To think this should not be so controversial?

[apalledandshocked]

So, there is a short story which starts
"Peter and his dad went to the beach together...."

Then a series of questions at the end, the first of which starts
"who did dad go to the beach with?"

I tentatively suggested (when asked for help) that it could be Peter. But apparently it can't possibly be that and I am foolish for suggesting it. Over half an hour spent discussing it together as a family. I don't know what the other questions are because we have not yet got that far.
So... Who do you think Dad went to the beach with?

Peter - of course! Who did they think he went eith??????

Well how does the line go?

"Peter and his dad went to the beach together...with a mystery person."?

'

@theskyispurple It CANT be Peter!!! It doesnt say dad went with Peter in the story. And they don't know who dad went with, because its an impossible question. Thats why they are so cross (they in this case being a 6 year old). But also they won't just leave the f*ing question and go back to it later.

Reciprocity... if Peter went to the beach with his dad then of course his dad went to the beach with Peter. He may have also gone with other people but that information is not disclosed so the only definite is that Dad went with Peter.

Can you reproduce the text on here?

@lughnasadh Well, the main story (spoiler alert) involves dad falling asleep in the sun and getting burnt. silly dad! But maybe the subtext is he was meeting someone else for an illicit affair? Who knows....

Develoomentally 5/6 year olds are just beginning to understand reciprocity. eg if you're my son, I'm your parent etc

Huh?
Can you explain further?

@FlibbertyGiblets

Can you reproduce the text on here?

Its in another language (we are not in the UK) but the main story is: "peter and his dad go to the beach. Dad puts suncream on Peter, "keep out of the sun" dad says. Peter and dad build a sandcastle Dad buys peter an icecream. Dad falls asleep Oh no, dad's back is burnt Keep out of the sun dad," Peter says

Well unless the Dad in the question isn't the Dad in the story then he went with Peter.
I guess maybe the 6 year old is hearing the question "who did Dad go to the beach with" and assuming it means their Dad. Not Peters Dad.

Maybe Peter was secretly tracking Dad because he didn't believe his claim about going to work all day? So Peter went with Dad but Dad didn't know he was with Peter?

Or maybe the answer is "someone who didn't care about skin cancer, or they would have advised Dad to put on sun cream"?

@RedskyBynight

Maybe Peter was secretly tracking Dad because he didn't believe his claim about going to work all day? So Peter went with Dad but Dad didn't know he was with Peter?

Or maybe the answer is "someone who didn't care about skin cancer, or they would have advised Dad to put on sun cream"?

Yes, Peter obviously doesnt care much about his dad and is a smug git.

Can you walk him out into the garden and when you come back in, ask the rest of the family to ask who you went to the garden with? It’s been a long time since I’ve had dealings with six year olds!

Is this a homeschool thing? He is waaay overthinking!

Have a break. Ask your son "shall we go to the park together?"
Then go to the park (and try not to freeze).
Then when you get back ask your son "who did I go with?"

But tbh, if he's as stubborn as my dc is he will never back down, even when he realises you are right!

Together. Peter and his dad went together.

@Sn0tnose Thats a good idea, unfortunately the rest of the family will probably follow me into the garden and back because for some reason thats necessary.
Is it too early to drink gin?

This is the kind of situation where I can almost convince myself that my kids are deliberately winding me up (and actually I'm almost certain that the youngest one sometimes is!).

You ask the MOST LEADING questions ever with monstrous emphasis on the relevant words, try and frame it in diffent ways, act it out, draw pictures, point at the right answer and they STILL keep looking at you at though you're demented!

Peter and Dad are lucky they're not here, that for sure - I want to slap dad's sunburn just from vicarious frustration!!

I voted YABU as I also have a six year old and I am wrong about the whole world (obvs) so it seems only fair that you should be too

Love this thread so much. Wasn't what I expected, but a happy find. Thank you, OP.

It reminds me of the ongoing discussion with the child who hates his hair getting in his eyes, but won't have it cut. Obviously a clip, band, bobble etc is no good. Neither is having it cut, apparently. But it's in my eyes....

Is it a Ladybird book? If so, Jane probably went as well. Mummy stayed at home doing housework.

[quote apalledandshocked]@Sn0tnose Thats a good idea, unfortunately the rest of the family will probably follow me into the garden and back because for some reason thats necessary.
Is it too early to drink gin?[/quote]
Ha ha, that really made me laugh.

You've got to keep a dry sense of humour at the moment.

@WhatWouldPhyllisCraneDo

Well unless the Dad in the question isn't the Dad in the story then he went with Peter. I guess maybe the 6 year old is hearing the question "who did Dad go to the beach with" and assuming it means their Dad. Not Peters Dad.

This is the answer.

I just tried that with my ds who's 6 next month. His response was Peter. Reasoning behind his answer is that I said "Peter," a lot of times so it was easy.

[quote apalledandshocked]@Sn0tnose Thats a good idea, unfortunately the rest of the family will probably follow me into the garden and back because for some reason thats necessary.
Is it too early to drink gin?[/quote]
No.