Teacher away for a week/behaviour change in DS?

[skewiff]

DS started off the year not very well with his behaviour. He's in reception. He kept pushing other children and would not do as the teacher asked.

This all suddenly resolved itself just after Christmas and has been fine till last week. The teacher was really really pleased with him prior to last week.

Suddenly, again, he's gone back to pinching a couple of other children and missing his breaks as a consequence. I don't think he's refusing to do what the teacher asks anymore though.

The teacher said to me today that she had been told by last weeks' staff (I think teacher was on a course) that DS was annoying one friend in particular a lot last week as well.

I have told DS at home that this is not on. I've tried to find out what might be causing him to do this again. I've talked about friends not wanting to stay friends if he pinches them etc. I'm starting up a sticker chart. I've asked him why he is starting to be like this again when he was so so proud before of being a 'good' boy and not having to sit on the chair anymore (these were his words).

And yet I can see in his eyes that he now thinks that he's naughty and he said tonight 'if no one tells you when I do it tomorrow - you won't know will you?'

Of course I said that I'd go in and speak to the teacher to check each day.

Could this have been started by teacher not being in last week? Was he originally testing new boundaries? Should I be worrying? Is there anything more I could be doing to get him back on his previous well behaved track?

Thank you.

Hi Skewiff, I am a Reception teacher and have a little boy in my class similar to what you describe. Could it be to do with the change and going up to year 1? I know the head at our school has been running assemblies on the 'moving on' etc for children to get used to the idea of moving up and it seems to have unsettled a few children.

Don't worry, it could quite easily be that the change of teacher meant he was testing boundaries etc. Could also be that as the end of the ear is coming nearer, teacher is relaxing the class rules a bit and your ds had reacted badly to it.

Keep doing what you're doing and maybe have another chat with the teacher If your worried.

Thank you BerryCheesecake,

I am worried, mainly because once DS gets into a cycle of this behaviour it is hard for him to come out of it. He sees himself suddenly as 'naughty' and that is the identity he has created for himself.

This is supported by him being excluded from breaks and sitting on 'the chair'. Its also made worse by me asking him not to do it in the many ways I can. I really try to be conversational and enquiring etc, but when DS doesn't answer/respond and just seems like he's going to go back in the next day and do exactly the same thing again I say things like 'I'm disappointed' and that then makes him sad and feel that he's naughty again and add to the never ending spiral.

I have decided today that I'm going to ask the SENCO (DS has a statement for mild CP) to ask the learning mentor (DS does not have an assistant) to take DS out to a quiet area and speak to him when it happens next (I just know that it will).

I think it all needs to be talked about but actually in school and at the moment of it happening.