A question for teachers/parents of young kids.

My 3.5 year old ds will be starting school for the first time in Sept. He has never even attended a group play setting because I was a sahm. Anyway, he is generally a good boy and I know he will listen to the teacher and sit when he needs to but he will know one other boy in the class who isn't very good at following directions and listening at all. He is actually very rambunctious, his parents even struggle to get him to sit longer than several minutes. I am worried that since this is the only child my ds will know in the class that he will follow in the bad behavior because he only knows this other child in play situations, kwim?

Another thing is that our last names are close together in the alphabet & I'm guessing the class will sit in alphabetical order. Would you ask the teacher to make sure the kids are separated? Would a teacher knowing all of this info prejudge both boys before getting a chance to really know them? Not sure how to handle this because I know when my ds is around this child he becomes nutty too, which is fine during a play date but definitely not for school.

Message edited 8/20/2013 11:44:00 AM.

Re: A question for teachers/parents of young kids.

I wouldn't stress about it. It sounds like typical behavior of a 3yr old so I am sure it is nothing that these teachers haven't seen before. I doubt they will pre judge your son especially based on the behavior of another child.

As for the seating arrangements, I highly doubt there will be too much structured seating at that age. And if they are seated together and it's causing your son to get riled up I am sure the teachers will rearrange the seating anyway.

Your son is going to meet new kids in the class and it won't be long before he has new friends that he will play with in addition to the boy he already knows.

Re: A question for teachers/parents of young kids.

Who knows? Maybe your LO will be a good influence on him instead of it going the other way??

Re: A question for teachers/parents of young kids.

Re: A question for teachers/parents of young kids.

I'd expect 4 year olds to behave like that honestly. Don't worry, the teacher will be the first to split them up! haha

Re: A question for teachers/parents of young kids.

Re: A question for teachers/parents of young kids.

Re: A question for teachers/parents of young kids.

The entire class for the most part, falls in line pretty quickly.

They are like changed kids within a month of school starting.

Re: A question for teachers/parents of young kids.

P.S. DS went to a Catholic nursery school.

I know that the class started out with 15 and I suspect a few kids were asked not to come back based on what DS SEIT told me (i.e. ongoing biting issues and similar).

There was also at least one girl there who I think was the youngest of the group who had some issues with adjusting well.

Re: A question for teachers/parents of young kids.

Re: A question for teachers/parents of young kids.

There are many kids in 3 and 4 year programs who are not good listeners or good sitters. I have heard the teachers say that is what they are partly there to learn to do and much of it is age appropriate. Also some good sitters test limits at school and some surprise you by being good sitters that are not out of school.

I have never seen alphabetical seating. Different teachers different seating. I know if two kids don't do well the teacher will naturally separate them. The first few weeks are adjustments but most learn the rules and act age appropriate within the first month or so.

I would not say anything to the teacher bc if it isn't this boy it could be all the others you don't know in the class. I would just talk to your child about what you expect from your own child. I also wouldn't say anything bc it also kind of puts your child under scrutiny that the teacher might not notice if you hadn't said anything.