Children not school ready
Discussion
wildoliver said:
A recent trip to France was quite shocking.
Kids were not using mobile phones. A small point but, at meal times they were engaging with parents, talking and growing brains.
You've nailed this pretty much in the first response. Kids were not using mobile phones. A small point but, at meal times they were engaging with parents, talking and growing brains.
A friend of mine is a teacher, teaching 4 and 5 year olds. She has a lot of kids that start school and really struggle with verbal communication as their life up to starting school was either being propped in front of a TV, a mobile phone or a tablet where whilst they are hearing people speak, there is no requirement for two way interaction.
And if you're out and about, you see it all the time. We were recently sat in Costa having a coffee and had out 18 month old daughter sat at the table with us, talking to her about what we could see, what we doing etc.. another parent rocked up with her child in a buggy, aged probably 3, as soon as they sat down, the mum spent the whole time holding a mobile phone in front of the child for them to watch, while she had a conversation with what I assume was her mother.
I don't get why you would want kids to never then actually interact with them.
Superhoop said:
wildoliver said:
A recent trip to France was quite shocking.
Kids were not using mobile phones. A small point but, at meal times they were engaging with parents, talking and growing brains.
You've nailed this pretty much in the first response. Kids were not using mobile phones. A small point but, at meal times they were engaging with parents, talking and growing brains.
A friend of mine is a teacher, teaching 4 and 5 year olds. She has a lot of kids that start school and really struggle with verbal communication as their life up to starting school was either being propped in front of a TV, a mobile phone or a tablet where whilst they are hearing people speak, there is no requirement for two way interaction.
And if you're out and about, you see it all the time. We were recently sat in Costa having a coffee and had out 18 month old daughter sat at the table with us, talking to her about what we could see, what we doing etc.. another parent rocked up with her child in a buggy, aged probably 3, as soon as they sat down, the mum spent the whole time holding a mobile phone in front of the child for them to watch, while she had a conversation with what I assume was her mother.
I don't get why you would want kids to never then actually interact with them.
Pistom said:
2 parent working is a must for most these days - there's no shame in it but the simple fact is that some can't cope with bringing kids up and the rigours of work. The kids of those parents suffer.
Kids with two parents both of whom are functioning well enough to get themselves to work every day are not the source of the problem kids.Everything in this thread was present when I went to school nearly 30 years ago. It wasn’t phones as much then as it was TV, then phones came in. Kids were smoking, drinking and doing drugs from secondary school age. The proper 
ones were getting pregnant etc.
I don’t think much has changed from what I can tell, parents that give a st that aren’t total scum used to raise good kids, and I’m sure they still will. Those that aren’t that didn’t raise good kids back then and won’t now either.
Haven’t hung around with many French kids recently, but was in coastal France a few years back and the bored teenagers every bit as much aholes as those I’d seen in the U.K.
ones were getting pregnant etc. I don’t think much has changed from what I can tell, parents that give a s
t that aren’t total scum used to raise good kids, and I’m sure they still will. Those that aren’t that didn’t raise good kids back then and won’t now either. Haven’t hung around with many French kids recently, but was in coastal France a few years back and the bored teenagers every bit as much a
holes as those I’d seen in the U.K. Superhoop said:
You've nailed this pretty much in the first response.
A friend of mine is a teacher, teaching 4 and 5 year olds. She has a lot of kids that start school and really struggle with verbal communication as their life up to starting school was either being propped in front of a TV, a mobile phone or a tablet where whilst they are hearing people speak, there is no requirement for two way interaction.
And if you're out and about, you see it all the time. We were recently sat in Costa having a coffee and had out 18 month old daughter sat at the table with us, talking to her about what we could see, what we doing etc.. another parent rocked up with her child in a buggy, aged probably 3, as soon as they sat down, the mum spent the whole time holding a mobile phone in front of the child for them to watch, while she had a conversation with what I assume was her mother.
I don't get why you would want kids to never then actually interact with them.
Yep, I reckon you’ve nailed it there. Kids aren’t school prepped because Mums shoved them in front of Peppa whilst she has a minute. A friend of mine is a teacher, teaching 4 and 5 year olds. She has a lot of kids that start school and really struggle with verbal communication as their life up to starting school was either being propped in front of a TV, a mobile phone or a tablet where whilst they are hearing people speak, there is no requirement for two way interaction.
And if you're out and about, you see it all the time. We were recently sat in Costa having a coffee and had out 18 month old daughter sat at the table with us, talking to her about what we could see, what we doing etc.. another parent rocked up with her child in a buggy, aged probably 3, as soon as they sat down, the mum spent the whole time holding a mobile phone in front of the child for them to watch, while she had a conversation with what I assume was her mother.
I don't get why you would want kids to never then actually interact with them.
Leptons said:
Superhoop said:
You've nailed this pretty much in the first response.
A friend of mine is a teacher, teaching 4 and 5 year olds. She has a lot of kids that start school and really struggle with verbal communication as their life up to starting school was either being propped in front of a TV, a mobile phone or a tablet where whilst they are hearing people speak, there is no requirement for two way interaction.
And if you're out and about, you see it all the time. We were recently sat in Costa having a coffee and had out 18 month old daughter sat at the table with us, talking to her about what we could see, what we doing etc.. another parent rocked up with her child in a buggy, aged probably 3, as soon as they sat down, the mum spent the whole time holding a mobile phone in front of the child for them to watch, while she had a conversation with what I assume was her mother.
I don't get why you would want kids to never then actually interact with them.
Yep, I reckon you’ve nailed it there. Kids aren’t school prepped because Mums shoved them in front of Peppa whilst she has a minute. A friend of mine is a teacher, teaching 4 and 5 year olds. She has a lot of kids that start school and really struggle with verbal communication as their life up to starting school was either being propped in front of a TV, a mobile phone or a tablet where whilst they are hearing people speak, there is no requirement for two way interaction.
And if you're out and about, you see it all the time. We were recently sat in Costa having a coffee and had out 18 month old daughter sat at the table with us, talking to her about what we could see, what we doing etc.. another parent rocked up with her child in a buggy, aged probably 3, as soon as they sat down, the mum spent the whole time holding a mobile phone in front of the child for them to watch, while she had a conversation with what I assume was her mother.
I don't get why you would want kids to never then actually interact with them.
My youngest has just started school
She is bright, but we put a lot of effort into her being able to get changed, pee, poo, drink, eat, count, alphabet etc independently
70% of the kids/ parents at the school are good people wanting to get on and achieve
The rest a a variation of scumbags and lazy toe tags
We live in a reasonably nice area, but without sounding like a dick, most of the naughty lot live in the same area.
Some of the things you hear coming out of parents mouths in the playground breaks your heart - but when people who are barely adults themselves have kids it’s no surprise
We have one guy who is always late picking his kids up and shout come ere you facckers across the playground
The head teacher now how to come out and meet him and escort him to make sure his language is sensible. Of course you see him outside, on phone, kids in road etc etc
I’m glad I fund their existence!
She is bright, but we put a lot of effort into her being able to get changed, pee, poo, drink, eat, count, alphabet etc independently
70% of the kids/ parents at the school are good people wanting to get on and achieve
The rest a a variation of scumbags and lazy toe tags
We live in a reasonably nice area, but without sounding like a dick, most of the naughty lot live in the same area.
Some of the things you hear coming out of parents mouths in the playground breaks your heart - but when people who are barely adults themselves have kids it’s no surprise
We have one guy who is always late picking his kids up and shout come ere you facckers across the playground
The head teacher now how to come out and meet him and escort him to make sure his language is sensible. Of course you see him outside, on phone, kids in road etc etc
I’m glad I fund their existence!
BikeBikeBIke said:
Pistom said:
2 parent working is a must for most these days - there's no shame in it but the simple fact is that some can't cope with bringing kids up and the rigours of work. The kids of those parents suffer.
Kids with two parents both of whom are functioning well enough to get themselves to work every day are not the source of the problem kids.Children not school-ready? Wasn't it always the case?
A good friend of mine (now retired) started teaching in the 1960s and he used to relate tales to me about kids that weren't toilet-trained, couldn't use cutlery, couldn't tie shoelaces etc.
My own Mother went to school in the 1930s and used to say that she was shocked at how some of her classmates lacked exactly the same skills also.
And was it Socrates who wrote the piece about badly-behaved, disrespectful young kids?
A good friend of mine (now retired) started teaching in the 1960s and he used to relate tales to me about kids that weren't toilet-trained, couldn't use cutlery, couldn't tie shoelaces etc.
My own Mother went to school in the 1930s and used to say that she was shocked at how some of her classmates lacked exactly the same skills also.
And was it Socrates who wrote the piece about badly-behaved, disrespectful young kids?
Neighbours Daughter was a Primary Teacher in not the worst bit of Aberdeen.
30% + of Primary 1 pupils arrived not toilet trained, some could barely speak, others didn't know how to use a knife and fork.
After 4 years she was the longest serving teacher.
She is now working in a school in Nassau, where apparently the children are motivated and the weather's better!
30% + of Primary 1 pupils arrived not toilet trained, some could barely speak, others didn't know how to use a knife and fork.
After 4 years she was the longest serving teacher.
She is now working in a school in Nassau, where apparently the children are motivated and the weather's better!
Pistom said:
Apologies for taking this off topic but that isn't what they said at all. Why do people do this? Someone makes a valid observation and then someone comes along and extrapolates that into something which might or might not have been the case but just undermines the original point which was perfectly valid in the context of the thread.
Observing a woman trying to have a conversation with someone whilst out and about with a 3 year old is not a good example, that’s unless he knows what her parenting is like the rest of the time.The whole toilet training thing, there’s a big spectrum between ‘needs to wear a nappy’ and ‘spotless toilet hygiene’ - arse wiping is actually quite a tricky skill for some four and a half/five year olds to master. The idea that 30% of a class are wearing nappies or stting themselves every day is nonsense, but some of them may need some help to go.
tting themselves every day is nonsense, but some of them may need some help to go.I'm one of the ones here who said this issue existed in the past but we have to be careful here. I think the point being made is it's a bigger issue now and possibly present to a greater level in British society compared to say France.
I really don't know if that's the case but it feels as if the problem has got worse and I've heard teachers and parents say similar.
Unless a child has learning difficulties or other problems exist at home, I don't see why a child starting school at primary age wouldn't have these basic skills.
By that age, my parents were teaching me to read and write, basic arithmetic, how to introduce myself to adults etc. I don't think it's a high bar to aim for.
I really don't know if that's the case but it feels as if the problem has got worse and I've heard teachers and parents say similar.
Unless a child has learning difficulties or other problems exist at home, I don't see why a child starting school at primary age wouldn't have these basic skills.
By that age, my parents were teaching me to read and write, basic arithmetic, how to introduce myself to adults etc. I don't think it's a high bar to aim for.
When V1 & 2 were a school there were a 2-3 kids at most not toilet trained, able to dress, use cutlery etc. Now Mrs V. estimates around 20-30% arrive in Year R unable to do anything. It takes a lot of time and effort to get them up to speed.
Mrs V.'s school was one form entry and the catchment was less than 1/3rd of the estate. When they built a new building and opened it to 3 form entry, it attracted the less than enthusiastic parents from a 3 mile catchment.
Surprising fact: The odd migrant child that arrives speaking no English and within 6 months speaks better than most natives.
Mrs V.'s school was one form entry and the catchment was less than 1/3rd of the estate. When they built a new building and opened it to 3 form entry, it attracted the less than enthusiastic parents from a 3 mile catchment.
Surprising fact: The odd migrant child that arrives speaking no English and within 6 months speaks better than most natives.
eldar said:
Pistom said:
Not sure how the ability to get yourself to work correlates to bringing up children well but you seem to have identified a link there which I've missed.
Basic organisational skills. Very useful in life.If you can hold down a job you're very likely (certain?) not to be badly mentally ill/addicted/violent or all the other heartbreaking things that damage children.
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