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AIBU?

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Original poster

Does any one actually know kids like this?

391 replies

westcoastnortherner · 15/02/2012 16:44

Yes, Yes I know it's a Daily Mail article, but are there really that many kids like this out there?!

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2101292/They-wear-nappies-drink-cola--dont-know-open-book-One-teachers-terrifying-insight-5-year-olds-failed-parents.html#comments

OP posts:
Original poster
westcoastnortherner · 15/02/2012 16:48

Thanks BodyofEeyore :)

OP posts:
hanaka88 · 15/02/2012 16:50

Yup Sad

TheMonster · 15/02/2012 16:51

Yes there are.

TheParan0idAndr0id · 15/02/2012 16:51

Nope.

Alliwantisaroomsomewhere · 15/02/2012 16:51

I certainly don't know any children like that, but in my line of work (childminding) I can see which children from a very young age are given the opportunities to read (or play with books in whatever way they wish to) and to learn nursery rhymes and to draw and cut etc.

NilByMouthExceptVodka · 15/02/2012 16:51

Yes - I teach some Sad

Original poster
westcoastnortherner · 15/02/2012 16:51

I just find it so hard to believe that a child who does not have some kind of special needs would start school in a nappy. :(

OP posts:
AgentProvocateur · 15/02/2012 16:52

Yes, I used to work with families where this was common-ish.

TheParan0idAndr0id · 15/02/2012 16:53

What a load of overblown bullshit. Half of it doesn't even make sense.

massistar · 15/02/2012 16:53

Um no. Not even one. I would take this with a very large dose of salt!

massistar · 15/02/2012 16:54

Our school won't even let the 3 year olds start nursery if they are in nappies!

fullofregrets · 15/02/2012 16:54

When I was teaching (have been sahm for two years) it did seem to be getting worse year on year. Not as bad as in dm but it wasnt uncommon for children to join us in nappies in reception and we even had one boy in year 1 at the age of 6 in nappies. His mother insisted it was medical and had been back and forth to the hospital for about two years. He had had lots of tests but the hospital concluded that basically she had never toilet trained him and left him in nappies as it was easier. After a term he was toilet trained at school but she was still putting him in nappies at home.
A lot of children joined us with very poor language skills and little experience of imaginary play but the school is in a very very deprived area. Some children it is true had not seen a book until they started nursery or reception. Awful.

Kayano · 15/02/2012 16:54

Don't think I believe the figures. Have they reported these to SS or directly to the mail?

holidaywoe · 15/02/2012 16:55

My last post was in an inner city school and although it was rare to get children coming to school in nappies a lot of them should have been!
By this I mean the parents would state on entry that their children was fully toilet trained and had been for a long time but the child would then go on to have accidents of both kinds on a daily basis and then even say at home I wear a nappy.

3brokentoes · 15/02/2012 16:56

As a foster carer I have cared for many children who fit this criteria.

usualsuspect · 15/02/2012 16:56

Nope , I don't believe half of it , all the bollocks about no book or toys does she go and have a look round the whole house

molly3478 · 15/02/2012 16:57

Quite a few have never used a fork at all and eat with their hands, many use baby cups/beakers until they are 3s/4 and I know loads and loads of kids with rotten teeth from too many sweets, daily cans of fizzy.

I think a lot of parents struggle with it all and also many dont potty train until they have help or guidance. many dont know what to do and have never sang a song or read abook with their kids thats why we have bookstart.

fullofregrets · 15/02/2012 16:57

Quite a few of our children would eat just with their hands rather than with a knife and fork. Even things like baked beans.

lucjam · 15/02/2012 16:58

I saw the article too and was shocked. I personally don't know any children like this. What amazed me was that these children seemed to be coming from homes where the parents have had a good education themselves and have good jobs. The article suggests that they are too busy to teach their children potty training/colours etc but if they really are stockbrokers and the like (as claimed in the article) who work long hours then surely the child is in some kind of child care setting for many hours a week therefore some of the responsibility lies with the carer be it nursery/nanny/au pair etc? I don't really get it!

usualsuspect · 15/02/2012 16:58

can't open a book? yeah right

lisad123 · 15/02/2012 16:59

Yes sadly I do Sad
Schools are not allowed o refuse kids that aren't toilet trained.
I have to laugh at DM comments as if it's only poor families who have kids like this BUT I know some very rich families who were worse!
I do wonder how many have an Undiagnosised SN though.Confused

molly3478 · 15/02/2012 16:59

I agree with fullofregrets doesnt matter how messy the food is they will eat it with their hands as they dont know how to do anything else.

AmberLeaf · 15/02/2012 17:00

I think its largely a load of bollocks.

lisad123 · 15/02/2012 17:01

I do t think she was saying no toys but certainly none downstairs that the kids can easily access. Which sadly I have seen many a time, parents too worried toys make their home look unsightly so have no toys downstairs Sad

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