Need help for 7 years old boy in primary one

[zac's mum]

Estar:

Hi All,


I am quite headache since he goes to primary one.
Some issues:
1) He didnt listening to teacher (Just day dreaming but no talking to other kids), throw tantrum to teachers, never reply to teacher's question. (stay silient)
2) Forget to bring back his stuff (like lunch box, t-shirt, story books)
3) Didn't copy the homework into his handbook.
4) Do not want to go to school (few times).
5) Do not want to do homework.

Kindly share some solutions and advice.

Thanks alot

From what I have experienced with my own son, and also from what other boys’ mums report when we compare notes, this is fairly typical boy behaviour in P1.

If we see it from the boy’s point of view, there is nothing fun or interesting about sitting down in a P1 classroom and listening to the teacher talk one-way style about stuff that sounds so theoretical and abstract.

Forgetting his stuff is due to lack of having to take responsibility for his own stuff from young. Need to train them eg when we as parents bring them out. If they forget to take their water bottle when they leave the restaurant/mall, make them go back and ask the waiter/lost & found counter for it. If they forget to bring home lunch box/water bottle/pencil case from school, charge him the price of a new water bottle from his savings (I keep multiple spares of bottles & stationery at home).

But somehow most girls will naturally be responsible for all these things without training at all. My friend’s 6 year old girl reminded all the older boys after our lunch to take their jackets etc!

Didn’t copy hw into his book: my P3 still has this problem! Teacher nags him but he still forgets. I let him face the consequences (never hand up hw, scolding by teacher, next day 2x the hw).

Do not want to do hw, do not want to go to school: not fun what. What’s there to look forward to? Always kenah scolded. Is he able to answer schoolwork qns at home? If he can, then I think his learning capacity is fine, but too shy to reply teacher/didn’t catch the teacher’s qn because daydreaming. If he cannot answer your qns at home, maybe he really doesn’t understand the schoolwork.

But please ask yourself, does he also daydream or space out at home or in other circumstances (not in classroom)? If yes, maybe he could have ADD.

Have u had a talk with him? If u sit down with him to help him thru his hw, is he able to do? Or outright refuse to do? U can ask him (keep cool) why he doesn’t like school/hw. Talk in a loving way, say that you are trying to figure out is he sad/frustrated about P1, how can you work this out together? You just want to help him enjoy school. (Don’t say the teacher complained about him. I’m pretty sure the teacher has been calling u that’s where u got the info. Hear his point of view because he is your son. U need to assure him that u are for him, not against him)

[Estar]

zac's mum:

Estar:

Hi All,


I am quite headache since he goes to primary one.
Some issues:
1) He didnt listening to teacher (Just day dreaming but no talking to other kids), throw tantrum to teachers, never reply to teacher's question. (stay silient)
2) Forget to bring back his stuff (like lunch box, t-shirt, story books)
3) Didn't copy the homework into his handbook.
4) Do not want to go to school (few times).
5) Do not want to do homework.

Kindly share some solutions and advice.

Thanks alot

From what I have experienced with my own son, and also from what other boys’ mums report when we compare notes, this is fairly typical boy behaviour in P1.

If we see it from the boy’s point of view, there is nothing fun or interesting about sitting down in a P1 classroom and listening to the teacher talk one-way style about stuff that sounds so theoretical and abstract.

Forgetting his stuff is due to lack of having to take responsibility for his own stuff from young. Need to train them eg when we as parents bring them out. If they forget to take their water bottle when they leave the restaurant/mall, make them go back and ask the waiter/lost & found counter for it. If they forget to bring home lunch box/water bottle/pencil case from school, charge him the price of a new water bottle from his savings (I keep multiple spares of bottles & stationery at home).

But somehow most girls will naturally be responsible for all these things without training at all. My friend’s 6 year old girl reminded all the older boys after our lunch to take their jackets etc!

Didn’t copy hw into his book: my P3 still has this problem! Teacher nags him but he still forgets. I let him face the consequences (never hand up hw, scolding by teacher, next day 2x the hw).

Do not want to do hw, do not want to go to school: not fun what. What’s there to look forward to? Always kenah scolded. Is he able to answer schoolwork qns at home? If he can, then I think his learning capacity is fine, but too shy to reply teacher/didn’t catch the teacher’s qn because daydreaming. If he cannot answer your qns at home, maybe he really doesn’t understand the schoolwork.

But please ask yourself, does he also daydream or space out at home or in other circumstances (not in classroom)? If yes, maybe he could have ADD.

Have u had a talk with him? If u sit down with him to help him thru his hw, is he able to do? Or outright refuse to do? U can ask him (keep cool) why he doesn’t like school/hw. Talk in a loving way, say that you are trying to figure out is he sad/frustrated about P1, how can you work this out together? You just want to help him enjoy school. (Don’t say the teacher complained about him. I’m pretty sure the teacher has been calling u that’s where u got the info. Hear his point of view because he is your son. U need to assure him that u are for him, not against him)

Hi Zac's mum,
Thanks for your input. I really lost when teacher told us about him (first kid to primary one). Talked to him before but no improvement. I even think that should he need special care (I am kind of worried mom :siao: )

[Increa-edu]

Hi Estar,


Could it be because there are some things that he is interested to do but unable to have time for it due to school time and homework? Sometimes even as adults when we’re not given time for meeting our needs, we lose concentration and become disinterested with what’s in front of us and start "rebelling". You can find out from him if he needs time for play or relaxing, and make sure he has time for that. He might need to "let loose" a bit and after those needs are fulfilled, his mind and body can be more ready for studying and remembering important information.

The Finnish education model has students work for 45 minutes and then take a 15 minute break to do work of their choice. It might work for your child to have an arrangement of something to that extent.

[mondecoinmetier]

I totally agree with Zac’s mom. You need to talk to your child to understand what is going on. It is a transition time for him to adjust to the Primary 1 lifestyle. Be patient and take it easy.

[Janet32]

Talk with your child. Talk about what’s bothering him, while at the same time making it clear that a plan will be made to return to school. Keep in mind, though, that some children can’t describe what is bothering them. Don’t force conversation if it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. The most important message to convey is this: you believe your child can conquer this problem, and you’ll be there to help her through it.