To speak to parent about their child's body odour?

[PhoebeMcPeePee]

DS (8) was telling me how a boy in his class was being picked on by some of the "bullies" because he smells Not sure how he knows or came to this conclusion but DS said he smells of wee & it gets worse as the week goes on as he doesn't change his trousers . I feel awful for this little boy & if he does smell am amazed the teachers haven't spoken to parents. I would hope if my DS was being picked on someone would tell me especially something like this that can easily be solved with better personal hygenie & washing. I'm in their class reading later today so should be able to ascertain how true this all is, but if he does actually smell AIBU to speak to his mum? I know her to say hello but nothing more & confident there isn't a financial reason for not washing/changing regularly.
Thoughts ?

Eta he may well be having accidents but surely by 8 he needs to be taught how to mange this with pads/nappies & avoid wetting clothing.

I imagine if this boy does have a problem with smelling of wee his mum is aware. Maybe he is having trouble at the moment with his bladder....how do you know he doesn't change his trousers? Have you actually smelt this boy or are you going on heresay? Kids can be very cruel, maybe the smell isn't actually bad!

I would tread very carefully to be honest and really unless you know 100% that he smells bad, the teachers are not dealing with this already and he is not changing his trousers then I would leave well alone. Urine is a strong smell, if it's a problem there is no way his mum is not aware of it.

Do not interfere.

I very much doubt the parents will turn around and say 'Thank you for pointing out my child smells.'

You are in the classroom to assist with reading. It would be wrong to misuse information gathered dircetly or indirectly from that role and make an intervention wi another family.

But that doesn't mean there is nothing you can do. If you notice anything in the school that concerns you, you need to mention it to the relevant person in the school. In this case, I'd go to the form teacher, explain what you have noticed and ask for the school to investigate/act.

Do not say anything to this child's mother. There are all sorts of unintended consequences that could arise as a result of that. However, I would speak to the boy's teacher about it.

Approach the teacher with your concerns and let them deal with it.

I appreciate your sentiments but you're best off leaving it to the school to sort out.

Do not interfere? So, better to let this child go on suffering because of something easily fixable than risk a little embarrassment or a possible hostile response from the parents?

Don't speak to the mother, especially if you are a parent volunteer

Leave it for school to deal with

The only person you should speak to is the teacher. Tell the teacher what your son has told you as you have information as an adult that a child is being bullied. Then leave it there.

As a parent and a teacher, I would be concerned about a reading helper going into class to make judgements on situation regarding children.

Agree speak to the teacher, both about the smell issue if it is true and about the bullying.

I agree with mentioning it to the teacher as the teacher will know the full situation.

Agree with others - speak to the teacher. It doesn't have to be after the reading session if your DS is reporting back that children are picking on him then mention it straight away.

It could be that her DS has developed a nasty UTI that is taking a while to shift.

Poor lad.

Your DS sounds like a caring chap.

So, better to let this child go on suffering because of something easily fixable than risk a little embarrassment or a possible hostile response from the parents?

No. Tell someone who has access to all of the facts and is in a position to deal with this in a professional way and who can take appropriate action to ensure that the family is fully supported.

It is not your place to approach a parent about things that happen in school.

Curlew who is saying ignore the problem here?

The only person you should have a word with the teacher.

Talking directly to the parent will only be the cause of huge problems for you.
And it won't help the child.

Do not speak to the parents.
Message from my dcs (7 and 9 yr): if you don't speak up about bullying you are as bad as the bullies.

Make sure the teacher knows about the bullying. Check the school's anti-bullying policy if you want.

If there is an odour problem the teacher knows already.

You have no idea if there is a neglect issue with the parents in which case you speaking directly to them could make things very unpleasant for that child when they get home. You need to speak to the staff at school as they are then in a position to verify if it's a medical issue or safeguarding issue in which case they would need to take appropriate steps. It would be stupid, ignorant and potentially harmful for you to involve yourself. Staff have training around these kind of issue which you do not have. Butt out.

No, do not speak to the child's mother. Do mention what your ds has said to a teacher as the bullying does need to be stopped.

Mention to the teacher that the boy is being bullied because of his body odour & leave it to the teacher to sort out.

"Confident there isn't a financial reason for not washing" Rich people also neglect their children or be frugal with their money. Rich doesn't equate to clean.
If its a medical problem bringing it up could aggravate the problem and make him have more "accidents", (If that is the case).

I think as a reading volunteer you would be crossing the line by taking his parent aside and talking about this.
That doesn't mean you should ignore it, whether the child actually smells or not you should make the teacher aware of the bullying from the other kids but leave the teacher to deal with it.

Speak to the teacher.

I agree that it is best to have a word with the class teacher and let him or her deal with it. Do follow through though and check that the teacher does actually do something. I disagree with some of the earlier posts though. Some mums are not aware that their child smells and some simply do not care. I know of a primary school teacher who used to take in a couple of pairs of pants and trousers to give to a boy so that he didn't have to wear the same ones all week!

Do not talk to the parents. It doesnt matter how
Much or little you know the parents. You dont lnow what else is going on in this situation. You talk to the person responsible for safe guarding and i am suprised that you dont already know this. You do not talk to anyone else.

The problem is the child is being bullied. Even if he smells of pee he doesn't deserve to be bullied!

Speak to the teacher and inform her that the poor lad is being picked on.

He may be being horribly neglected OR he may be ill and his parents / carers are doing everything possible to help him.

it could be that he is a bedwetter, easily fixable by showering/bathing in the morning for eg

or he might have daytime continence issues that the other children are not privy to

or he may be from a household with extra pressures, perhaps a depressed parent, a sibling with disabilities, yes maybe money problems

you just can't assume stuff, it's not your place to

don't talk to the parent, yes do mention to teacher that your child has mentioned the boy