Do they tell all the mummies that their child is very bright?

[MaMight]

Dd's new pre-school took me to one side and told me that dd is very bright. Apparently she is always the first to put her hand up and answer questions and remember the things they learned yesterday.



Of course, this is an absolutely lovely thing to hear and I am pleased that dd seems to have settled in well and is happy in her new class.

But, well, dh and I have both said that while dd is obviously fine and average, she is not noticeably bright. Oh, I don't know, it's hard to word without sounding horribly negative about my own child, but I would describe her as cheerful and dreamy and easily hoodwinked and raucous and giggly, but definitely not particularly bright.

So, with the caveat that at 3 yrs old it obviously doesn't matter much, shall I believe Teach and be quietly pleased that dd seems to be bright, or shall I assume it's something they say to all the mummies and instead just be pleased her teacher is nice and she's happy in her new class?

This is the sort of thing you could ONLY EVER ask on Mumsnet.

[NormaSnorks]

They probably tell about half the mummies that their child is bright.

For the other half they probably use words like 'spirited' (a handful); shy (doesn't say a peep); 'full of beans' (crashes through all the other children's games) and 'a chatterbox' (never shuts up).

On the whole I think you should be pleased

[AMumInScotland]

I think they always try to say nice positive things, but not always that they're "bright", so it could be "friendly" or "helpful" or whatever. But she sounds like she's enthusiastic and paying attention to the "lessons" - which will do her at least as much good as being brighter than average anyway!

[ClaraDeLaNoche]

Buy a 007 webcam and attach it to her hair bobbles. Then you could see if maybe she is hamming it up at home, but is an intellectual in class.

[MaMight]

Oh dear Norma, they also said she is "very sociable" which could also be "never shuts up" couldn't it.

She does seem to love her new class and new teacher so is giving it her all I think. It's nice to see.

PMSL at bobble-cam Clara. "La la la fairies and sparkles la la la... has my mother gone yet? Ahh good, about that quantum theory we were discussing yesterday..."

[onebatmother]

lol clara.
MM advise you check yr books. Cover: Dora and the Dragon; Inside: Ozu and the Cinema of Stasis.

[pagwatch]

With Ds1 they told me he was very bright and actually he is.

DS2 they wouldn't let him in. He went to special school a few years later.

With DD at her first parents evening as soon as I sat down the teacher just started laughing
As it turned out that was fine by me

I think teachers always try to say positive things which is lovely but I am sure they pick on the most noticeable attributes so I am sure she is bright .

[StillSquiffy]

I think they work out a child's character and then find a positive way of commenting on it. TBH all it tells me is that the teacher has taken time to understand your child and work out what their USP is. Which sounds pretty positive.

My DS was described to me as kind and friendly and hugely popular and adorable. Which means - to my mind - "thick as s*, but happy and enjoying himself". Which works for me. My DD was described as 'very bright and knowing her own mind'. I replied to the teacher that, yes, I knew what she meant, but we had a less polite way of describing it at home. And the teacher fell about laughing .

[pagwatch]

StillSquiffy

I loved it when DDs teacher started laughing. I just loved that she 'got' DD. Made me way more confident about that whole year than a glowing academic report would have

[Tombliboobs]

It is great that, as squiffy says, they have taken the time to work out what her 'USP' is, especially as I have just started a thread in pre-school, asking how I can get some info from pre-school about my DS who has just started.

Love the idea of bobble cam!