'wow bricks'

[ifoundthebread]

My daughter (3) started nursery a couple of weeks ago. We received a letter about 'wow bricks' last week. Every time your child makes you say 'wow' you fill in a brick with basic details and it goes next to their picture on the wall at school. The child with the most bricks at the end of each term receives a prize.

Now aibu to really dislike this as it all comes down to what a parent thinks is 'wow' and this obviously varies child to child, so a child is going to win as a wow to their parent is 'child A ate all his tea, child A slept in his own bed from 10-5 last night, child A helped me load the washing machine' and another will lose as sleeping all night is the norm, they have a large appetite and usually eat well, helping with basic chores is expected. Surely this should be kept to achievements within the nursery to keep it fair?

What a ridiculous concept. I'd categorically refuse to take part.

Maybe the nursery will assess the wows?

I have to say it seems really odd to have nursery age kids competing for an end of term prize.

I think you’re missing the point.

Yes, a “wow” for one kid might be eating and sleeping well, but that doesn’t mean a kid who always eats and sleeps well loses out on praise, because you just have to think of a “wow” moment that DOES apply to them. Like getting themselves dressed, or doing well at their swimming class... whatever you can think of.

@auntbeastie I would of expected so but it appears every brick filled in is being placed on the wall. Bricks vary from 'Child A slept in his own bed' to 'Child X sat nicely while having blood drawn'

We have wow moments for reception, but there's no prize for the most - thank god or people would be sending sheaves of the damn things in! It's all I can do to remember one every couple of weeks; I'm usually to be found scribbling one out while getting kids in the car and searching for my work lanyard. It just penalises the kids of busy parents!

Couldn't they think of an English word?

Couldn't they think of an English word?

Since when is ‘wow’ not English?

I just googled it and apparently it’s been spoken in the U.K. (originally more commonly in Scotland than England) in the 1500s. It showed up in a translation of Virgil’s Aeneid into English in 1513. It has apparently been in general use among English speakers in the U.K. since the late 1800s.

Surely that qualifies it as a bona fide English word

We had "Wow Moments" in preschool. DS tended to get them for Put His Wellies On Himself and other world-changing events. Wow Moments were probably mentioned in carpet time, but they didn't go on a wall and no prizes were given. And they got stuck inside the child's Learning Journey.

You just need to think up enough genuine lovely achievements your child has made so they feel included. Bit daft to get parents competing over this sort of thing

I like the idea of parents sharing at home achievements but the problem with this is that kids are too young for termly awards. This will become a competition among the parents with parents sending in ‘wow bricks’ because their child blinked and the ‘wows’ of the children with the most being scrutinised as to whether they were wow enough. Bad idea and will soon be changed I imagine.

Each wow MUST be assessed by a panel of independent judges or the whole exercise is worthless.

@porkflute I agree, I love the idea of recognising personal achievement but not in a competitive manner