To "feed back" on class toy?

Whenever my dc got the class toy the first thing we did was put it in the washing machine. We'd then write a class diary entry along the lines of "Douglas had a wash so he was nice and clean for the weekend."

Do these toys ever get washed? Seems like a health hazard 😂

Absolutely let the teacher know, but politely / lightheartedly / casually. There's no need to blow it up or to take a negative tone, like some of the PP.

I was a preschool teacher for a bit, and the number of Karen parents over things like these... Newsflash, it's a bloody toy. We're both adults and we both know it's a filthy inanimate object.

I know it means the world for kids, and I would feel very guilty and want to include your child ASAP. But no need to pretend like we both subscribe to the delusion that it's the Elgin Marbles or something.

Well it depends, if it's done on merit rather than on a Rota system. If it is on merit then some kids will likely get it multiple times and others will miss out. That in itself is a teaching lesson about life. Don't fall into the trap of preparing the road for you child rather than your child for the road. We all experience disappointment in life and knowing how to handle it is an important skill.

Absolute bullshit.

As a former teacher who had a class teddy that went home with the "Star of the week" (an initiative the head initiated with the whole primary school and insisted on the teachers implementing) then even within a merit system there are ways and means to manipulate it so that the teddy goes home with every child at least once.

"Oh shit, little Timmy hasn't had Ted go home with him yet" then he gets Star of the week because he's tried really hard in every lesson this week and showed real effort is perfectly normal - the child thinks they've got it on merit and the teacher knows they can tick that child off for a few weeks

Yeah you are probably one of the only ones.

Am I the only person who thinks this procedure is grim? One cuddly toy in and out of all sorts of beds/bathrooms/God knows where?

I'm also awaiting this update OP 🤞🏻🤞🏻🫣

Did he bring it home today OP?

I have a six year old and if he was upset about this I would send an email to the teacher, politely asking if my child could please have the teddy before the end of the school year as he's been really hoping for a turn.

I'd like to think that most primary school teachers teaching that age group would want to make children happy. You don't have to tell your son that you've asked for it!

the teacher replied it was the luck of the draw so some kids had had it three times and nothing she could do.

Another of those teachers*, nothing they can do? Nothing at all? Apart from be in charge of the class, and act like a professional?

Yes every child should have it once (or twice if the yeargroup is small); then okay who gets it again could be linked to something but it needs to be something every child could achieve, such as perserverance, doing their best handwriting for them, extra kindness helping another student, that sort of thing, not aceing the spelling test.

*I love teachers as a group, I start from the point of anticipating to respect individual teachers, I have friends and family in teaching, and I do regular voluntary work in schools. Teachers as a group are overworked and underpaid. But, there is a subset of teachers that make excuses, aren't professional, do frequent psychological harm to some of the children in their care (if not physical - for example the recent thread about teacher(s) who forgot to give the daily medication), and it would be much better if they would leave for other jobs.

Bollocks. Even if the OP's kid is the worse child in the world, everyone should get a weekend with the stinky class bear.

Well it depends, if it's done on merit rather than on a Rota system. If it is on merit then some kids will likely get it multiple times and others will miss out. That in itself is a teaching lesson about life. Don't fall into the trap of preparing the road for you child rather than your child for the road. We all experience disappointment in life and knowing how to handle it is an important skill.

I do think Foldinthecheese is right though, it's not a great system of reward leading to weekly highs and lows. A points system would be better with an end of term reward for one person. That means that everyone who doesn't get it is in the same boat rather than a small pool of kids being left out.

defintely mention it but don’t tell him so that he feels it’s a “proper” award!

I agree that it’s likely just an oversight and you should mention it, but I hate the way these weekly rewards are done at so many schools in the UK. During the covid lockdowns they were still doing Star of the Week at my children’s school based on the home learning that was sent in. My children were trying so hard, and really struggling with being home, and had no recognition. We moved to the States shortly after and, although I know it isn’t fashionable to say anything positive about living in the US, I really prefer the way their school handles recognition and rewards. Taking away the anticipation of the Star of the Week letdown has freed them up to work hard and enjoy school without feeling like they are doing it for the sake of a reward.

I would mention it now so that ds and any forgotten children can get their go before the end of the year.

Oh poor love, fingers crossed he gets it this evening!

Yes say something - it's probably an admin mistake as they're all meant to get it at some point

Mention it just in case because it's a big deal to your DS, but like a PP I'd say be careful what you wish for: we were towards the back end of the queue last school year for this. We ended up with it over Easter, so had to document two sodding weeks of 'adventures'... It came with us everywhere, with bits constantly falling off it that needed to be fixed back on (it had been loved a little too much by the previous caretakers). I would hate to be stuck with it for the 6 week hols!

It is worth raising with the teacher, now before the end of term. If they do not keep records it is quite possible that some individual children will have had the toy several times. Some teachers/schools are not very good at noticing quiet, well behaved children who do not stand out for any reason, good or bad.

Just speak to the teacher and she'll put it right!

I would absolutely say something. When I was teaching I had a class tick list of things like this to make sure every child got a turn over the year. Every child should get every reward at some point.

This will 100% be an oversight. If some kids have had it twice, there is no reason to withold it from a child who is always well behaved.

I once had a parent question why their child hadn't had the special weekly award in assembly twice. I was merticulous in my record keeping; everyone had had it once and about half the class had had it twice, her son just hand't had it twice yet. You are not being anywhere near as daft as that parent.

Go buy a Family Pet and get it it's own photo album.
Ds has a small Highland Cow called Mully and he had lots of adventure caught on camera that first year! Ask family members to join in op. Pass that pet round! And def tell the school...