How child's name is pronounced

[OnlyAThought]

Hey all

Just a quick opinion, my LO started school yesterday. When I asked how his day went, the first thing he told was, they are saying my name wrong.

I advised him to correct them, but he feels he can not.

Again, today, at pick up (only part time for the first couple of days as he is in reception), the same sort of conversation and he tells me his name is pronounced incorrectly and stamped his feet said it's not my name.

Should, I ask/tell his teacher, I don't know?

Let me know your thoughts

I would get on top of it straight away. Polite, but firm. "LO has been upset that his name isn't being said correctly, it's not helping him settle in and start his school journey well. This is how you say it."

I'd definitely have a friendly word with his teacher now, before the mispronounciation becomes ingrained.

Yes, if it's upsetting him, ask to have a quick word. Else it will follow him through the whole school.

Do talk to the teacher, explain the pronunciation and ask that it be used and modelled in class.

Yes of course tell them

Absolutely tell them.

Yes get on top of it, the reception teacher refused to pronounce my daughter’s name right and it’s stuck. I hate it. Perfectly common name with famous songs written with it in all pronounced the way I pronounce it.

Why wouldn't you tell them? How are they going to be able to resolve the issue if they don't actually know there is a problem?

Tell the teacher, it’s not a problem. Lots of names are hard to know how to pronounce just by reading it on the register and it would probably help them to hear it said properly.

Whats his name?

Of course you should tell them. Your small child is upset.

I had to tell DS2's teacher that they'd spelt his name wrong. (Little did I know that this would be a recurring theme throughout his life, even into adulthood!)

Yes, definitely tell them, it's no big deal and they will be fine with it.

Also tell us please!!!

When he says 'they', does he mean his teacher is getting it wrong? If so, I think you do need to have a word with his teacher as it's obviously (and understandably) bothering your son a lot.

If it's other children, then maybe you need to have a little chat with him about he can correct them confidently but politely. But if his teacher pronounces it correctly, I'd hope that the kids would follow.

OP's question was should she tell the teacher his name is being pronounced wrong, you don't need to know the name

It's irrelevant what his name is. Even if it's a really unusual pronunciation or a very uncommon name, the answer to the OP's question is the same - she should tell his teacher how to say it correctly.

It's a really difficult one.

I had this issue all throughout my childhood. In my experience, it doesn't matter how many times you correct people, they won't listen. My little sister used to be on standby to growl "it's not xxxxxx, it's xxxxx!!!"

But yes, I would say something. It's a frustrating experience for him and hopefully one you can sort out for now if he's spending time with the same teacher.

I ended up having to change the spelling of my name eventually to stop it. Otherwise I'd still to this day be correcting people.

Sorry I know that might not be what you want to hear, but yeah it was maddening.

I can't get why you are even wondering if you should mention it to his teacher. You told your Son to correct the others that don't use his correct name so why haven't you done it already ?

Of course you tell her! Why wouldn't you???

If you don't, and then bring it up at a much later date like parents evening, the teacher will be wondering why you didn't say something sooner, when it's easier to correct.

It might not make much difference to their pronunciation long term, a lot of people are terrible about this sort of thing, but you have to try.

You need to figure out what they're saying, and whether they're using the wrong version of his name or whether it's their accent.

So, if he's called Louis pronounced Lou-ee and they're calling him Loo-iss, then you should politely correct them.

If he's called Cormac and they're saying caw-mac because they have non-rhotic accents then you need to explain to him that that's just how they talk.

Unless it's an accent issue (Alex-ahn-der vs Alex-an-der or Bill-ee vs Bill-eh) then I'd make a comment.

I haven't spoken to the teacher as it only day two. Also, because my sons days it's not how I say it. His class teacher has an accent, so I don't want to be rude and ask them how they say his name because of course, it will be pronounced differently

I think it’s entirely reasonable to correct the teacher on this. It’s his identity and respectful to use the correct pronunciation

If it's an accent issue you need to reassure your son and jolly him along a bit as it's an issue he'll meet time and time again (I have a DD whose name ends in -ing which is often pronounced -een here).

Your poor son, of course tell her asap