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How do you find out what your child has done at school today? 3 days in to primary school and I know nothing!

62 replies

Platesmasher · 26/08/2009 23:19

Ok so I know more than nothing.

We've had the letters S and A and actions to go with them.
We know that he has to put his hand up to ask a question which was enthusiastically demonstrated.
And we know the name of the boy he sits next to and that he got told off for shouting.
And that he keeps his gym kit under his desk.

But really, what about all the other bits in between.

I demand a video recording of his every moment.

IABU I know.

Help!

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Platesmasher · 26/08/2009 23:56

Well in that case he can do his own laundry.

Harrumph.

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piscesmoon · 27/08/2009 00:13

You either find a friend who has a girl in the same class and you get it all through her or you do a car run and listen while they chat with a friend. I have 3 DSs and the whole of their school careers have been a complete mystery! If you really want to know, volunteer to go in and help.

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Platesmasher · 27/08/2009 08:02

Oh dear.
He's realised the value of this knowledge.
After I got an explanation of the traffic light game he played in the school hall.
I asked, then what?

"Er, the teacher gave us swords and we did fighting" Cue a swashbuckling demonstration...

But I've been instructed not to ask the teacher about this.

Sigh. Am going to stop asking questions.

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OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper · 27/08/2009 08:07

You could try asking him what the best thing he did today was - usually extracts some kind of info. (Open question, see?)

Or who is the nicest child, what was the funniest thing, etc.

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EleanoraBuntingCupcake · 27/08/2009 08:08

it is weird. at dd's school the doors open, the children are sucked in and door slams shut. it is like big brother saying 'they are ours now!'

i listen to dd chat to her friends to gain info. in amoungst the 'lets pretend we are princess dentists' nonsense i glean the occassional snippet.

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YeahBut · 27/08/2009 08:12

Get used to it.
"Don't know." or "Can't memember." is about as fulsome a reply to any enquiry I got when the girls started school.
Funnily enough, they do "memember" quite well when it comes to telling you about any major misdemeanour committed by another child!!

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piscesmoon · 27/08/2009 08:27

Half the time it is because they can't remember! The day is long for them in reception-it is very common for them to say at 11am 'have I had my dinner yet' if you said 'yes' they would believe you!!

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CatHerder · 27/08/2009 08:33

Invite one of their friends home for tea and then eavesdrop. (although sending your child off to some stranger's house for tea in return is a whole nother kettle of fears).

Wait until you're really busy dealing with an emergency - e.g. small sibling bleeding copiously. Then they'll walk over and start talking to you.

Lol at the swashbuckling swords!

Dd's friends parents come over to me in the playground and ask about letters home, dates, things they are supposed to bring in ... Dd is Efficient. She is 7, it is a bit scary.

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ohjustgrowup · 27/08/2009 08:34

I am a year 1 teacher and a parent once told me she was concerned because her child always said he'd done nothing at school. She seemed to think that was possible. Like I sit them all down and make them stare at a wall for 6 hours.

I, however, am lucky because DS is at a deaf school and they actually send home a little video everyday of what he's been doing. It's great!

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ben5 · 27/08/2009 08:35

we had a great primary that told us that most kids will come out and say they did nothing all day and played with no-one. just before the october half term they had a parents evening and they showed us photos of the classroom activties, what they did and roughly what time they did things. so this way i was able to ask questions that gave me clues of what he had done for day. also talk to other parents in playground because there kid might of remembered something that yours didn't!!!!!!!

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Chooster · 27/08/2009 13:59

Could have written your posts myself platesmasher! , I am DESPERATE to know what DS1 (5) has been doing in P1. He wont even really open up at all, not even about who he sits next to, he mentions names but I'm not convinced he is not just trying to shut me up!

I know he has learnt 'S' and 'A' too as its in his book that he brings home but he just doesn't answer me. I try not to be too pushy - honest - but on the drive home I'm just itching to ask another question. Even though I work I think I'm going take a day off to volunteer as a parent helper one day so I'm allowed in the inner-sanctum .

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Platesmasher · 27/08/2009 17:44

Gah! I'm not asking him anything! I'll play him at his own game and see who cracks first.

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Pandoraneedsbugs · 27/08/2009 17:46

3 days in and you know all that!
Im quite as that is more than I would got from my ds at that age!

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elmofan · 27/08/2009 18:01

no news is good news

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FlyMeToDunoon · 27/08/2009 18:02

Ah yes the parents who demnded to know why their children weren't doing anything all day at school. Their children were 'not liars' so if they said they were doing nothing it must be true!
And those who demanded that their child 'not just play all day'
I loved the looks on those parent's faces when I showed them the books of letter formation, number work, the drawings, paintings and craft projects we had done.

It is a bit sad when they start school because a large part of their lives becomes hidden from you. But it is a part of growing up for them.

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Platesmasher · 27/08/2009 18:20

thanks for indulging me on this thread.
I need moral support.

And he does seem awfully tired for a child who has done nothing all day.

He's ready for bed at 6!

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Takver · 27/08/2009 20:35

Try asking what they had for pudding at lunchtime I always got an enthusiastic answer for that one!

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Mistymoo · 27/08/2009 20:42

My first reaction to your question was:

You don't and never will.

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Takver · 27/08/2009 21:06

Nah, mistymoo, that's not true at all. You find out very quickly if
a) they do something awful
b) they run full tilt into a wall at playtime.
In the latter case you will find that not only do you know, but so does everyone else in what seems like a 10 mile radius.

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MrsMerryHenry · 27/08/2009 21:08

Still sitting on your hands, Smasher? Have you cracked yet?

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Platesmasher · 27/08/2009 21:55

I got a recital of a speech some big kid made canvassing for group captain votes.
For a moment i though he was going for it...something about 'Please let me be house captain because i am nice and i like people'.

It was obviously the most impressive thing he'd seen all day.

I didn't ask though, he just started making a speech...he seems happy so I'm not worried. I just want to know 'stuff'.

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Platesmasher · 27/08/2009 21:55

...and he met a girl at lunchtime who had chocolate sandwiches.

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LightningBolt · 27/08/2009 21:56

Ds always says "I can't remember" when I ask him what he has done at school,lol.

Luckily the parents evenings provide a better insight.

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moodlumthehoodlum · 27/08/2009 21:59

Say - what was the best bit?

What was the worst bit?

And (DD particularly likes this one..) who was naughty/silly?

Works a treat every time, and you get nuggets of info you wouldn't normally get.

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LightningBolt · 27/08/2009 22:04

Moodlum,I have tried all of the above and he can never remember,apart from telling me about playing ben 10 and Dr Who in the playground.

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