Do we do anything about this or not? Reception...

[Gobbledigook]

...children are complaining of the 'big boys' 'fighting with me'.

Ds1 got a little tearful one morning last week and said he didn't want to go because he didn't like the big boys in the big playground. However he went to school fine and I don't have any resistance in the mornings. Last night though when i asked about teh playground he said the big boys were fighting with him. He didn't seem upset about it and when I asked if they hit him he said 'no' but then I didn't get any more out of him.

This morning I saw another boy in ds1's class crying going in - he's done this the past few days having previously been fine. I overheard his Mum saying something quickly to the teacher about the playground so afterwards I asked her if it was something going on in the playground bothering him. She said yes and that her ds was having nightmares and was crying all through the morning at school. Another Mum who was close by said her ds had said he didn't like the big boys in the playground either and he had been crying each mornign before school.

This Mum also told me that one boy came out of school yesterday with a fat lip - apparently after having it pulled by an older child in the playground.

So, do we need to raise this or is it just something that will die off once the reception kids more confident?? It's my first experience of school so I'm not sure how serious things have to be before you raise them as an issue. Although ds1 has mentioned it, it's not upsetting him to the extent that he cries going in or that he says he's not going (that was just that one morning).

Dh says he'll ring the school if I don't! Don't want to make a name for ourselves - this is our first of 3 going into this school!!!

Well!?

I'm having exactly the same problem with my little fella. The "bigger boys" in his school only go up to about six but that seems very grown up to him. He's fighting his own corner, but I think thats the point for the older kids, they enjoy goading him and getting a reaction. I'm very concerned though because one of the other mothers told me today that her son was asked by an older boy to beat up my son. He refused but he has his own problems because yesterday some one sat on his head until he cried! And this from a trendy private education through French school! I have an appointment with the teacher tomorrow and will be making another to see the head. I will be so interested see how you get on.

I have similar concerns about my dd. Our problem is that dd likes to come out of the reception area because she wants to play with her big brother and friends. Today she said some bigger children were nasty to her (ds had gone home with a stomach ache). But then she was very gleeful when she said that the boys had been made to sit on the bench for the rest of the play time. So supervision obviously worked there! My concern is that dd is very tall for her age, and so isn't obviously a reception child when she is in the big playground (also she seems to be having problems making friends in her own class). We have a scheduled meeting with the reception teacher, and it's something I will want to discuss. In my experience with ds they are more than happy for you to raise issues and concerns, so long as you don't go in there like a bull in a china shop.

Jools get on the phone and ask her whats happened!

Just seen this GDG. Did you get a helpful response from the teacher?

Ok, well I got hold of the teacher (not literally of course!) at the end of class and explained the situation. Tbh, I didn't get a definitive action plan for the 'problem' but she just explained to me how playtime worked, where they play and who supervises. As well as 2 teachers to the infant playground there is a 'buddy stop' where there is a big lollipop and 4 junior children in fluorescent bands that the little ones can go to if they have any sort of problem (be it someone hassling them or they are just lonely and have noone to play with).

The teacher said she hadn't noticed any problems with ds1 and he is happy and settled in class. She will keep an eye out for anything going on in the playground. I didn't really know what else to say because its' true that I've had no tears from him and he's quite happy going into school in the morning and he's happy coming out now as well.

This afternoon he told me all about what he did in the playground this afternoon - they found a fly who had lost its mummy and daddy so they made a bed for it (tomorrow they have to make it a dining room and a roof - wtf?!) - the fly was stripey black and yellow. ' That will be a wasp or bee' says I, 'no' says ds1 'it's definitely a fly because it said 'bzzzzzz'.'

Anyway - I don't think I can really pursue this line anymore since ds1 is not actually having a problem and seems as happy as Larry. I don't know if the other mum wants to raise it more seriously if her ds is that upset. I don't really have any grounds personally to say anymore.

Another Mum who has an older boy at the school just said she found the playground scenario was the problem in the first 2-3 weeks with her other son and that it gets better after that.

I'm still keeping my radar on for any bullying though and will quiz ds1 accordingly after school.

Is Larry his new best friend? pmsl!!!

bless him .

Hee hee!

Lockets - that's waht someone else pointed out. At nursery it's a lot smaller, plus there are usually things to do - things to climb on or ride in/on and now it's just a big expanse of concrete (and grass if it's dry) and they are all just a bit puzzled about what to do! When they are in their own little playground they have trikes!

I like the buddy stop idea though!

Ahhh - it makes me so sad to think of little reception children having nobody to play with.

DS1 is 8 and still struggles a bit with playtimes: wandering aimlessly around looking like a lost soul in a huge playground with 250 kids!

But do keep an ear out for rough play. Some playgrounds can get very rough very quickly, if not properly supervised.

Aww - roisin - that's awful - poor little one