Teacher's response After My Daughter Returned a Toy

[MeilinZhou]

This happened just this morning.

Yesterday, my 4-year-old daughter brought home a unicorn toy. I assume she took it from school, as unicorns are her favorite. This morning, I returned it to her teacher. The teacher hesitated at first and said the toy didn’t belong to her class. I explained that my daughter also attended the after-school club, so the toy might have come from a different classroom.

What caught me off guard was the teacher’s response: “Oh, we have toys that have been missing for years.” She then turned away without giving me a chance to reply.

What does that mean? Am i being overacted by feeling a bit uncomfortable. My daughter has only been in school for a week, and this was the first time she brought home something that wasn’t hers. I’m trying to teach her that she can’t take toys from school, no matter how much she likes them. There’s also the possibility the toy might not even belong to the school if the teacher didn’t recognise it.

When I asked my daughter to return the toy she said she was scared, so I reassured her that I’d do the talking, and all she needed to do was hand it back. I had hoped the teacher would acknowledge her effort with a simple “well done” or some positive feedback. Otherwise, she could at least ask if the toy does belong to the school.

Am I overreacting to the teacher’s response? I’m also concerned that this may affect how the teacher views my daughter going forward, even though this was a one-time thing.

Yes, you're overreacting. She's reassuring you, saying that it's normal and not to worry too much about it.

Yes, I'd expect that.

I've had many a teacher return something that they found in their child's bag and embarrassed.

I always say "don't worry we have toys go missing all the time - but I really appreciate you returning it".

parent return ........

😂

What were you hoping for? A medal dow your child? The teacher has much more important things in her mind than a child taking home a pesky unicorn that may or may not belong to the school.

It's up to the parents to teach their child that stealing and helping themselves without asking is wrong.

You did the right thing in returning the unicorn with your daughter and that's the end of the matter unless of course little Suzy becomes a kleptomaniac.

You're very much overthinking.

If this even registered on my radar I'd just shrug it off and leave.

Your DD came home with something that wasn't her own. It happens a lot. You just take it back to school and hand it in. No need to make a big song and dance about it. If the teacher doesn't recognise it then still just leave it there. It can go into lost property and the real owner might claim it. Or might not, whatever.

I am not sure why you are over analysing this. The meaning is just that she didn't recognise the toy. Kids often take toys home. I am not sure why you are expecting something so different.

As a teacher I get her reaction as sometimes there comes a point where we have too much toys and often want some to go walkies! Yes we deal with lots going home and are use to it. But I also understand you wanted a different reaction because you was trying to give your daughter a lesson. Don't overthink it but maybe you could explain to the teacher that you would like to illiterate that it is wrong to take things that don't belong to your daughter. Next time there may be a different reaction or they may bring it up during the day.

Well yes, this. It's not the end of the world, but neither is it something to be encouraged, whereas honesty and owning up is,or should be.

Yes. I think essentially we get apathetic about their apathy. Which works most of the time - and is probably less exhausting for the children.

You’re a teacher? 😳

Unless there is going to be some massive drip feed your reaction seems insane

Yeah I'm not saying that's how ill react but I get her reaction, she maybe didn't think nothing of it and didn't think about the learning outcome.

I hope you don’t teach English…

I think you are reading into something that isn't there, and that's maybe because you feel a little bit guilty that your daughter took it. Children always take things, and she has made a throwaway remark that means nothing. Put It out of your head and stop overthinking.

Top tip, If you want attention, love and cuddles, do it after school when the kids have all been dismissed. There's 30 children to usher through the door, and it's September with new children to settle.
Spread the word.

All the lunatics in here, "oh heavens! she TURNED AWAY!" Please, think of the poor TA dealing with this, that and the other whilst we're chatting to you.

My kid has a rabbit that smells of chocolate. They were allowed to take it home if they came into school. Yup - issues with attendance at age 5. Sometimes it just stayed at our house. We still have it as the school's attitude was just keep it. People donate toys. Or toys get left and no one claims them. Or they are leftovers from toy tombolas or adopt a toy stalls.