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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to question teacher giving children toys

70 replies

Noodlenoon · 19/02/2013 20:19

To play with in class?
Peeped in the window a couple of weeks back and saw my son (almost 7) went to a table and took something before he sat on the carpet. When I asked him he said it was a lump of blu tac for him to fiddle with. Huh? Since when were kids allowed things to play with in class? He said there were two of them that were allowed to play with stuff. Can anyone explain?

OP posts:

karatekimmi · 20/02/2013 08:58

I was going to post but folkgirl said it so much better!!

noblegiraffe · 20/02/2013 09:08

Just a word of warning, blu tak fans - do not give it to a pupil who will put it in another pupil's hair. This does not restore harmony to your lessons, nor make your life easier. Especially if they're the sort of pupil who will deny it was them.

Goldmandra · 20/02/2013 09:12

helps to explain fiddling.

insanityscratching · 20/02/2013 09:19

Noodle ds has used blu tac since he was in infants, he still got eight good grade GCSE's in spite of this and the autism. Blu tac is an absolute blessing and I am really happy that many moons ago a similarly enlightened teacher gave him a piece to fiddle with. He is 18 now and in a specialist school but he still has blu tac and the school keep spares in the office just in case he loses or forgets his.

HeadfirstForHalos · 20/02/2013 09:27

Oh dear noblegiraffe!

storynanny · 20/02/2013 09:42

I'm a big fan of blutac although one little boy( only just 5) did crawl under the table and stick it to the shoe of the ofsted inspector and then try and tie his shoe laces to the table leg!

noblegiraffe · 20/02/2013 09:44

Well done that boy, storynanny!

teacherandguideleader · 20/02/2013 09:51

Yes, he deserves a medal!

Yamyoid · 20/02/2013 09:52

Wow, again I learn from mn! My friend wondered why her dd always had blue tack, I'll tell her about this.
My ds keeps chewing his school shirts and ruining them, maybe he needs some too.

SummerRainIsADistantMemory · 20/02/2013 09:57

I wish to god ds1's school would acknowledge his need for stuff like this, he has sensory issues and needs to fiddle.

Instead he picks his clothes to pieces, chews his pencils and bites his nails

Imnotaslimjim · 20/02/2013 10:00

I'm fascinated! And will be having a chat with DS's teacher when we get back to school DS is dyspraxic and a big fiddler. He's always looking for something for his hands to do. At home, we have a clacker and a jacobs ladder, but never thought to give him anything at school, I didn't think they'd allow it

MiaowTheCat · 20/02/2013 10:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mrsjay · 20/02/2013 10:05

Imn dd is dyspraxic give him something to fiddle with as I said dd has a hairband and a silly pen topper thing she got as a present she plays with it in her blazer pocket

Imnotaslimjim · 20/02/2013 10:50

MRSJAY I would never have thought of giving him something in school tbh. As I said, we have a couple of things here, but I'll definitely be having a chat with school next week! Folkgirl has it right, my DS is Jake. His teacher knows he doesn't mean to be naughty or fidget and he does try his best but he is just so easily distracted

neverputasockinatoaster · 20/02/2013 11:07

Amazon and ebay have some amazing rulers that have all sorts of textures on them.

And bendy sticks that look brilliant.

I do find blutak to be a problem when the child makes 'models' out of it and then shows all his/her mates..... That's when I remove the blutak and hand over a Tangle or something like that.

littlewhitebag · 20/02/2013 11:14

I like to fiddle in meetings. I usually use a paperclip but they always break. I might invest in some blu-tak!

ThreeBeeOneGee · 20/02/2013 11:20

The bendy sticks are the ones DS1 uses at the moment. We bought one from eBay and the school were so impressed with it that they've ordered some.

CheeseStrawWars · 20/02/2013 11:24

Our HR department used to give out these Tangle toys to fiddle with in training sessions. Supposed to aid creativity and relieve stress.

Flisspaps · 20/02/2013 11:28

Why are you peeping through the window anyway?

SummerRainIsADistantMemory · 20/02/2013 11:38

amazon have a good range of fidgets.

I also found rubberised plant twine in the supermarket last week.... I cut off a length, make sure the wires aren't protruding and ds1 spends hours twisting it and bending it and making shapes.... there's 2 metres in the pack and I only spent 2 euros on it, cheapest fidget yet!

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