Do you agree when someone says of a 'naughty' child "Oh, they're ready for school"?

[notnowbernard]

Just wondering as a couple of people have said this to me about dd1 (4.4)

She is going through a bit of a phase atm... stroppy, shouting, stamping-feet, being rude to people

I have no idea, and wondered what people thought

Is that theory way off the mark? Are people saying it to be kind, in order to excuse dd's behaviour?!

She is due to start school in SEptember, btw

My DS is also 4 and really pushing boundaries at the moment. Answering back, being rude, and basically not liking it that mummy and daddy (and nursery teachers) are in charge and not him. He gets so cross and lashes out sometime. We are being calm but taking control and being consistent with a reward scheme in the hope that this phase will pass soon!!

He goes to a day nursery 4 days a week and the staff have also said that he is so ready for school. I think its because when he is the oldest child he does seem to try push his authority more than when he is one of the younger ones! We had the same problem when he was in the toddler group but when he moved up to pre-school he was an angel again. Now he is the oldest again!

Hoping he will settle into school okay this September!

HTHs

Gemma x

It would help, of course, if people stopped seeing normal 4yr old behaviour as 'difficult' or 'naughty'. It isn't, it's just normal. It's only adults who find dealing with it difficult.

Children don't learn where the boundries are untl they've pushed them. A 4yr old who didn't behave in this way would be worryng tbh.

DS is my first (expecting my second) so its really reasurring to know that his behaviour is normal!

Thanks!!

Gemma

OMDB - I do agree re the needing to push boundaries thing. I too would be worried if dd were an angel all the time.

I would just prefer her to slam my doors as opposed to my MIL/best mate/woman-I-don't-know-that-well-from-playgroup doors

Lol, I have a DD who is 4.5 and I think I could have written that post! Whether its usual stroppiness or the need for school, I'm not sure and probably a bit of both. I know my daughter is worse when she is bored, and I don't just mean with nothing to do. By mid afternoon, she seems to have enough (unless it is a preschool day). Her behaviour is much better on preschool days! So maybe, but I think a bit of both!

I had exactly that said to me this the weekend about my dd, she is nearly 4 and sounds just like yours... I wasn't quite sure how to take it either

I assume that it means they would benefit from stimulation as notnowbernard said. I keep being told by the nursery that she is intelligent and finds what they are doing repetitive etc... so I am hoping that school will challenge her and she grows out of this current phase quickly