for him. :(

Thanks.

Answer 1

No thats up to the parents and the school to step in

Answer 2

Talk to him whenever you get opportunity, he will be happy.

If your daughter agrees and will like to play with him, then only invite him to play.

Don't worry, kids learn a new language so fast. I know my friend's daughter was speaking fluently in three different languages (one being their mother-tongue)  at the age of 4 coz they had been moving a lot.

Nice to know you have kind and sympathetic heart, good luck!

Answer 3

I woud speak with the teacher and see what her ideas are. It is difficult to know what to do, as you do not want to anger the parents.  Perhaps you could ask the boy over for a play date and meet at a playground, etc with the parents. (or one of the parents). Then they might see how important it is for the child to be able to communicate in English. You could also speak with the school social work, but keep in mind the rights of the parents to privacy. Good luck.

Answer 4

Invite him over so he can play with your daughter?

Answer 5

Set up a play date.  It's good for both him and your daughter.  It'll return some of his self esteem, and at the same time it'll teach your daughter that different on the outside is part of life, and has no bearing on who we are on the inside.

Answer 6

well u sould have the theacher help him with his  english   so he can get better at it and if u sould ask his parents can i teach your son to learn more english good luck :-)

Answer 7

Tell your daughter to play with him. You should tell her that he's special and it is nice to play with all children. I don't know why the children are like that toward him...my kindergarten class is very diverse and everyone plays together and they all get along....hmm.. That should be the teacher's responsibility not yours.

Answer 8

u cant make other kids like him...kids can be cruel but maybe if the kids in the class are tought more about different cultures and how being different is not bad but good they may come around. .

Answer 9

The teacher needs to help all of the students to understand that there are all kinds of people in the world. Some look different, some speak with accents, some have handicaps, etc. They are not too young to learn this. Please talk with the teacher and see if she can make things better for this little boy.

Answer 10

Besides having your daughter be nice to him and maybe inviting him over for a play date, there really isn't much you could do for him w/o his parent's consent.  

If this is a public school system he is probably in ESL(English as a 2nd Language) class and hopefully he will be put into speech  (sometimes they start this in 1st grade).  His English will improve by being at school everyday and soon he will find his nitch and work things out - he's still young.

Answer 11

Encourage your daughter to be nice and friendly to this little boy, and set up some play dates or something.  Volunteer in your daughters class one or two days a week and talk with him one on one.

Answer 12

Unfortunately because he isn't your child the teacher and other school staff are not going to tell you anything but to mind your own business in regard to someone elses child. It won't matter how well intentioned or meaning to help the child is.  

You could try to have some play dates arranged for him and your daughter at your house or a park where they can play.  Befriend the parents if you can and  as you get to know them and build a relationship with them perhaps then you could  ask if there is anything you could do.  Chances are though if the kindergarten teacher does her job right, this little boy will be attending speech classes or ESL instruction through the school or by referrals starting this summer if not in first grade so that he can succeed and do better without a language barrier.  I taught in a school where I had a little girl in the class I taught who was from Hungary and the parents did not speak any english at all. She spoke both fluent english and hungarian and had to sit in on conferences or other things when her parents would help at the school so she could translate for them.  They came across as unattentive, but in reality, it was a language barrier and culture they didn't understand as well as their own so they cam across as stand offish or disinterested.  Once it was figured out that the little girl was willing to translate for them they became an active part in the class as helpers and a wonderful family to work with!

Answer 13

sorry but there really is nothing you can do about it. i would bring it up with the teacher or counselor at the school and see if there is anything they can do for him. also sounds like he might need to have tutoring in school for his speech... not saying he cannot talk but if he does not speak much english they can help him work on that.