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Original poster

Teachers - are your 6-8 year olds this rude?

161 replies

WhaleBlue · 07/07/2023 21:49

I work in lots of different schools working with small groups of children aged between 6 & 8. More recently I’ve noticed the level of interrupting when I’m speaking, not listening to instructions and generally thinking what they have to say is far more important than what I have to stay really off putting.

I’ve been doing the same role for over 20 years and never had any real issues, but over recent months am becoming more frustrated with this. Is it just my area or is it the same across the UK?

God only knows how their class room teacher copes with about 30 of them at the same time.

This is also something that they have expressed an interest in which their parents are paying for.

OP posts:
MucozadeOnLucozade · 07/07/2023 21:52

It is the effects of covid and lockdowns coming through. Endless time on screens. I have witnessed it for myself.

CrustyWingshield · 07/07/2023 21:56

It's fairly normal I think. Just trying to assert themselves at that age. You just need to have boundaries by the sounds of it.

It really doesn't come across that you like working with children that much.

Original poster
WhaleBlue · 07/07/2023 21:57

CrustyWingshield · 07/07/2023 21:56

It's fairly normal I think. Just trying to assert themselves at that age. You just need to have boundaries by the sounds of it.

It really doesn't come across that you like working with children that much.

Oh I love working with children- not sure why you think that. It’s just a trend I’ve noticed more recently

OP posts:
Original poster
WhaleBlue · 07/07/2023 21:59

MucozadeOnLucozade · 07/07/2023 21:52

It is the effects of covid and lockdowns coming through. Endless time on screens. I have witnessed it for myself.

Yes you’re probably right

OP posts:
Tinybrother · 07/07/2023 22:01

these are the cohorts who had the most disrupted start to school and may well have missed some of the social experience and development and just generally getting used to how they are expected to behave in a classroom that they might otherwise have had.

MrsLJ2014 · 07/07/2023 22:02

I have taught for over 20 years. Our current year ones are hard work and my Beavers (mostly 7yos) are the most unruly I've ever had. Definitely think it must be effects of Covid.

ReceptionTA · 07/07/2023 22:04

I've been working a lot with Y2 recently, and some more people enthusiastic children will should out more than I'd expect (they didn't so much when they were in Reception, so I'm not convinced it's due to Covid). They do listen if they're reminded, and are respectful if they're reminded, but they just seem to love to talk! Grin One of our most "enthusiastic" interrupters has old school parents who are both teachers. I think there are just some very enthusiastic children around at the moment. Or maybe I'm getting old GrinGrinGrin

ReceptionTA · 07/07/2023 22:05

Our Year Ones have a lot of needs, but our current Reception class are angelic. Maybe they weren't affected by Covid?

icanflytoday · 07/07/2023 22:08

The beavers and cubs I work with are very challenging. They interrupt, fidget, don't listen. I do think it's the impact of lost school time during COVID.

mastertomsmum · 07/07/2023 22:09

Enthusiasm is always good and those are teachable students to encourage

JennerStar · 07/07/2023 22:22

I don't think it's Covid. I think gaming has a lot to answer for. Some of my children are just craving interaction. They are so compulsive and want instant gratification. They talk constantly, but if I step back and listen they just want to socialise with each other. If I ask then what they did last night/over the weekend they will say they played on a tablet or watched tv. It's sad, and it is definitely getting worse...

AmenAmin · 07/07/2023 22:30

The Beaver scouts I meet are unmanageable and significantly behind in learning, many can’t write their names and are at the mark making stage of writing at 6/7. They have such limited safety awareness I double ratios for activities outside the hall. They are pleasant enough in tiny groups or individually, but are lacking social skills. I’ve taught for 19 years and it really surprises me. For example I’ve done pond dipping for 10 years. Never had an issue. This year 3 jumped in the pond at different times with different adults closely watching them. Just unaware of the normal boundaries. Some it was a case you had to physically hold them around water. They needed 1:1. Usually by that age they get not to. It wasn’t even unruly as a session, or high. They just suddenly do things you don’t anticipate like quietly walking into the pond thigh deep for the hell of it

Sugargliderwombat · 07/07/2023 22:33

I think you're coming at it at the wrong angle, 6 year olds aren't trying to be rude by being used to undivided attention. They were toddlers without playgroups and without lots of services that most cohorts have had in the past. They are also a product of ridiculous levels of intense schooling so that now there are less and less opportunities for developing PSED and C&L in the eyfs. Transition into year 1 has also become more and more shocking with less play than ever.

tothesea · 07/07/2023 22:34

Current practice in EY is a move away from a structure in pre-schools. So fully child led play, no gathering time or group time. The theory is great but…it doesn’t prepare children for a school environment. They have no experience of sitting and listening, taking turns in talking etc. Obviously a lot of children are not developmentally ready for this but at least they would be around it.
Ho hum no doubt it will all be scrapped in a few years and a new theory instated.

Moreorlessmentallystable · 07/07/2023 22:56

"thinking what they have to say is far more important than what I have to stay really off putting"
I think you are projecting a bit...I don't think kids are thinking "I have far more important things to say than the teacher" ...😂

Sherrystrull · 07/07/2023 23:02

CrustyWingshield · 07/07/2023 21:56

It's fairly normal I think. Just trying to assert themselves at that age. You just need to have boundaries by the sounds of it.

It really doesn't come across that you like working with children that much.

What rubbish.

Giving discipline and boundaries to children is a way of showing you like them and want what's best for them.

It's called being a responsible adult.

UsingChangeofName · 07/07/2023 23:03

AmenAmin · 07/07/2023 22:30

The Beaver scouts I meet are unmanageable and significantly behind in learning, many can’t write their names and are at the mark making stage of writing at 6/7. They have such limited safety awareness I double ratios for activities outside the hall. They are pleasant enough in tiny groups or individually, but are lacking social skills. I’ve taught for 19 years and it really surprises me. For example I’ve done pond dipping for 10 years. Never had an issue. This year 3 jumped in the pond at different times with different adults closely watching them. Just unaware of the normal boundaries. Some it was a case you had to physically hold them around water. They needed 1:1. Usually by that age they get not to. It wasn’t even unruly as a session, or high. They just suddenly do things you don’t anticipate like quietly walking into the pond thigh deep for the hell of it

We're finding this too.

MucozadeOnLucozade · 07/07/2023 23:47

There's a lot of other factors, both parents working and family structure and interaction so much less. Parents tired so kids shoved in front of tablets. Very sad times, but I fear this will only get worse.

MeinKraft · 07/07/2023 23:51

Christ knows what long term effects lockdowns have had on kids of these age.

KnitMePurlMe · 07/07/2023 23:54

I think poor parenting and screens have far more to do with it then Covid.

Its an increasingly serious problem and one with no easy answers.

MucozadeOnLucozade · 07/07/2023 23:57

I was on holiday and a 3/4 year old screaming at parents for his tablet and parents calmly explained to him for about 20 mins that it was charging and he was booked into the kids zone which had lots of lovely activities. Child kept being taken there and coming out screaming for tablet. Was quite sad to see that he just didn't know how to do other activities.

MeinKraft · 08/07/2023 00:12

Screens aren't new though? I was glued to my Super Nintendo and Gameboy in the 90s.

KnitMePurlMe · 08/07/2023 00:14

@MeinKraft youre not really comparing the two are you? 🙄 The level of addiction on screens and the type of games being played now are worlds away from what we had access to in the 90s. Not to mention social media and all it’s toxicity.

Sometimeswinning · 08/07/2023 00:33

KnitMePurlMe · 08/07/2023 00:14

@MeinKraft youre not really comparing the two are you? 🙄 The level of addiction on screens and the type of games being played now are worlds away from what we had access to in the 90s. Not to mention social media and all it’s toxicity.

Addiction only happens when parents choose to download and stick their child infront of a tablet. So no it's not the same as when we were younger. Hence the point of this thread. This thread is about early years not teenagers on Tiktok.

KnitMePurlMe · 08/07/2023 00:40

@Sometimeswinning dont assume it’s just teenagers on TikTok 😢