Had ds1's first parent's evening yesterday, I cried when he had gone to bed.

[colditz]

I was so, so happy.

His teacher was so positive about him, telling me how his probablem solving ability is outstanding, his numbers and letter work is wonderful, he has no problem grasping the concepts of anything she explains, how she isn't worried about him not listening because he is obviously listening enough to understand what needs to be done, how his vocabulary is good ... and how she doesn't feel he is any different from any of the other boys that came from the same preschool as him, and how she has had to establish a routine with all of them, because they are boys and they are four.

And after last year, with the ed psych involvement, and the SALT telling me she couldn't deal with him, and the key worker 'complaining' daily that he wouldn't sit still, and wouldn't eat jam sandwiches and play tea parties with her, preferring to build things 'compulsively', and demanded 'Why whywhy' constantly, and counted things 'obsessively' ....

And his teacher this year, for a start is a teacher, not a nursery nurse. And they have their own outside play area, with tricycles, sand and rubber tyres. And he comes out of school so so happy, despite having been in time out 3 times.

I really thought, last year, that he might not cope at all, and instead he is coping wonderfully.

Oh GOD the relief.

[ChasingSquirrels]

title sounded very sad - so lovely to read this

[Scootergrrrl]

Hooray! Well done both of you

[Desiderata]

I'm really happy for your and ds. That's great news, colditz!

[bozza]

Fantastic. Funny, how you don't always know how things are going to go.

[colditz]

Last year I was in a permanent state of anxiety about him going to school or not behaving himself at preschool. Now I don't WORRY about him not behaving himself at school, I think he is highly unlikely to do anything they can't deal with. He never has done yet!

[RosaTransylvania]

Really happy for you and your DS Colditz. He sounds lovely.

[colditz]

I hope it gives hope to all mothers of 3 year old boys out there. I know that job. Only a few weeks ago I helped to extricate a three year old boy from some railings, where his ears with wedging him in. No sooner had he been winkled out than he stuck his head straight back in.

[Miaou]

that's wonderful colditz!!!!

[colditz]

He is rather lovely. He watched fireworks last night, which he found crotch-grabbingly exciting.

[Lizzylou]

That's wonderful, I do sometimes worry that sometimes boys are seen as "problem children" when they are simply being boys.

You must be very proud of your little boy, he sounds fantastic

[Lizzylou]

It is good to hear, DS1 goes to school next year and is challenging but not too bad...DS2 is the one we will be summoned into the Head's office for, I can just see it!

[AskSanta]

Thanks, your thread gives me hope

Quote from nursery last week

"you know how William has good days and bad days, {pause} well actually more bad than good"

He's 4 fgs !

[colditz]

last year, Lizzylou, he was rather treated as a problem child at preschool.

Personally, in hindsight, I think they needed to be a little stricter and a little more focused, but then hindsight is a wonderful thing.

It's a shame that the education system today encourages sitting down, imaginative play, and neat writing ... it's all a good thing, but sometimes that's the only thing that is seen as good learning behavior.

If I had the choice, I would send him to a boy's school until he is 14.

[Troutpout]

Aww Colditz..that is brilliant

[Katiekin]

Our school allows the little ones 3-5 outside a lot of the time, they have painting and water play outside plus something different every day, today it was balls and a runway. once a week they go to Forest schools, ie an afternoon in the wood building dens etc. The boys learn so much better that way. Sounds like your nursery was not suitable for your child. Glad to hear its all turned out ok

[Elibean]

Aah, Coldits, I'm so glad for you and your ds. He sounds lovely, I'm glad he's being appreciated in his school

I also feel (and felt, last year, reading some of your posts) at the nursery he was at. Grrr.

[Elibean]

Oh Lor, Colditz

The nursery nurses would have me reported to someone for that, eh

[Dinosaur]

colditz that's wonderful!!

absolutely chuffed to bits for you and DS

[suedonim]

[biglips]

hooray!...

So lovely to hear that he had improved alot in the last year...well done DS1

[edam]

So pleased for you! Horrid that pre-school made your ds out to be a problem when it was just their inability to deal with a 3yo. Shame on them!

[bossykate]

[Frizbe]

yay

[charlie33]

you must be so proud, brought a tear to my eye reading this, mind you I am soppy.

[colditz]

he will never be the best behaved child in the class, I just don't think he is set up like that, but I am so proud of him, to not only be managing at big School, but doing so well.