5 Yr Old Misbehaving at School

P.,

My son is going through the same thing in his class right now. I tried the timeout thing, took away his bat and ball, the TV from his room, etc. It wasn't working so I talked to his teacher and Mrs. Gleason said to reverse what I was doing. So...last week I told him if he got a "happy stamp" four of the five days he could go to the batting cages with just me, the girls and my husband would stay home so he could have some time with just me. It worked!!! This week he is doing good, (he hit a rough patch today due to me working the Holiday Store and he knew I was there), but we are still going on the four out of five days every week need to be good and he will get to do something with just me or just my husband, his choice. I hope this helps and try not to get frustrated, I know it's hard and if you want to chat just e-mail me.

Hi P.,
This sound's very normal to me and honestly, I wouldn't put him in timeout every time it happens if I were you. That's going to burn him out and he'll most likely take timeout less serious if it's given to him every time.
I would just discuss with him why this happened and then tell him if it happens more than once in a week, THEN he gets timeout and if it doesn't happen at all, then he can get a prize at the end of the week.
It's just a part of Kindergarten and the teachers trying to enforce that he and classmates are paying attention at all times.
If you ask him, I'll bet he'll say he's not the only one who gets his card changed often.

My daughter's Kinder class has a rule where if they act up or don't pay attention they have to move their car on the car chart. Her's has never been moved but "everyone" elses in the class has been moved many times.
She really tries very hard to always do her best and it sounds to me like her teacher is "abusing" the car movign and children won't be bothered by it the more she does it because they're so used to having it happen.
That could be what's going on with your son. He might not be taking his teacher to serious about having his color changed and that's why it's happening more ofter.

Don't worry about it at all though. He'll be just fine and
I'm sure if his behavior was a big concern of the teachers, she would be having one on one with you more often to discuss his behavior.
Take Care!
~N.~

OMG i am dealing with this right now with my daughter. Except they havd diffrent degress of smiley and frowny faces depending on what they did and how bad they were. Today she came home with the most important frowny face. I honestly think kids have to test there boundries every now and then and they have to know that the teacher will be there to up hold them and that there needs to be punishment at home. Now i know he is young but you can take away his blankee, or no spongebob that after noon. My daughter dosnt like to mind, normal by what i am told. When she came home today we talked with her about it and told her that if she got another frowny face we werent going to take her some ware we planned (ie. movie, ice cream, outing of any type). I know at this age there is nothing much you can really take away. Try faking a call to santa. Good Luck!

Kindergarten isn't what it was when we were there - and many little boys are not "mentally ready" for the physical challenge of pursuing rigorous academic work. It takes time and diligence to acquire the skill - and I think the reward for 4 out of 5 days of no problems is an excellent starting point.