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Use of naughty chair at nursery

7 replies

GoingGaGaarghhhhh · 27/02/2025 14:29

First of all so sorry for the long message but just want to try and get all the information out there and ask for advice….

My 3 year old started school based nursery for the first time in January (mornings only- 3hrs a day). Before starting I did mention that he struggled with sharing. He is the youngest out of 3 and he pretty much gets spoilt by he’s big sisters. The teacher seemed very encouraging and understanding and said that it was pretty normal as a 3 year old. Anyway, pretty much from the first week he was coming home everyday saying he was angry and sad- when I asked why? He mentioned things like the teachers won’t let him play with trains or that they kept taking the trains away from him. Now I explained to him that in school we have to share our toys and the other children also like to play with trains and taking turns makes everyone happy. I tried to implement this at home with his older siblings and when he did scream and shout wanting his own way - I found he was able to be reasonable and calm down after we spoke to him about sharing (basically kept reiterating the same thing over and over again). Now in nursery he kept mentioning being put on the naughty chair or sit on the carpet and not being allowed to play with the trains. Every day when I pick him up I ask the teacher how he’s been- and they either say “fine” or “he will learn how to share sooner or later”!!! Now my concern was the past week (before half term), he wasn’t allowed to play with the trains at all. Yet they were still set up in the nursery for the children to play with but my child was coming home saying he was sad and angry because they wouldn’t let him play with the trains and then this lead to him being put on the naughty chair or sit on the naughty spot on the carpet. (Whilst watching everyone else play with the trains)

My middle child goes to the same primary school and says that when they have playtime she often sees him just sitting on the naughty chair. On his first week he got sent to the naughty chair for hugging his sister in the playground when he saw her. I’m not sure what to make of this. None of my other 2 children were ever put on the naughty chair but then again - they were the sort of girls where you only had to ask once and they did it. I’ve spoken to friends who have said naughty chairs in nursery is unheard of and that I should take him out!

What's making me really consider this is the fact that he is now starting to say that he’s a naughty boy! He has only just turned 3 years old - he doesn’t have the capability of being naughty or even understands what naughty means. I feel if anything they should be helping him learn from his actions in a gentle and constructive manner not turning to punishment everyday.

He had a half term last week and this Monday (first day back) whilst we were putting on our coats to leave he asked if he was going to be on the naughty chair or carpet again? 😢 it really broke my heart.

That same Monday during the school assembly my daughter mentioned seeing a boy sitting behind my son keep tapping his shoulder and every time my son would turn back and look at who it was. Minutes later a teacher comes and tells my son off for not looking forward and moves him closer to her. 😔

I think I’m just really concerned about the impact of him being labeled as a “naughty” child, especially so early on in his school journey.

Any advice or suggestions as to what I should be doing would be really appreciated 😫

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INeedAnotherName · 27/02/2025 15:02

You need to have a proper meeting rather than a handover chat. You need to find out what is happening at school, what they are doing about it, and how you can support what they are doing/saying at home.

He is the youngest out of 3 and he pretty much gets spoilt by he’s big sisters.
Time to stop the spoiling, he is no longer a baby. You can explain that the spoiling is hurting their brother so it's not a kind thing to do even though they mean it as a kind thing. Use this as a teaching moment for all of your children.

In his first week he got sent to the naughty chair for hugging his sister in the playground when he saw her
I doubt it was for hugging, it was most likely because he left the nursery area and went into the school area which is equivalent to him leaving the school grounds. And this is why you need to actually have a meeting so you get to see it from a safeguarding point of view rather than a child's view.

tweetypi · 27/02/2025 15:17

Use of a 'naughty chair' is outdated and completely inappropriate in a nursery setting. They're not meeting his needs properly and should be taking the time to teach him how to share, not focussing on punishing him for not being able to share properly. I'd hate for my child to be treated like this, arrange an urgent meeting to discuss or move him to a better setting.

Abracadabra12345 · 27/02/2025 20:16

tweetypi · 27/02/2025 15:17

Use of a 'naughty chair' is outdated and completely inappropriate in a nursery setting. They're not meeting his needs properly and should be taking the time to teach him how to share, not focussing on punishing him for not being able to share properly. I'd hate for my child to be treated like this, arrange an urgent meeting to discuss or move him to a better setting.

I agree so much with this. I see he's at a school nursery and in my experience they are often stricter and have fewer staff as they have a qualified teacher.

Have you ever watched a group of very young children play with trains? They get in each other's way, they often crawl over the train tracks so it's broken (assuming this is the type used) - in other words, they are barriers to happy play for your son. He plays at home and knows how he wants to play. The other children add nothing to his fun, in fact the opposite. He doesn't share because by "sharing" he's giving up something he loves. And then he's punished.

As a preschool teacher, we were very used to children who found sharing difficult. The best way is to model and as they don't appear to be doing so at nursery school, you have to do it at home.

"Now I explained to him that in school we have to share our toys and the other children also like to play with trains and taking turns makes everyone happy. I tried to implement this at home with his older siblings and when he did scream and shout wanting his own way - I found he was able to be reasonable and calm down after we spoke to him about sharing (basically kept reiterating the same thing over and over again)."

That's fantastic.

With those children who found it really hard to share, I'd take it back to basics. First, teach about turn-taking as that's easier to grasp than "sharing". At work, I'd have the child sit opposite me on the floor and we'd roll a ball to each other and say "Your turn" (rolling the ball) and "My turn". Quick and fun. Always fun. Then move on to taking it in turns to build a tower of bricks. You say "Your turn" as he places a brick, then "My turn" and so on, with "good sharing!" praise (always name what you're praising). Building a tall tower is fun!

Trains are clearly your son's high-reward toy so once he's got the idea of turn-taking and "sharing", have a train in your hand (not his favourite!). Sitting opposite each other again, say "My turn with the train" and roll it back and forth in front of you . Then say "Your turn with the train". You could count down 3-2-1 as it nears the end of his turn and say "My turn with the train" and praise for "good sharing!". Keep the turns short and make it fun.

Build up to tracks - "Your turn" "My turn" as you each fit a piece of track and "good sharing!"

Just keep building up to taking turns with the trains on the track, swapping trains around - I'm sure you get the picture. His sisters can be roped in.

At preschool, we'd build up to the child playing with a chosen child known to be calm and a good sharer. Gradually, the non-sharer would realise they had more fun playing with others than on their own and would be motivated to share, but it takes time. Other children aren't as patient and forgiving as family!

We didn't have a naughty chair, but we did have a thinking chair which was used when the child was absolutely overwhelmed and needed to calm and have some thinking time as he did so. In fact, one child used to put himself there if he was getting cross! We also had a big sand timer.

I'm so sorry that nursery school is such a negative experience for your child so far and really hope the meeting goes well.

JoyousEagle · 27/02/2025 20:23

I wouldn't he happy with the use of a naughty chair. But (sorry if I've misunderstood) it sounds like you've only heard about the naughty chair from him? Your daughter saw him sitting by himself, did someone tell her it was a naughty chair?

You need to ask the nursery these questions "my son says he keeps being put on the naughty chair, is this right, and can you explain how/why it's used?"

Snorlaxo · 27/02/2025 20:35

When my kids were at nursery, it was called a thinking chair rather than naughty chair.

Yanbu to be concerned that he’s considered the naughty kid but I think that you need to check details. He may have misinterpreted things - they may have a rule about how many kids can play trains at one time, they may have encouraged him to try another activity or he may have been on the chair/carpet for a bit (3 minutes as he’s 3) If he got overexcited or played trains longer than his fair share of time, they may have had to take away the train if he resisted. All of those are understandable variations of not being allowed to play trains.

Usually at school, nursery and reception have separated areas from the rest of the school so the hug would be seen as “naughty” The separate playing areas are to keep the younger ones safe.

As he’s spoiled at home then it is time to consider changing that. For example when you talk to him about sharing, do you give the older ones the item or are they too nice and let him have his way?

Don’t worry he’s only 3 so there’s plenty of time to change things. Big changes happen at his age so he can turn this around.

verycloakanddaggers · 27/02/2025 20:35

Naughty chair sounds very concerning, You need to ask for a meeting, but also start looking for an alternative.

littleluncheon · 27/02/2025 20:40

'Naughty chair' sounds very unusual (even the use of naughty as a word) so I would find out from the teacher what is going on.

Sitting 3 year olds in assembly is also fairly unusual.

Being told he can't play with the trains if he not able to manage playing nicely - eg if he's violent with other children - is pretty typical though.

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