To be annoyed about the stickers?

Well he needs to brush his teeth every day and he hasn’t. Wtf anyway a toothbrush lady? How’s about just teaching your son tk
brush his teeth.

Way to start building his male entitlement. JFC.

How do you think the toothbrushing scheme could be better run, I wonder? It's a visitor to the class, so she had limited opportunity to build relationships and she needs to get the kids to do something they don't particularly want to do. I don't really know how she could do it without motivation, which you call coercion. There’s a problem with childhood teeth decay, we want children to learn dental hygiene - what should they be doing instead of stickers for brushing or some other incentive?

Edited as I’ve only just read the replies

I love stickers and I'm 37! Especially if they're holographic. 😁

My question too.

I think you need to sign up to be a volunteer tooth brushing lady now

I agree.

I think the main issue is that your son doesn't understand why he hasn't got a sticker. Explain that to him and then he can decide if he would rather have a sticker or rather opt out of the teeth brushing. He then has control over the situation and will probably feel happier.

I think we need stickers for best thread of the day

Actually, the British army has dentists because the state of British teeth means that tooth pain is one of the top causes for soldiers to not be battle ready. Teeth and feet. Milk was introduced in schools in the early 20th century when it was discovered most Brits were too unhealthy to fight in the Boer War.

It isn't a punishment, it's the withholding of a reward. Rewards have to be earnt. A nice lesson for your son.

Slight derail from your original question, sorry - just for anyone reading and questioning the additional funding/school age process in Scotland. It's very common and almost a given these days that Jan/Feb kids will get an extra year of funded nursery & start Primary one at aged 5.5. Much less likely to find this happen for summer born kids here in Scotland, though that's not to say it doesn't happen of course

You have just summed up everything that is wrong with parenting, and parents’ attitude to schools and their little darling, in the world today.

This toothbrushing regime is probably very unhealthy in any case. No, I'm not some weirdo anti conventional dentistry person - I see my dental hygienist and dentist every six months. Brushing within 30 minute of consuming any acidic food - like fruit juice or acidic foods such as tomatoes - is very damaging as the tooth enamel has not had a chance to remineralise. This is just one of those examples where people with bad science are let loose on some feel good yet harmful task. I mean it's a classic case of more is better - if brushing before breakfast and before bed is good then brushing after lunch must be even better. It's not. I would never have allowed my children to brush their teeth within 30 minutes of lunch and I certainly never do it myself. They would never have had a sticker but they do have great teeth. My husband is in his mid-sixties and last had some dental treatment at 16 or 17 - he gets regular check ups but has not had any work done in nearly 50 years. He doesn't brush his teeth at lunchtime and his dentist says he has teeth people would kill for.

https://bigbrushclub.co.uk/ It’s not just a Scottish scheme

Where's the laughing emoji when you need it 😂😂😂😂

OP you sound great! Sorry for some of the horrible replies on here. We all have off days!

But he can’t expect a sticker if he refuses to do what’s required for the sticker

Why are they brushing teeth at school - does this mean they have to skip a time at home or that they are now doing 3 times a day ?

I don’t think its supposed to be good for your teeth to over brush

He can’t be rewarded if he won’t brush his teeth.

YABU

and school should tell you to do one if you ‘withdraw consent’ for teeth brushing 🤣

He’s learning that actions have consequences.

He brushes his teeth = sticker

he chooses not to = no sticker.

No one is forcing a toothbrush in his mouth they are offering a transactional extra.

Never to young learn if you do X the reward is Y.

I was at primary school in the early 60’s….we had ‘The Happy SmileClub’ lady come in, she told us all about the importance of brushing our teeth twice a day, gave us a toothbrush etc.

You're definitely not a monster mum. We've all had those moments when we see our kids upset and want to save them from any hurt feeling.

Reading all your further posts now, you do see a good sort. Also, as a teacher for over 40 years, those in the staff room tomorrow will definitely appreciate the gesture.

As for the tooth lady, she also sounds like a good sort, with all those stickers she buys. I've recently retired and didn't realise until having to completely pack up, what a sticker addiction I have. Turns out I could have worked another 40 years and not purchased any more. Even now, I walk past cute ones at the store and have to stop myself from buying them. They're currently hidden from DH in a big box in the garage. I'm going to have to gift them to some of the younger teachers I know.

Sorry OP, I wrote my post and didn't his sent, came back to my computer many hours later and saw it sitting there, so hit post.

You've clearly has a bit of time to consider things since. I hope you can look back and have a bit of a laugh about it all at some point.

Thank goodness you're hormonal, because otherwise there's no rational explanation for you to be annoyed.

The stickers aren't being used as a punishment, your son is not being punished, however, if he wants a sticker, he needs to clean his teeth.

You support him by reminding him that if he doesn't clean his teeth, bacteria will cause holes and getting those filled can be painful. You remind him that if he wants a sticker on Friday, then he has to clean his teeth.

I don't always want to go to work, but if I do, they reward me weekly with pay. If I don't go to work I'm not punished, but they won't pay me.

Good on the teacher to not caving on this one.