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Post by sockthing on Dec 9, 2014 10:18:11 GMT
I know schools are notorious at this time of year, but I really am astonished at how much disruptive stuff the children are out through and still supposed to enjoy it and be well behaved. In in the last 3 weeks of term kipper and his class will have had the following "fun": school play - 2 performances including an evening one, both in a church not in our village Reception class nativity presentation for the mums and dads christmas Bring and Buy sale christmas lunch Recoetion class Christmas party and own clothes day christmas carol service at the village church school disco its only a small village school so goodness only knows what it's like at the bigger schools. I have seen 3 meltdowns from other pupils in the last week, some older than Kipper. One of them , normally a calm happy, well behaved boy, was having absolute screaming ab-dabs this morning and wouldn't let go of his mums leg...and he's Year two! Why cant ant the schools see that there is a point at which "fun" stops being fun and is just overwhelming and stressful! Am I just an overpotective over-empathic adoptive mum?  It's seems crazy that people who work with children day in day out are so oblivious and blasé.  |
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Post by esty (archive) on Dec 9, 2014 14:00:10 GMT
Little Minnow's school has excelled itself - it had all the kids out on the field yesterday to watch the school football team (only boys) play the staff for twenty minutes so they and all the children could get the feel of what it was like for first world war soldiers playing their Christmas Day football match! And as we live in the frozen far North and many of the kids wont have had proper coats I think it was close on neglect to make them do it! Last year they had us around the community tree outdoors singing carols in a gale. We walked off.
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Post by pingu on Dec 9, 2014 19:42:10 GMT
Intereting to read how stressful things can be at this time of year for some kids. I feel for those of you who have this issue .
Ours are having the opposite reaction to all this stuff just now. Ds1 is very social but not academic, so he loves all the out of classroom activities at Christmas time.
Ds2 was recovering from a bad cold last week and really run down physically. He was very stressed that he still had a lot of homework as by the time he got home from school his reserves of energy were used up. But now they have no more homework this term and hardly any classroom work.They are doing loads of Christmas trips and activities he is much happier.- he badly needed the break.
......But he cracked up at having a birthday party at home for the first time last September, he just couldn't cope.
What I wonder is, are those who struggle with all this activity at Christmas, also the ones who struggle with birthdays or summer holidays ? Do they cope ok in class usually? What I am trying to say is, is it the change of routine that is the problem, or just generally not coping with stress, like my ds2 sometimes. It sounds like it is a struggle to regulate when things are exciting or stressful, must be hard., I know it is for me when ds2 gets too stressed, even if the triggers are different.
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Post by runmum on Dec 10, 2014 10:07:25 GMT
empathy empathy empathy. Our school takes it one step further. The PTFA arrange loads of activities where the kids get to stop work at 2pm and go round a Christmas Fayre or attend a cake and sweet stall event, sitting down at festive tables with their parents guzzling treats and goodies. Of course any child with parents who work has to stay in the classroom whilst their friends have fun with their fantastic parents (who are on the PTFA because they don't work or work very nice hours so that they can do these things!!!!)
You can imagine what that does to our children.
Historically we have gone out of our way to try to be at these events but at the end of each term in effect with all the events you need to take about 3-4 days annual leave (times by 3 that 9-12 days - so not much left to have days off in the school holidays then.) This year AS 2 has been school refusing a lot so I have and to take loads of days off for that so I just cannot do it this year. As a result I am being hit kicked and having food dye thrown at me etc etc etc.
And the response from school - it's not us it's the PTFA!!!! Ahh "IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR"
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Post by pingu on Dec 10, 2014 10:47:12 GMT
That sounds dreadful runmum. Our kids schools have PTA organised activities, but they are for all the kids, not just some. If it's in school hours / school premises then the school can't blame the PTA as its up to the school to decide and. They shouldn't be discriminating against those whose parents work. Might be worth mentioning to local MP.
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Post by corkwing on Dec 11, 2014 8:09:07 GMT
That is truly shocking, Runmum!
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Post by serrakunda on Dec 11, 2014 10:21:23 GMT
Fortunately Simba loves all the Christmas stuff
but I would like to know how going to see the pantomime in the morning turns into no lessons for the whole day
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Post by pingu on Dec 11, 2014 14:20:23 GMT
My ds2 is at the panto today, it too has turned into a full day, but that is because they get to see round the theatre including backstage as well !!
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Post by topcat on Dec 11, 2014 14:21:09 GMT
I'm with you Sockthing on the disruption. To be honest it all gives me the jitters as much as the kids - I would love to keep them off school next week.
My two just look a bit confused a lot of the time. It's like they know they are supposed to be excited but they don't exactly know why. If anything it all inspires anxiety rather than excitement and it's only the likes of us who spot the difference: Benny does a good hyperventilate - it's exciting, it's exciting and Brains' brow is furrowed and I know I am going to have to be talking through every detail from now till the big day.
Benny's teacher had a little word about her 'letting herself down' at the beginning of the week - this after a school trip Friday, another to the pantomime Monday. I pointed out she had 2 new teacher trainees as well as her usual 2 TAs which is a lot of grown-ups for Benny to be trying to get to know and impress and feel safe with so we should cut her a bit of slack. Not to mention this is our first Christmas etc etc and to her credit the teacher took it all on board.
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Post by milly on Dec 11, 2014 14:46:40 GMT
I am shocked runmum that a school would treat children so unfairly. All should be involved and the pta cannot dictate to the head teacher (or any teacher come to that). The event should be out of school time if children need to have their parents with them.You really should complain.
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Post by swimchic on Dec 11, 2014 19:41:38 GMT
I am sooooo glad that others feel the same.
I the past week Pink has had to do three performances of her school play. One finished at 7pm tonight. The children did PE today so are shattered and tomorrow is the school disco and lucky us, we get to buy sweets for 50p.. Great, sugar filled exhausted kids...
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Post by topcat on Dec 12, 2014 9:03:55 GMT
Oh yes, how lovely, a board games day...sent Benny off in a super 70s style Christmas jumper today so I think it's only a small step to bring back those simple pleasures  |
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Post by moo on Dec 15, 2014 6:27:43 GMT
Grrr.... Usual nonsense nationwide then 
What I hate is that it turns me into a liar... When baa & skweek can't cope & are close to meltdowns I just 'phone in claiming they have been sick... That gives us 48 hrs grace... School rules not mine!?!  But why can't school get it!? It really is unnecessary.....
xx. moo. Xx
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It's seems crazy that people who work with children day in day out are so oblivious and blasé. 
But why can't school get it!? It really is unnecessary.....