Would you be upset if your Kindergartner got in trouble 3 times in one day for...?

Question

once for playing with her hair, once for stretching and once for talking? I can understand the talking one, but do you really think a K should be singled out for stretching or playing with their hair? Let me know what you think.

Answer 1

Yes I would be upset. KG is where children learn to love school and getting into trouble and being critisised is not helping that objective. If the teacher continues to tell your child off you will need to have a chat with the head teacher.  

Answer 2

After 7 hours, if I was five again, I'd be climbing the walls; playing with everyone elses hair; talking to myself and falling asleep on the floor! Well ok, that sounds a bit silly.

But, it sounds like the staff maybe frustrated; limited in their own abilities to keep the children stimulated; need to provide more breaks (recess); tired with their (staff) own seven hour day or............whatever.

5 year olds get bored easily, especially if they are not stimulated in their environment; too much is expected of them; long periods of the same thing just keep happening.

Can't really comment too fully on this one, as I don't know all the details. But I don't see, from what you've said, that you daughter is being naughty, too disruptive or destructive. Sounds like she is just being a 5 year old.

I think the kindergarten (staff) possibly need to get into 'trouble' for their pettiness.

Ask the kinder staff to justify their responses to her and ask them why they think she is bored. (They won't like being asked that) What can they do to remedy it?

Are any other parents having the same problems?

Whilst your child is not in your care, they have a right to be treated with respect and cared for by those you entrust with their care.

Put the onus on them to increase your daughters' positive experience of a 7 hour a day at kinder and praise her for being 'patient' as best she knows how.

I don't think your daughter is the problem here. :)

Answer 3

There is something wrong with that Kindergarten I would remove any child of mine if they had those attitudes ~~

Answer 4

Quite honestly, yes I would be very upset. I presume that you are in America. (sorry if I am wrong). I am in Australia and children here have 15 to 20 Min's at recess and almost an hour for lunch. Also most school set about 1/2 a day once a week for sport and about 30 Min's a day for PE.

If I were you I would become a classroom volunteer - if you are not working - or get to know a parent that is a volunteer so that you can obtain some insight on what is actually going on in the classroom. The teacher should be preparing lots of hands on activities to keep students motivated and focused. Once you have properly assessed how the classroom is functioning and you are still unhappy with what is going on you may be able to move your daughter into another kinder classroom at the same school or you might consider changing schools all together. It does not sound like a very productive classroom if the students are just sitting there most of the day!

Answer 5

I don't think I would be upset. The teacher was probably going a little nutty with all those kids, and if they don't have good control over the classroom it will turn into a zoo pretty quickly.

And, of course, I wouldn't be upset with the kid, b/c kids are kids and sitting in school all day is not their natural habitat!

Answer 6

everyone has a bad day. the teacher could have been having one. or you kid could be hyperactive that day. just leave it be. if it keeps happening change the school.  

Answer 7

I would be upset just for the simple fact this is their first time in school( unless they went to pre-school). Regardless, maybe a simple reminder that they need to pay attention, but stretching?  Please, we like to be able to stretch.

Answer 8

7 hours of kindergarten?!

we only do 1/2 days here for kindergarten.

you can't expect a 5 year old to sit still for that long and I don't think playing with your hair or stretching is a crime.

Answer 9

Stretching -- LOL!

Playing with her hair -- I don't know unless it somehow distracted others.

For now I would say keep tabs on it and see if it starts happening frequently that she gets in trouble for being 5 year old wiggly.

In pre-k the teachers commented often that my son was a wiggle worm. He is very active but I don't think overly so for a little boy.

I hope as she adjusts to the routine things get better. On the other hand I agree with you. Kindergarten was designed for five year olds. My kindergarten class 30+ years ago was a double sized classroom with tables and chairs on one side and TOYS in the other classroom -- a kitchen center. Blocks. Legos. Dressup. And a SLIDE. I mean really, we only had a half day, we had snack, nap, and recess, we spent time in the playroom, so how much were we meant to sit still and learn? And even then, there was floor space on the "classroom" side so we could play duck duck goose and learn action songs.

Now I have sight word flashcards for my kindergartener and he has math "homework."