Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

to be angry with the other children in DCs class

42 replies

SpottieDottie · 05/05/2014 19:32

My DC has just told me that other children don't want to be friends because they are scared they will catch asthma.
I'm furious about it, it's a horrible way to treat a child.

OP posts:

Meloria · 05/05/2014 19:33

Children are unkind to each other. Maybe they don't know it's not contagious.

Sparklingbrook · 05/05/2014 19:34

Oh Spottie no. That's horrible. ((hugs))

I think you need to have a chat with the teacher, who in turn needs to explain asthma to the children.

How old are they?

Andrewofgg · 05/05/2014 19:34

How old are they?

If they know you can catch other nasties off people who have them why should they not think that that applies to asthma too?

Can't blame them until they know better.

Mrsjayy · 05/05/2014 19:35

speak to the teacher childre can be really mean let the teacher know what is being said what age are they

RahRahRasputin · 05/05/2014 19:37

It's horrible if they're saying it maliciously. Presumably they know that they can catch colds and stomach bugs so why not asthma? Not nice for your child, of course, but if they're only little then it's not the children's fault. Have a word with the teacher who can explain that they won't catch asthma.

JonesRipley · 05/05/2014 19:38

Talk to the teacher. The child who started it possibly is nasty, but, being children they probably are just ignorant.

Original poster

SpottieDottie · 05/05/2014 19:39

They are 10, sorry I should have said that in my OP.

OP posts:

JonesRipley · 05/05/2014 19:42

Hmm, they are 10 so it may simply be something to hang bullying off.

Get it nipped in the bud. Your poor DC.

Sparklingbrook · 05/05/2014 19:43

It sounds more like ignorance than malice but that doesn't make a difference to Spottie's* DC.

Have they recently been diagnosed?

Original poster

SpottieDottie · 05/05/2014 19:44

Thanks. I will talk to the teacher, I'm pretty angry that it's been going on for so long but without me or them knowing about it nothing could be done.

OP posts:

turtleback · 05/05/2014 19:44

He can't be the only one in the class with asthma?

SweetDreamz1 · 05/05/2014 19:44

Can you mention it to the teacher? Maybe they would explain it is not contagious?

Original poster

SpottieDottie · 05/05/2014 19:45

Sparkling it's been going for "a while" but they've had asthma all the while they've been at the school. Not sure how long "a while" is :(

OP posts:

TequilaMockingbirdy · 05/05/2014 19:45

Sounds like a great opportunity for a lesson in asthma for the kids.

Really sorry, your poor son :(

Sounds strange how only one has asthma, there were loads in my class - me included.

MerryMarigold · 05/05/2014 19:47

Yes, at 10 I am thinking it is an excuse for bullying. I would focus less on this specific issue and more on the 'not being friends with you' bit. How long has he been isolated. I am certain it is more than an ignorance over asthma.

Original poster

SpottieDottie · 05/05/2014 19:48

Thanks everybody. I've sent in stuff to the school about asthma education for kids, they never used it :( I just wish DS had told me about it earlier, there are a couple of others with asthma that I know of but DS says he's never seen them have their inhaler whereas he has had to have his in school which is how his peers know. I'll be having a word with the teacher tomorrow, hopefully he will do something once he knows it has been happening.

OP posts:

MerryMarigold · 05/05/2014 19:49

(I think if asthma is nipped in the bud, it will be because he has a red coat or some or other nonsense, but I don't have a very high opinion of school kids when it comes to kindness and inclusion).

WooWooOwl · 05/05/2014 19:49

It's not about the asthma, that's just the thing they have chosen to pick on. If it's been going on for a while then they are being bullies, and you need to go straight into school and make a complaint, then keep on their case until it stops.

These children don't have to be friends with your ds if they don't want to be, but they have no right to be mean.

redandchecker · 05/05/2014 19:49

Kids can be horrid.
A friend of the familys son had cancer, luckily he recovered but he was branded 'cancer kid' just awful.

I'd talk to the teacher/HT and get the school to teach a bit more about asthma.

Andrewofgg · 05/05/2014 19:52

Oh redandchecker that is revolting. But then kids can be like that.

We may regard acolleague as obese - but we don't say so out loud. They call a fat kid Fattie and no power on earth will stop them!

Ploppy16 · 05/05/2014 19:54

How well can he do comebacks? Something along the lines of 'well nobody caught asthma off David Beckham' or insert ne of another famous asthmatic person..
At 10 though it really does sound like bullying not ignorance tbh, sorry.

Original poster

SpottieDottie · 05/05/2014 19:54

Red that's awful :( Children can be so mean :(
I will be onto the school tomorrow.

OP posts:

CeliaFate · 05/05/2014 19:56

My ds has asthma too. I'm furious on your behalf. I would go to the school and insist that the class has asthma training. The school should be able to contact the relevant people, someone will come in and teach them about asthma.
They're bullying him, if it's sustained behaviour. Don't be fobbed off, demand to know what action will be taken.

PunkrockerGirl · 05/05/2014 19:57

Would it be possible for the school to invite a specialist nurse in to give some education to the whole school? Sometimes children will take these things more seriously if it comes from a health professional. This is horrible for your son.

WooWooOwl · 05/05/2014 20:03

I very much doubt that these children actually believe they could catch asthma from your ds. Giving the class training about asthma seems to me like it would be giving credit to what these children are saying, and it doesn't deserve that.

Back in my day the ones that had an inhaler to carry around were seen as the lucky ones. Ventolin seemed cool and interesting until the day we saw one girl have a particularly horrid attack.

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread