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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

boys vs girls, girls vs boys?

22 replies

franca70 · 27/02/2007 14:21

ds started reception in January. Since starting he's been talking about x being stronger than y and why is xx stronger than me, etc. This is quite new to me, as in the years he went to nursery he's never seemed to notice these things. Apart from discussing with him about the fact that strength isn't actually that important or that there's no need to "show" it, yesterday I asked why he never talks about the girls in his classroom (he used to talk constantly about the little girls he was at nursery with) and told him he should play with them too. He answered me that girls don't want to play with boys. Is this the norm then? Isn't it too early? I played a lot with boys when I was a child, I think it's important. sorry for the rant, just would like to hear different experiences...

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Hallgerda · 27/02/2007 15:19

Yes, I'm afraid that is normal . There's not much your son can do about it if the girls he's at school with have all turned pink and don't play with boys any more, so I'd go easy on him.

Original poster

franca70 · 27/02/2007 17:42

Absolutely. It's a shame though. just think that 4 and a half/5 is a bit too early for being so gender oriented...

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mediterraneo · 27/02/2007 20:03

It's a tragedy!

NorksBride · 27/02/2007 20:27

DD1 started Reception last September, she plays with both boys & girls regularly. And so do most of the class to my knowledge. One of her best friends is a boy, they have the most playdates together too.

She also knows boys & girls from the other classes further up the school. A Year 5 boy we bumped into at Waitrose played boo all around the shop with her the other day. Brilliant!

mediterraneo · 27/02/2007 20:33

There is hope then!

Original poster

franca70 · 27/02/2007 20:37

Excellent! perhaps I shouldn't panic just yet, after all he's only just started going to school... ...perhaps I should just relax, this school thing is stressing me out a bit

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NorksBride · 27/02/2007 20:51

I have to say, the school actively encourages everyone to mix. Reception have Year 6 buddies for art projects, they do cooking and have birthday assembly with Year 1 & 2 and at lunchtime they eat sitting with their houses, so mixed age & sex (very Hogwarts)!

All the children are very confident with adults as well. It's one of the main reasons we picked the school.

Original poster

franca70 · 27/02/2007 20:57

sounds lovely norksbride... it's not in devon, is it?

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PussyWillow · 27/02/2007 22:00

I think it depends on the mix. In dd's year 1 there are the same numbers of boys as girls and they have pretty much paired off, mixing well.

In ds's Reception yr the majority are boys and they definiitley disparage the girls altho I think ds and his 'special gang' are trying to change that a bit!

NorksBride · 27/02/2007 23:07

franca - it's in Sussex (state school too!). But you could make suggestions to your headteacher!

Original poster

franca70 · 28/02/2007 09:31

Today I have my first "parents evening"... well actually afternoon. I'm really curious to see what they say . thanks for your advise!

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mediterraneo · 28/02/2007 21:16

How are these 'parents evenings' then? Haven't had one of these yet...

Original poster

franca70 · 28/02/2007 21:23

slow down med, you have to wait until at least reception. fine, we had a chat, teacher asked ds what where his favourite things about school, who were his friends, etc. she was really nice. ds apparently has been classified as "a developing bilingual" which is quite good. it appears that he speaks a lot at school as well. and that there aren;t many girls in his class (from sept and jan intake)

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mediterraneo · 28/02/2007 21:26

are there other bilinguals in his class? there are lots in my ds' nursery class, being the east end and all that.

Original poster

franca70 · 28/02/2007 21:29

no, it's ds and two other little boys in his class. but your dp is english isn't he, so your ds is already bilingual?

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mediterraneo · 28/02/2007 21:33

my ds speaks more English these days, as only girls speak Italian according to him, and he is a big boy! Of course he understands Italian and speaks it if extremely excited/angry or one to one with me. Does your ds speak Italian all the time to you and your dh?

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franca70 · 28/02/2007 21:49

yes, he does. but talks to me in english if we are with english people. had a period of major confusion when he'd ask: what language should we pseak now? bless him.

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mediterraneo · 28/02/2007 21:57

it's great that he speaks It at home.

RustyBear · 28/02/2007 22:03

ime (I work at a junior school) it changes from year to year - some classes it's a strict segregation, in others (DD's was one) they all mix up together. I think it's probably down to the attitude of the leading spirits of the class.

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franca70 · 28/02/2007 22:07

yes, I think you are right rustybear...

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Smithagain · 01/03/2007 19:01

DD1 is in Reception and there does seem to be a gender split developing. It's rather sad, because she grew up alongside my friend's little boy, best friends all the way, and now she's cross with him because he will only play with boys and won't let her join in with Power Rangers. (Of course, she hasn't got the first idea what a Power Ranger is and probably gets the rules all wrong...!)

Original poster

franca70 · 01/03/2007 21:32

Your poor dd, shemust be sad. Tell her she can be the pink power rangers (not sure there is a pink power ranger, ds -who's never watched the programme, but played a lot at nursery - claims there is one, always played by his friend xxx - name of a girl)

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