DS(6) copying other children’s behaviour

[Theremustbemoretome]

DS(6) has been playing up at his karate class for the past two weeks and the instructor told me he is copying other children who misbehave. Last week he and three other children were so disruptive that the instructor said the class was a write-off because the staff put more time into managing their behaviour than actually getting much teaching done. The instructor asked all four of us parents to stay behind at the end of the class and with the children present, read them the riot act and asked us to reinforce this message at home.

I am furious with him and embarrassed at his behaviour. He has been doing so well there (from instructors feedback, parents can’t watch now due to Covid). He knows he must never copy other children’s poor behaviour and yet he’s done it again the second week running.

Any tips please for reinforcing this with him? I’ve asked him if he doesn’t want to go anymore as I am not paying for him to misbehave, nor should other parents have their child’s class interrupted by my child’s behaviour. I’m so annoyed

FWIW he does four other activities and is well behaved in these so this is not typical behaviour.

Wow, you have him in 5 different after school activities?!
Personally, I think he is over-scheduled and needs free time at home to just be a 6yr old faffing about and entertaining himself.

kids at that age do spontaneously copy stuff and it is v hard for them not to.

it sounds to me like the instructor should be better at managing the class. if he has a small group of 6 year olds, he needs to find strategies to keep them busy and focused. Just saying 'listen' doesn't cut it with that age group.

I feel a bit sorry for him doing five activities. It sounds like it may not be a great class, maybe let him have some time just playing at home.

Honestly I'd be cutting my losses and taking him out:
The instructor doesn't sound great at managing behaviour.
He has a lot of after school activities which might be a factor.
The main thing he appears to be learning is bad behaviour.
What's the point?
Why not find a family class that you can do together instead?

The instructor might need to learn behaviour management strategies better if he’s struggling so much to keep some kids in line.

As long as your DS wants to do the activities and doesn’t get tired then what’s the difference in that and those children who are left in before and after school clubs? I’d say many of those children would much rather be doing an activity than stuck in a club.