To think parents expect too much of schools?

We learnt to read, basic writting, counting and knew the alphabet before going to school.

Problem being some of those parents probably weren't bought up being taught the basics either, it's just something to be added to the list of unlearnt generational behaviours.

It often appears that many parents only want to do the fun parts of parenting - with so many parents now working, they like to spend the time they do have with their children doing the exciting, fun things and would prefer to leave the other less appealing stuff to school, outsource it to someone else. But I wonder why even bother having children if that’s the case. School is an addition, a benefit to a child - parents are so keen to be a child’s friend now they sometimes forget that they themselves are the child’s first and primary teacher. If a parent doesn’t teach a child to tie their laces, use the bathroom, dress themselves - school isn’t going to be able to do this. Not of all this is fun, or enjoyable, but parents need to take responsibility for it all.

I’d expect Y2 to know the days of the week, spelling their middle names wouldn’t be something I’d expect school to do anything with regards to teaching. Handwriting is something that can take time and often there can be reasons behind it which don’t become evident until Y2 and upwards.

I wonder if it's gradual erosion of expectation? When I started school in the early 1960's I was expected to take myself to the toilet, dress myself, know my name, address, date of birth, some simple facts about my world, colours, be able to count, etc.

When my kids went to school in the '90s, a lot of these expectations had been eroded. They could all read, use the toilet, dress themselves etc but this wasn't as expected as it was when I went. I remember the shock at the fact that they could all read and write their names and write numbers. So perhaps the next generation has had more of the expectation of learning eroded from them? I know it was said that you shouldn't teach your child to learn to read before school because it would interfere with the teaching methods used, so some people just didn't.

And so it will go on down, until it reaches ridiculous levels, whereupon there will start to be 'getting ready for school' classes you can attend with your child to teach them what they will need to know?

I think part of it is parents who are time-poor, and part of it is the relentless kid-ification of everything with downtime focussed primarily on entertaining the kids.

Because so much time is spent focussed on their entertainment, children don't get as much general day to day life / real world exposure as they used to. You can teach them an awful lot if you let them be bored and take them round the supermarket with you or put the news on instead of Bluey or talk to them about what you're cooking. Or have them with you when you're doing chores. "On Monday we change the beds, on Tuesday the bins go out, on Saturday we go shopping" etc etc.

Its not a new thing though. I could read when I started school (too many years ago!) but I was the only one in my class. Mum had to send back the picture books I was sent home with. Part of that was due to her reading to me religiously, part of it was giving me books and letting me entertain myself (we also went to the library every week and I still remember that being a highlight).

I totally agree, the parents need to take some responsibility, not moan on whattsapp.
Very lazy parenting, I worked, and so did my then husband, but we still found the time to make sure our children knew the basics.
The moaning is just to justify their own lack of effort.

Yanbu. Likewise it’s disappointing how many children start reception without knowing basics like shapes and colours.

I think if multiple children are having difficulties then yes I’d be looking at the teaching, at home and school.