Originally Posted by Suzy  Hi Mandee...sounds like you have a wonderful little girl going through a not so wonderful phase right now.
I don't have any children yet, but I LOVE children, and have worked in many daycares, after school programs, and for a few years as a full time nanny. Here's my advice:
-I think you should ask your daughter why she talks in class? Why does she think it's OK to talk in class? Then ask her what SHE thinks should happen at home if she gets in trouble at school-sometimes, you'll find that kids have GREAT ideas on how they should be disciplined! She might decide that if she gets in trouble at school, that she should lose privileges, write sentences, or do chores for her behavior-all great ideas (you can help to guide her to an appropriate consequence). The next time she gets in trouble, you can help her to follow through with her own consequence that she decided on!
-I know she's been on your nerves (the note, lying about Maggie). You might give her a special notebook that is just for her to draw and write in to get these things out! Call it the "feelings" book or something like that, and make it available to her at all times-put it in her room, or on a shelf in the kitchen where she can easily get to it. When she feels like acting up, or when you catch her acting up, ask her to go and write down or draw a picture in that book about her feelings. Then you two can read it together and talk about her feelings, her behavior, and how to remedy what is bothering her. There could be something else that is on her mind that is causing her to act up at home and at school.
-I might also recommend that you give her a new time out place, rather than in her bedroom. A stair, a rug, a chair, or other designated area would work well. If you need to get away for a bit, YOU leave the room, but it might help the situation to keep her in the room where the offensive behavior occured, rather than sending her away. In my experience, using childrens' bedrooms as time out spaces sometimes leads to bedtime/naptime issues.
Just some ideas I had...I understand how difficult kids can be sometimes! You'll get through it, and you're a great parent-just hang in there! Hugs to you! |