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Daughter sent home from pre-school for the second time

  • 07-10-2015 7:40pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 54 ✭✭


    Hi everyone,

    My four year old seems to be struggling with pre-school and to be honest I'm not sure how to help her. She is my second child and I have a three month old. She goes into pre-school happy. The first time they rang the said she had been screaming for an hour. That was about three weeks ago. At the time I collected her and said nothing about the fact preschool had suggested strong I get her, I was worried she would link bad behaviour with a half day off preschool. They said she was having a power struggle with them but after an hour they had to move on. Today she would not do what she was told (sit on her seat) and then pushed other kids off. She was told that if she continued they would call me and she told them too and they did. I read her the riot act.

    She is such a smart child but I'm really worried she will see herself as a "bad" or "naughty" child. She is headstrong and testing at home but pretty much like every other 4 year old I know. I'm also very aware that I do have a new baby . Anyone got any suggestions how to handle this, I'm really worry she will be kicked out of pre-school..


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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,192 ✭✭✭Ken Shamrock


    I'm no expert In parenting, but do you think It could have something to do with the new baby? Maybe she Is jealous and wants attention, that's why she's acting out and wanted the school to call you?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 54 ✭✭itsasecret


    Hi Ken,

    That has come to my mind too, her behaviour at home is not too bad and she loves the new baby, like won't leave him alone. But of course I'm more busy and tired then I was before. It's hard to know what to do because she seems to be keeping most of the bad behaviour for pre-school.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 23,862 ✭✭✭✭January


    I think they're being very quick to call you over these two incidents. My 4 year old is in pre-school and she has had some incidents (3 since the start of school, one I was actually outside the door listening to as it was nearly collection time) at no point have they ever suggested taking her home early. I am told when she misbehaves, when she hit another child she was made apologize and told not to do it again, she said sorry and hasn't done it again. She refused to put on her coat at home time and screamed at the teacher that she hated her and was roaring crying but the teacher just let her scream for a while and asked was she finished after a few minutes and she was.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,339 ✭✭✭How Strange


    I agree with January. I'd be more concerned with the staff's training to deal with very typical pre-school behaviour than with your child. I'd guess that their reaction to her initial behaviour just causes it to escalate.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 54 ✭✭itsasecret


    Thanks guys.. She went to Playschool there, three afternoon a week but the main career left and a new girl started just as pre-school started. It was another bad day, she threw a jigsaw across the room and the kicked it and broke it (they did not ring me but told me after, feel like worse parent ever)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,517 ✭✭✭Sunny Dayz


    itsasecret wrote: »
    Thanks guys.. She went to Playschool there, three afternoon a week but the main career left and a new girl started just as pre-school started. It was another bad day, she threw a jigsaw across the room and the kicked it and broke it (they did not ring me but told me after, feel like worse parent ever)
    Well in that case it sounds like her problem is more to do with her new carer than her new sibling...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,339 ✭✭✭How Strange


    Try to talk to her about how she feels before she acts like this in playschool. Ask her what she is feeling and try to get some information from her. At that age she should be able to tell you quite a lot. Then try to help her create coping skills to avoid the behaviour.

    Empathise with her and tell her you understand how she feels.

    This kind of thing definitely works with my 4.5 year old who can be quite impulsive and hot headed at times.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 54 ✭✭itsasecret


    Thanks how strange, I have asked her and she said she is bored.. I will try to talk to her about it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,682 ✭✭✭deisemum


    Sunny Dayz wrote: »
    Well in that case it sounds like her problem is more to do with her new carer than her new sibling...

    This; it looks like the new carer isn't handling it too well and your DD's behaviour is fairly typical of a lot of children her age when trying to deal with change so quit thinking you're the worst parent.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,004 ✭✭✭mitresize5


    so its either the new babys fault

    or its the mothers fault

    or its the pre schools fault

    Or its the new carers fault

    ........ anything to be said for the child actually being naughty and needing to be corrected and/or disciplined?

    edit: not having a pop at you OP, I just feel at times a lot of people look for every excuse besides the child actually being bold, including my own I might add


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 23,862 ✭✭✭✭January


    There's a reason the child is acting up in school. OP said the child said she was bored, I'd work on that and ask the pre-school to keep her occupied a bit better, is the 'work' too easy for her?

    If the child is being naughty then they can't ring the mother every time it happens, that's just ridiculous. The pre-school need to work out a strategy for discipline if the child misbehaves. In our pre-school they use the thinking chair, if child continues they are sent to the other pre-school room. Similarly, if the child is good and does good work etc they are sent to the other room for extra praise by the other teacher also.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,449 ✭✭✭✭pwurple


    mitresize5 wrote: »
    so its either the new babys fault

    or its the mothers fault

    or its the pre schools fault

    Or its the new carers fault

    ........ anything to be said for the child actually being naughty and needing to be corrected and/or disciplined?

    edit: not having a pop at you OP, I just feel at times a lot of people look for every excuse besides the child actually being bold, including my own I might add

    Mitresize5 , Of course All children are naughty sometimes.. But the preschool sending a child home every time they are naughty is just ridiculous, unworkable and in my experience completely unheard of. What is that teaching the child? Misbehave and I get to go home?

    There are two approaches... Use the discipline policy they have AND find a root cause. It's not one or the other.

    My own misbehave too, and get disciplined but I know they are usually naughty for a reason. Hungry, tired, bored, hurt etc.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,481 ✭✭✭Barely There


    pwurple wrote: »
    Mitresize5 , Of course All children are naughty sometimes.. But the preschool sending a child home every time they are naughty is just ridiculous, unworkable and in my experience completely unheard of. What is that teaching the child?

    The kid was screaming for an hour, imagine how distressing that must have been for the other kids. The staff need to consider the welfare of these children too and in my view acted totally appropriately.

    Describing a child as " headstrong and testing" is usually a euphemism used by parents to avoid using other phrases to describe the actions of their child that might be more appropriate.

    From what is described in the OP, it sounds like the child is lacking in basic discipline.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,095 ✭✭✭Rubberchikken


    basic consistent discipline in both the home and the preschool.
    the op needs to give serious thought to how the child is disciplined at home. it's fine to say she's smart headstrong etc but that's often another way of describing a child who is lefty run riot.

    there maybe a lack of proper discipline in the preschool also. maybe the person who has come in is inexperienced and needs time to settle.
    op, speak with the manager. agree consistent discipline for your daughter. follow it at home. at 4 she will be only too willing to want her own way, but she should be able to be reasoned with and corrected to.

    plus give her some one to one time when you can but the consistency in discipline now will help when she goes onto primary school where a lot more will be expected of her. good luck


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 54 ✭✭itsasecret


    I should say in theory I don't mind the Playschool ringing me. I can see how an hour of screaming would not be acceptable. My husband asked what happened the lastest time and it seems my daughter was enjoying the attention of being given out too (basically laughing at them). I'm worried because she is a smart kid and if she links bad behaviour with an early ride home then I'm in real trouble.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 54 ✭✭itsasecret


    I'm fairly strict but I do find her more difficult because unlike my son losing things like story time/ TV time is meet with " I don't care" .. Naughty step is done but again she will sit and not real care but for the most part you can blackmail her with lose of treat (ice-cream) but she can lose it over small things like which chair she gets to sit on at breakfast and I might be guilt of trying to advoid fights with her because once you are in a fight no one wins. I'm starting to think I might be in denial but she was at that same Playschool for two years with out problem. It's just since pre-school (new teacher/ new brother) .


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 84 ✭✭Elliottsmum79


    mitresize5 wrote: »
    so its either the new babys fault

    or its the mothers fault

    or its the pre schools fault

    Or its the new carers fault

    ........ anything to be said for the child actually being naughty and needing to be corrected and/or disciplined?

    edit: not having a pop at you OP, I just feel at times a lot of people look for every excuse besides the child actually being bold, including my own I might add

    Crikey, the OP was looking for help and insight. Where is the compassion here? They are trying to solve the problem, give them a break please. And it does sound like you're "having a pop". The word fault was never used here, except by you. Changes can have emotional impacts so while is might not be the FAULT of someone else it may be a part of the reason! Being bold might be true. It might just be that. However, that is a bit of a dead end in terms of helping him/her however. Lets get a bit more solution oriented?? How does she solve bold?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 84 ✭✭Elliottsmum79


    itsasecret wrote: »
    I'm fairly strict but I do find her more difficult because unlike my son losing things like story time/ TV time is meet with " I don't care" .. Naughty step is done but again she will sit and not real care but for the most part you can blackmail her with lose of treat (ice-cream) but she can lose it over small things like which chair she gets to sit on at breakfast and I might be guilt of trying to advoid fights with her because once you are in a fight no one wins. I'm starting to think I might be in denial but she was at that same Playschool for two years with out problem. It's just since pre-school (new teacher/ new brother) .

    Just a bit of advice here. Naughty step/time out/thinking time is becoming a wasted/outdated concept- for many children it just wont work. Blackmailing is such a slippery slope in terms of discipline also. How about, when these episodes happen your carer ask her what happening/what's she's feeling. Tell her her behaviour is not ok. Its ok to feel her feelings but not to act them out on others. Is she Frustrated? Lonely? Angry? Sad? I dont think bored covers the reaction. Emotions are coming up and being acted out.

    Once you/carers can identify the emotion you can help her process it better. Carer needs to get with this plan and support it completely ( should be well within her capabilities). Explain to your DD how her actions hurt others physically and emotionally- in an age appropriate way. Ask her to help you come up with a plan of what to do next time she feels this way ( and plan a strategy). Also, maybe look at the concept of lovebombing her to reset her emotional thermostat ( lots of mommy time for a weekend/lots of treats/her choices re food/activity etc). Make sure she gets lots of choices in her day to day life ( blue shoes or red shoes, pink hairband or blue one, what snacks/sandwiches etc to build her concept of self determination). Yes its tiresome and takes lots of effort esp with a new baby. But much more effective. These steps may be enough to settle children emotionally after a life change or upset. Good luck.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,339 ✭✭✭How Strange


    itsasecret wrote: »
    I should say in theory I don't mind the Playschool ringing me. I can see how an hour of screaming would not be acceptable. My husband asked what happened the lastest time and it seems my daughter was enjoying the attention of being given out too (basically laughing at them). I'm worried because she is a smart kid and if she links bad behaviour with an early ride home then I'm in real trouble.
    Of course she likes the attention and for children it doesn't matter if the attention is from positive or negative behaviour. A well trained child minder will understand this and start to catch the moments when the child is doing something nice, good, positive and give lots of praise for that. After that, there are some tricks like distraction. If they see your daughter getting worked up and they know it will escalate they should divert her attention to something else. They would also ignore the bad behaviour by giving attention to the kids doing positive things. This is very effective as it literally takes the wind out of the child acting up. After that, taking her out of the situation for a few moments literally to calm down may help.

    Unfortunately a 4 year old is quite good with language skills and understanding ably but they're still at mercy of the overwhelming emotions just like a toddler. Part of the job of the parent and the carer is to teach them coping skills to recognise the moments that they're about to lose control and what they can do to avoid it. Finally, as a consequence, take away something from her for defined periods of time but if you're going to do that then you have to follow it through no matter how much screaming and shouting it brings. If she leaned that a consequence will be carried through she'll place a value on them.

    All this carry on is not good for your daughter. She is getting labelled as difficult and maybe bold and if this is reinforced enough she'll believe that's what she is. That's why I think talking to her, empathising with her, acknowledging her feelings and asking her how she thinks hangs could go differently and working out strategies with her will help immensely.

    Tell she's a fantastic little girl and even you should try catching her doing nice things, no mater how fleeting they might be, so she starts learning that she's a nice, loving child.

    We did a reward chart last year when my son was acting out in preschool. He knew that if he got a smiley face on Monday to Thursday he could go to his Gymboree class on Friday but if he even missed one then he couldn't. He missed the class on the first week even though I felt so mean carrying it through. He got his smiley faces every day for 6 weeks after that. At the end of 6 weeks he got s special surprise toy. After 6 weeks his behaviour just improved and there was no need for the chart any more.

    Btw, my eldest is challenging and head strong and can be difficult and that's not s euphemism for anything else. It can be exhausting applying these principles but it works. We've got to 4.5yrs without bold steps or naughty corners.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,917 ✭✭✭✭iguana


    This might seem a bit left of field, but does she have to go to playschool? If she hates it there and if you are at home, why send her?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 54 ✭✭itsasecret


    That's the really funny thing, she does not hate it! She enjoys it and goes in happy. I will be going back to work in jan so keeping her at home is not an option... Also I think it's good to go.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,311 ✭✭✭Chemical Byrne


    By taking her home from pre school early you are enabling and reinforcing bad and unwanted behavior on 2 levels:
    1. She will come to see it as: behave badly, get sent home on a half day, score!!
    2. Preschool will come to see it as child is too much hassle to discipline and control? Grand, call parents, sent em home, problem solved. Score!!

    Next time they call tell them that for those hours you have entrusted the child to their care and it is their responsibility to care for and discipline them and that you will not be collecting them early again, barring a genuine illness or emergency. They will just have to suck it up and deal with it.

    A less hard approach might be to tell the preschool you are working and coming in simply isn't an option, they will have to deal with it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,278 ✭✭✭mordeith


    A less hard approach might be to tell the preschool you are working and coming in simply isn't an option, they will have to deal with it.

    That might be an option in national school where they are obliged to take in children. Playschools are (for the most part) private concerns, so therefore they can call it. However I will say that playschools tend to have a much higher 'expectation' of how children will behave. Our 4-year-old has had some very minor issues that a national school teacher would probably not bat an eyelid at.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,311 ✭✭✭Chemical Byrne


    I'd be inclined to play hardball with them and tell them in no uncertain terms that you have entrusted them to their care for x hours today and you will be coming to collect them at the usual finish time. And not a minute earlier and if they cannot handle that, then you'll be taking you business elsewhere.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,516 ✭✭✭zeffabelli


    Have you ruled out organic causes?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 54 ✭✭itsasecret


    I put up a reward chart on Monday with a list of five golden rules but it seems she lost it on Monday and ended up hitting the teacher. Got a phone call from preschool today to be told another child had slapped mine across the face but it seems for once she was the innocent party. When you say organic causes?


  • Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 25,948 Mod ✭✭✭✭Neyite


    I'd be inclined to play hardball with them and tell them in no uncertain terms that you have entrusted them to their care for x hours today and you will be coming to collect them at the usual finish time. And not a minute earlier and if they cannot handle that, then you'll be taking you business elsewhere.

    This is a ridiculous statement on so many levels:

    Firstly they would just tell you to fcuk off with your kid. Considering that the vast majority of decent, reputable crèches are oversubscribed and have waiting lists, especially in built up areas they can pick and choose who they want in there.

    So you've a choice of some that you've heard not so great things about, that have a high turnover of staff, who have not had a recent HSE inspection, who have not complied with directions arising from a HSE inspection. The dodgy crèches.

    Or you put your child on a waiting list that could take a few weeks. And because you have no family nearby, there is nobody to help you with emergency childcare in the meantime. There is just you and your partner, and it could take weeks before a place in somewhere decent comes along. Explain that one to your boss.

    Or the crèche backs down in the face of a domineering parent and you become that parent. The one that they cant stand and maybe you'll worry that your confrontational attitude has a knock on effect on the care and affection they give your child.

    Then there is the minor issue of taking a pre-schooler, practically a baby, away from the day care facility she has just become familiar with, and dumping her overnight in a different one with strange faces as her peers and teachers she has never seen in her life. It's a child, not a car that you are getting serviced.

    You aren't a parent. Or intending to be one in the near future. And its clear that you have very little direct experience or knowledge of even short term minding of a child, let alone how crèches operate. I'd never dream of going in to Athletics and Running and telling ultramarathon runners what their diet should be or tell them what their training regime should be because I know fcuk all about running besides doing a measly 5k once. I'd rightly be laughed out of the forum. So why are you doing that here?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,449 ✭✭✭✭pwurple


    I'd be inclined to play hardball with them and tell them in no uncertain terms that you have entrusted them to their care for x hours today and you will be coming to collect them at the usual finish time. And not a minute earlier and if they cannot handle that, then you'll be taking you business elsewhere.

    LOL


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,065 ✭✭✭Miaireland


    I'd be inclined to play hardball with them and tell them in no uncertain terms that you have entrusted them to their care for x hours today and you will be coming to collect them at the usual finish time. And not a minute earlier and if they cannot handle that, then you'll be taking you business elsewhere.

    With the waiting lists of most creches I would guess if you threated to take your business elsewhere they would say goodbye.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 935 ✭✭✭Whitewinged


    Its strange but i have a 3 and a half year old and new baby almost 3 months and my daughter has also randomly started crying in the creche. They didnt ask me to collect her or take her home so she wasnt that bad but they said it to me a couple of times when id arrive to collect her.

    It hasnt happened for about two weeks now. I just had a little chat with her about it and she seems to be fine now. You know i think its just change thats all. Just speak with the creche and collect her if she gets too worked up and hopefully it will pass.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,857 ✭✭✭TheQuietFella


    I agree with January. I'd be more concerned with the staff's training to deal with very typical pre-school behaviour than with your child. I'd guess that their reaction to her initial behaviour just causes it to escalate.

    Always someone else's problem bar the parents of the child!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 54 ✭✭itsasecret


    I'm more then happy to take the blame but it does not solve my problem. Reward chart is up and running but got third phone call today. My daughter refused to go up the stairs this morning. My husband did not hug her goodbye, he did wave and blow kisses and this error just put a whole stop to her cooperation. (She was not upset just refused to go upstairs) To be fair Playschool were great, I arrived ..carried her upstairs and hugged her and she was then fine.
    I just wish I could help her and I guess Playschool deal with her moods.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 753 ✭✭✭Roselm


    It sounds like a power struggle.
    She wants to be dominant but so do you.
    I'm not sure what the answer is.
    I assume there's no reasoning with her? What happens if you ask for her input/opinion on things during the day and explain why things are a certain way ie give her a voice (power) and status (treat her as more of an equal).
    Would she take the piss or do you think she would calm down as she wouldn't be fighting to be noticed /taken into consideration???
    This might be totally unworkable and I might be way off in terms of what is underlying her behaviour it was just what struck me when I read back through your posts.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,516 ✭✭✭zeffabelli


    itsasecret wrote: »
    I put up a reward chart on Monday with a list of five golden rules but it seems she lost it on Monday and ended up hitting the teacher. Got a phone call from preschool today to be told another child had slapped mine across the face but it seems for once she was the innocent party. When you say organic causes?

    Neurological. Always good to rule those out or consider them.

    This sounds like a lot of stress.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 23,862 ✭✭✭✭January


    Always someone else's problem bar the parents of the child!

    :rolleyes:

    Nobody ever said that. The parent is being proactive here but the playschool need to be also. My daughter is in preschool. I don't get a phone call every time she refuses to do something.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,146 ✭✭✭volchitsa


    Miaireland wrote: »
    With the waiting lists of most creches I would guess if you threated to take your business elsewhere they would say goodbye.

    Chemical Byrne has said elsewhere that he has no children. I'm not even sure he's part of a couple - but that didn't stop him giving similar-level "hardball" sexual/post childbirth advice on another thread.

    He's a troll, and a mildly sociopathic one at that, that's all.

    Uncivil to the President (24 hour forum ban)



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 23,862 ✭✭✭✭January


    volchitsa wrote: »
    Chemical Byrne has said elsewhere that he has no children. I'm not even sure he's part of a couple - but that didn't stop him giving similar-level "hardball" sexual/post childbirth advice on another thread.

    He's a troll, and a mildly sociopathic one at that, that's all.

    If you have a problem please report it to mods or report a post. Please don't post off topic like this on a thread again.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,146 ✭✭✭volchitsa


    January wrote: »
    If you have a problem please report it to mods or report a post. Please don't post off topic like this on a thread again.
    ok sorry. Fair cop.

    Uncivil to the President (24 hour forum ban)



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,517 ✭✭✭Sunny Dayz


    itsasecret wrote: »
    I'm more then happy to take the blame but it does not solve my problem. Reward chart is up and running but got third phone call today. My daughter refused to go up the stairs this morning. My husband did not hug her goodbye, he did wave and blow kisses and this error just put a whole stop to her cooperation. (She was not upset just refused to go upstairs) To be fair Playschool were great, I arrived ..carried her upstairs and hugged her and she was then fine.
    I just wish I could help her and I guess Playschool deal with her moods.
    I'm a little puzzled. Did your husband just drop her off at the door? Why did the playschool ring you and not your husband? So you had to traipse into playschool from home to bring her up the stairs?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 54 ✭✭itsasecret


    They meet you at the door and bring all the kids upstairs together. They rang me cause I think my number may have been given to ring first, my husband was on the way to work so better they ring me. And yes , but it's only a five minute drive. I should say my older son went to the same preschool with no problems at all. I kept her home today because she had a bad night and a bad start to the day so I just feel it's best to keep her home.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,146 ✭✭✭volchitsa


    I hadn't realized (or had forgotten) she wasn't the eldest - my MiL, who had three children (can you tell this wasn't in Ireland? ;)) says she was always told the middle one of three tends to be whingy and clinging, because they've got the toughest place in the family, neither the eldest ("you're my big boy/girl") nor the baby, who's "allowed" to stay babyish for longer.

    I don't know if it's always the case, but I'd guess that from her position at the moment, she's feeling a bit lost now that she's not even got the place of ''the baby" any more.

    Uncivil to the President (24 hour forum ban)



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 801 ✭✭✭Mary63


    I think she is much too old for this behaviour too and I am not surprised the staff are passing the buck onto you.

    She is probably too big to be carried screaming and kicking into the playschool and why should the staff have to risk putting their backs out by doing this.She probably was told over and over to go in the door like all the other children and she screamed continuously.You then arrived and carried her up the steps,she is a domineering bullying child and you need to get professional parenting advice now.

    Its very unfair on the rest of the children who are having their mornings spoilt and they are probably afraid of your child.I would think the playschool will be asking you to remove her soon,have you an alternative nearby.

    I would also be checking to see if there are neurological issues,this isnt normal behaviour for a four year old.

    Also,what do you mean by a bad start to the day,was this more screaming,this all sounds very stressful.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 710 ✭✭✭omnithanos


    Our little fella was fine in jr. infants but as soon as he moved into snr. infants he started to demonstrate behavioral problems which were completely out of character. He had already been given a diagnosis of Autism but we were told it was 50/50 and we believed that we were just given the diagnosis in order to get extra help if it was deemed necessary. We considered that he just had dyspraxia which he had been diagnosed with prior to the autism diagnosis.
    The change in behavior, combined with increased stimming, convinced us that we were also dealing with Autism and we were then lucky enough to secure a place in a school with an autistic unit.

    As zeffabelli has said Neurological. Always good to rule those out or consider them. There could be an underlying issue which may need investigating.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 54 ✭✭itsasecret


    Mary63 wrote: »
    I think she is much too old for this behaviour too and I am not surprised the staff are passing the buck onto youShe probably was told over and over to go in the door like all the other children and she screamed continuously.You then arrived and carried her up

    Its very unfair on the rest of the children who are having their mornings spoilt and they are probably afraid of your child.I would think the playschool will be asking you to remove her soon,have you an


    Just on two points. She was not screaming continuously she just refused to go upstairs. When I arrived she was in the baby room, just waiting for me.

    Also she gets on well with the other children. I don't think any of them would be afraid of her.

    I'm leaning towards the bad behaviour rather then mental health issues because she can behave well when she chooses to. Her behaviour at home while not perfect is not bad.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 710 ✭✭✭omnithanos


    People with ASD can be adversely affected by certain sounds, changes to routine or crowds which may not present in the home environment.

    http://www.helpguide.org/articles/autism/autism-spectrum-disorders.htm

    It may however just be a phase she's going through. The reward chart is great but it's important to be consistent. The naughty step has worked well for us but it is important to always follow thorough when using discipline.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,516 ✭✭✭zeffabelli


    omnithanos wrote: »
    Our little fella was fine in jr. infants but as soon as he moved into snr. infants he started to demonstrate behavioral problems which were completely out of character. He had already been given a diagnosis of Autism but we were told it was 50/50 and we believed that we were just given the diagnosis in order to get extra help if it was deemed necessary. We considered that he just had dyspraxia which he had been diagnosed with prior to the autism diagnosis.
    The change in behavior, combined with increased stimming, convinced us that we were also dealing with Autism and we were then lucky enough to secure a place in a school with an autistic unit.

    As zeffabelli has said Neurological. Always good to rule those out or consider them. There could be an underlying issue which may need investigating.

    Girls often get overlooked for asd and adhd too.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,495 ✭✭✭✭eviltwin


    Has anyone suggested an Assessment of Needs OP just to rule out sensory issues?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    OP I'm not that sure what the answer is but some of it sounds like she's a bit stressed.
    Having said that, I wonder is there a lot of attention being paid to this.From some of what you're saying, the school reacts in big fashion to this behaviour (calling you), you're coming and going and picking her up etc (because you have to).Do you discuss it at home a lot with her, or with your husband in front of her?

    I wonder if there is a lot of attention on this behaviour and whats happening, and she's become aware of it.I'd go for the reward chart for starters, keep it up.She's not going to understand how it works in a week or two, she has to see it in action repetitively and and over a period of time.If she still loses it...so be it.Tomorrow's another day.

    I would definitely talk to the school.With all due respect to the staff and other kids, if this was a primary school it is highly highly unlikely you would be getting phonecalls.I understand that there are other kids there etc, but really, you need to agree a plan of some sort with them.If she's at that screaming and howling and not going upstairs there must be some way that
    they can suggest dealing with it other than calling you.They must have had other kids with problems too and have ideas for it.I'm not saying it's all their responsibility to deal with but I really don't think that calling the mother this often is the solution either.It seems odd to me.

    I'd also suggest seeing if you could give her some time for herself with you.Is there any way you could pick her up and walk home without the baby some days in a week, or go out for an hour with her at weekends or something?This time could be used to try and see what she's thinking.Four year olds don't have the language to always express what they are feeling so often we have to give it to them, either through books or role play games or just asking them some leading questions.I know it might sound softly softly but at the moment it seems like she's got a lot of change to deal with and maybe she just doesn't know how to react.

    I will say that I don't think you doing one particular thing will solve this.I think it will be a combination of efforts between you and the school and it will be slow.But I do think you can work it out over time.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 801 ✭✭✭Mary63


    The staff who I am presuming are specially trained couldnt get your four year old to obey them.

    You arrived and you carried a four year old up the stairs,did you reprimand her for refusing to obey the staff who then had to ring you,what are you going to do when you go back to work.There will be very serious consequences in school if she hits a teacher,this behaviour needs to be stopped now.Have you made an appointment to speak with the staff in the playschool,could you attend without your daughter and without the baby.The playschool need to be getting your girl ready for school and discipline strategies need to be put in place now before she gets any older.She should know at four that lashing out physically is totally unacceptable.

    I definitely think you shoud check out neurological issues,it wouldnt be any harm.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 54 ✭✭itsasecret


    Mary63 wrote: »
    The staff who I am presuming are specially trained couldnt get your four year old to obey them.

    You arrived and you carried a four year old up the stairs,did you reprimand her for refusing to obey the staff who then had to ring you,what are you going to do when you go back to work.There will be very serious consequences in school if she hits a teacher,this behaviour needs to be stopped now.Have you made an appointment to speak with the staff in the playschool,could you attend without your daughter and without the baby.The playschool need to be getting your girl ready for school and discipline strategies need to be put in place now before she gets any older.She should know at four that lashing out physically is totally unacceptable.

    I definitely think you shoud check out neurological issues,it wouldnt be any harm.

    Yes, I have indeed noticed there is a problem. That is why I am posting. I did of course give out to her but I'm not in Preschool with her and it's very difficult for me to do anything about her behaviour in Preschool. That's why I'm here looking for advice, most days she is fine but


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