DS in trouble for something he now says he didn't do...

[legacy]

Difficult one this...

DS (6) has a friend at school who is 'on his table' and is the only other boy in his 'stream' for a lot of activities, so they work together a lot (girls getting VERY girly/ cliquey at this age!)
The friend "B" is bright & intelligent, but more interested in sport than school. DS is the opposite - happier with books than football, but has a go at everything and is pretty much a well-behaved lad.
DH was called into school when he picked DS up yesterday, about an 'incident' in which something DS & B had been doing together had ended up being ruined in a silly, schoolboy way (don't want to go into more detail in case B's mum is a MN-er!)
At first DS had told the teacher that he wasn't involved and hadn't done it, however B said that he (DS) was. They were both carted off to see the head, at which point DS apparently said (or gave the impression?) that he was involved.

Although it isn't a particularly heinous crime, DH and I take these things seriously, so had a serious 'chat' with DS later. In this, he said that he HADN'T been involved, but had said that he HAd because he didn't just want B to get into trouble "Because he's my friend".

For all sorts of reasons I actually DO believe DS, and we had a long chat about supporting your friends vs. getting yourself in trouble.

This a.m. DH ahd a chat with DS's teacher, but doesn't think she particularly believes him. I also spoke to B's mum last night and she also wouldn't accept that DS wasn't involved. However her son had been crying and upset all night about it, and didn't want to go to school (guilt?), whereas DS seemed quite OK.

I know we always want to believe our own kids are angels, but in this case I really don't think DS was part of this, and I'm annoyed that he is being 'tarred' by this. I'm also a bit worried that B is proving to be a less than positive influence on him?

What do I do next?

[legacy]

bump...

[Pennies]

Tricky one.

If B is showing signs of guilt then 'murder will out' in the end.

As for your DS taking the blame, well you've explained the implication s of that vs. friendship and I don't think there was much more you could do to be honest.

[SueW]

Put it down to experience. You've spoken to your DS so can hope he won't do it again; the other childd you feel may be wracked with guilt so perhaps he won't do it again.