Infants picking stuff up from the juniors

[paisleyleaf]

My DD's in reception at a school with infants and juniors. The school is small so they mix a lot.
From the conversation we've had this evening about where meat comes from, I gather she was probably sat with a vegetarian girl with strong feelings about meat at lunchtime today. This doesn't bother me so much (we had a good chat). But I'm wondering about what might be to come - mainly, is it likely she'll be told that father christmas isn't real?

[tinateaspoon]

I think you just have to respond to each subject as it comes. My dd has started reception and came home telling me some boys were going to kill her if she didnt kiss another boy in her class. I started another thread about it as I was completely shocked and worried by it. Now I realise that children can't be wrapped in cotton wool and need to learn about the big bad world. But it is so very hard to let them go. I truly sympathise but this is the start of learning about real life. Who knows what will be next.

[Clayhead]

My dd is year three now and came out with a few choice skipping songs/rhymes when she was in reception which she'd learned from juniors but was never told about FC/the tooth fairy. Don't know if I was just lucky!

[paisleyleaf]

tina, that would upset me, especially in these early weeks.

[brokenrecord]

She might be told it, but she won't believe it. They kind of ignore stuff like that before they are of an age to be suspicious themselves about it anyway.

[tinateaspoon]

Paisley believe me I was, still am, upset by it. Can't do links to threads but its titled "OK I am new to this, I need advice about what to do" - but I do know that she needs to learn about dealing with situations, and not do anything she is not comfortable with. I am finding it very hard indeed. You just want to protect them all the time, don't you?

[deaddei]

i agree with brokenrecord- they will take in some things and ignore others. Just as likely to hear things at the park. older siblings etc.
I think playing with older children at school is positive- it's good for them to have friends in different year groups who tend to look out for them.

[brokenrecord]

Yes, that's my feeling too, deaddei. I like the fact that everyone in mt daughters' school seems to know one another, and I think it eases the transition for them from one stage of school to another as they have seen their friends do it.

[cory]

paisley, you can't seriously want to keep her away from all older children, can you? I mean, surely it is good and healthy for a child to mix with older children- what if she had siblings? you couldn't protect her then, could you? so often these days you hear people lament the death of the large extended family: sounds like your dd's school is almost making up for that in a way.

[ICANDOTHAT]

Yep ... she'll be told father Xmas does not exist along with the tooth fairy and the easter bunny .... sad but true

[IdrisTheDragon]

DS is in a lower school which goes from nursery to year 4. School has about 140 or so children and nearly everyone knows everyone else. I know that he plays with children from other years (he is in year 1 now) and all his belief in Father Christmas/tooth fairy is still there.

I like it that the children play with each other - school is rather large for it to be an extended family but in some ways it is a little like that.

[trickerg]

Yep ... she'll be told father Xmas does not exist along with the tooth fairy and the easter bunny .... sad but true

She probably won't believe it though!!

[ICANDOTHAT]

trickerg you're right. I think the will to want to believe is so strong when you're little. Besides, if mummy says it's true, then it is ! My ds's only really began to question it all for themselves when they were about 8/9.