I hope that this information will set your mind at ease about few classroom myths. Always keep in mind that most of the time your children are keenly aware of what gets your attention. If your child should raise any of these issues, have fun responding in a healthy manner. If ever you feel there is a true concern, please drop a note to, or call, the teacher.
1. When I ask my child what he did at school that day, he tells me that he did nothing. Is this normal?
Don’t be alarmed by this response. A large number of children will respond by saying they did nothing at all. Be assured that your child had a very busy day at school. There are a large number of reasons for this response. A young preschool child is like a sponge absorbing all in the environment. Some children need time to let it all sink in and may or may not choose to talk about their day. However, at an unexpected moment, the child may give a very detailed explanation of something that was learned or done at school. A child may be too tired to talk about the school day. Children are brilliant! If your child senses your concern over an issue, he/she may choose to explore it or control the situation. A child may do this by bringing this issue to your attention over and over again. Be sure not to fuel a situation that is not based on reality. This can be done in a lighthearted manner, usually by assuring your child that you know all is well at school. Always share concerns with the teacher. You should also be aware that a curriculum outline is given to the parents each month. Have fun researching the monthly topics with your child!
2. Please help me to understand what it means when a child complains of being “bored.”
From time to time, a child may inform a teacher that he/she is bored. Teasingly, we tell the child that all the children and the school are too smart to be bored. We direct them or shoo them off to find work! We don’t allow them to sink into this feeling. It is catching and habit forming. Be assured that there is always something in the classroom for the children to do. “Glancing around a classroom, I counted about 46 activities for a class of 10 children.” Part of our goal is to challenge children to seek out work in the classroom. Sometimes a complaint of boredom means a child did not get to do something and someone else did. This may also be an indication of tiredness. A parent fueling the complaint of boredom is doing a disservice to the child. A child who habitually claims to be bored is unpleasant in all life situations. Nip this complaint in the bud! Praise their ability to find challenging things to do. This is a lifelong skill!
3. My child has confided in me that no one like him. What should I do?
Please be very careful with this one. One of the most heartbreaking things a child can tell a parent is that no one likes him/her. You may want to respond with something like “you are so special, who could not like you?” Then praise them! Remember many young children choose to work alone. This is normal. Most children naturally gravitate towards other children in time. If this concern persists, though, please contact a teacher.
4. My child told me that he was in “Time Out” today. How should have I reacted?
Some children experience Time Out at school. Time Out is discipline, not punishment. If your child tells you that he/she has been in Time Out, please remain calm. Casually ask, “How was it?” Your child may want to tell you about it. We do not report Time Outs to parents on a daily basis. However, we will contact you if we experience a challenging situation with your child. We like to work with parents as a team.