Book bags - honest answers only please

[joggingalong]

Hi,

My ds is in reception. He has gone to a friend's house for tea for the first time today. He was picked up from school.

What I would like to know is, what are the chances that his friend's Mum will look in his bookbag, to see what reading book he is on?

Does anyone know of a mother doing this, or have you taken a sneaky peak yourself?

Friday is playdate day. It's also spelling test day. You know the test is in their book-bag. What do you do?

I think it would niggle slightly for a few seconds as I'm only human but I like to think that I would calmly acknowledge that every child is different and has their own pace etc etc ..... It's only one child isn't it?

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Jiggle said "...how you would feel if you discover that the other child is loads of levels ahead of your child. ... would it niggle and make you start to question how they are doing."

I used to go in and listen to children read in Y2. I noticed what I suspect, that DS was about average reading ability, but a lot of children who didn't otherwise partic seem clever-er than him were doing much better reading wise.

The comparison was a good thing because it gave me a kick up the backside. I made a big effort to see if I could help move DS up just one reading level. With his cooperation, I hasten to add, this kid does not respond to pushy parenting!

He improved hugely over just a few months, the outcome was very much to his benefit. I'd love all the kids in his class improve that much or more, even if it only made DS average again. It's sad to see the few children who try hard but still struggle with reading. By Y3 they can really start to fall behind as a result.

sorry, joggingalong wrote that quote. My posts are full of typos today!

I wouldn't now as I'm on my 3rd reception child and know how irrelevant it all is to their future ability.

However with ds (my first) I might have done - in fact I volunteered to read in school each week partly so I would know how he compared to the others (but also so I could spy on him)

flack, I got a similar kick up the backside when I did reading at school- I discovered that those who were the most advanced read every evening with their parents. Until then I had been fairly lax with ds.

OK [deep breath in case anyone in RL has identified her] I have done this, and TBH would probably assume DS' playdates' parents have done it too.

My excuse - DS is out of his 'proper' year group and I am constantly checking that he really is doing well and not doing well "considering" his age, which would throw the decision to keep him ahead of his year group into doubt.

Can I be excused or is it still dispicable?

Fireflyfairy2
The teacher is very laid back about parents hanging around the classroom in the morning. There's a 10 minute gap between when the classroom doors are open to children and when the register is called, and its in this time that the teacher puts out written work for the children to start on. Hence, the parent who hangs around the classroom checking on other children's progress on the pretext of looking for a water bottle/ book bag/ book etc. She does it every single morning!

I dont

but only because I know that dd2 is the furthest ahead in reading

good post ormirian, i agree

I would never look in other childrens book bag. If mums do this I think that is quite sad and they should go and get a life!

I'm having a good day - a sociopath on one thread and wierd, sad and in need of a life on this one!

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And awful. Gulp. And apparently invisible.

I have to admit I have done this but not out of smugness but because I worry about DS2's reading and wanted to see how far behind his best mate, born in the same week, he was. I only looked at to see what book he was on though, didn't look at the reading record, I polished off the crisps and half eaten yoghurt in his lunch box too

Don't worry seeker, I'm another awful sad person in need of a life. You've gotta laugh really ...

When my DC's have friends round I am so gratefule they are occupied and not asking me questions that I grab a coffee and sit in an unoccupied room for five minutes peace! wouldn't think of looking in a book bag - I'm just glad there leaving me alone for a bit!!!!!

I would never nose into anyone's stuff. How rude!

Ah, but are you a sociopath, Roobie?!!

Porpoise I know what you are saying, I just put my story to show that there may be many different reasons, other mum's could have considered my actions as you are describing - I was certainly pissed off about it (because ds was very discouraged) and moaned to friends alot bit. But to me there was a valid reason behind it. And tbh I don't care if the other mum's think I was one of those mums, I care that ds is motivated rather than bored.

Can you wash bookbags? ds's is horrible, god knows what he does with it, I was wondering last night if I could just chuck it in the machine.

seeker - what do I have to do to collect my sociopath badge to go with the "horrible nosy person in need of a life" one I have from here?!

I could not care less what other kids are doing or not doing. I only care about what my own child is doing. I would not have ever thought of it if not for this thread. Why would you care?

Mind you I think 4 is too young to be in formal education anyway. DS started Reception last week and DH said that out of everyone who lives in our house DS now has the cr*appest life in that DH loves his job so it is not like work, I am a SAHM and love it and DD is just a really happy toddler. Poor old DS is being shunted out to school where he does not really want to be every day. Made me feel .

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