How to get my 6 year old to take school more serious??

My daughter is 6 will be 7 in November and this year she was held back in Kindergarten because she is not at the academic level she needs to be at~ Well last night was open house and here I am sitting there with the rest of the Kindergarten parents and their kids are doing what they are supposed to be doing and my daughter is playing???? So I ask her to sit down and still she cannot sing the songs and what not, so then we go to the gymnasium to have a whole school parent meeting and my daughter is playing with the ride on scooter things (running into the speakers!!!) I take her into the hall and tell her she needs to knock it off and sit down so what does she do??? Goes and gets a jump rope and jump ropes across the gym!!!! I called the principal and we have a meeting tonight I am gonna recommend she gives me daily reports on weither or not my daughter is goofing off or is paying attention, what else can I do to get her through Kindergarten I am annoyed at her and angry!!!!

I am a lil upset that the teachers have not brought this t6o my attention either there are 5 kids in her class I am the one who caught it and called for a conference nothing has been said too me

It sounds like she lacks the ability to concentrate and pay attention.
First thing I would do is look at what she is eating. Eliminate anything high in sugar content. Many times we don't even realize just HOW much sugar is in the product we're eating. Also, food colorings are known to amp children up. Stay away from artificial flavorings and colorings. Feed her protein, eggs, for breakfast. Excellent brain food first thing in the morning. Her diet should be watched and see if it helps any.

It sounds like you're quite on top of the issues. Keep up with her behavior and work, daily, like you said. Great idea! She needs to get used to the idea of having a structured schedule. Let her know that there will be plenty of time to play and have fun AFTER the work is done.

Good luck! I think she is definitely in good hands with you!

She's a kid, let her be a kid. If she needs school help, get her some help. Where is dad in all this? She may be above the other kids in her class and is bored with them. Have her tested.

show her homeless people
especially the ones with no teeth

Sounds like she needs some discipline. Your child should know what is appropriate behavior in public. She must also be goofing around at school, causing her grades to suffer. Maybe you should set up a rewards system for her. If she gets an A she gets something, if her grades slip, something is taken away. Talk to her principal/teacher about recommendations.

You probably should discipline her more. Take away some of her play privileges. Timeouts maybe?

Well, have you considered that like some other energetic and possibly creative children...the environment of school may simply not suit her personality? Many kids do better being educated at home...the restrictions of a normal school stifles them...have the school indicated that she has the capacity to learn but lacks the attention span? Or is it that she does not have the capacity? Either way she sounds like a fireball....is her diet good? Or does she eat any junk which may be affecting her ability to concentrate?

ok wow! I have a 6 year old also and they were thinking of holding her back last year b/c she had been living with her real mom ( i am step mom) before that and was soooo far behind! Physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially! I am glad to say with lots of hard work she did get through to first grade but is still a little behind and it is a struggle everyday!! She also tried that crap of not listening and just doin what she wants and goofing off, but you as a parent have to stop it!!! How did she keep getting to the ride on things, and the jump rope and the front of the gym?? Why after the first time she was doing what she wasn't supposed to didn't you grab her little hand and make her keep her butt right next you at all times!!! I know it is an inconvenience for you, it was for me! But that is the only was my daughte would learn! She only gets one chance if she is asked or told not to do something or to sit still or stay put she can mess up once if she does it again she is done!! Otherwise they will just keep pushing and pushing you, cause they know there is not going to be any consequence for how they are acting!


Well we thought about using the reward chart but, not always a good idea b/c then they get into the routine where they expect to get something everytime they do good so that is the only reason they do it. Then when you try to take that away you have an even bigger problem on your hands cause they are not going to do what they were doing and they are gonna act out cause they are no longer recieving a reward! It is a vicious cycle! Trust me I know!! So if you are going to use the reward chart I would suggest making it a month long chart! Like she gets a reward at the end of the month, instead of every week or whatever. And don't buy her a toy or something, make the reward taking her and a friend to Chuckie Cheese for lunch or to Play putt putt or something fun for everyone so it is also a bonding experience for you guys as well as showing her how proud of her you are!!!

Way Way Back when I went to school My teacher Miss Hunter who later became Mrs Grottenburg.. she had a contest.. the best behaved student of the year would get a reward at the end of the year. She had the most behaved class of the school. Mr Gartons the principal later put that policy in effect for the school! Nearl Everyone useto call him snotrag in jest cause that how is name is spelled backwards! Well he got some good best student behaved school awards as result of the policy! I wonder if that policy is still in effect at Current River School in Thunderbay Ont.
Maybe not if the Principal changed.. Mr. Gartons is probably passed on my now!

Since she can't set still have you ever had her checked for ADHD? My son was the same way at that age and he was diagnosed with ADHD .

My ex in laws always used to say that I needed to discipline him more ,but once he was diagnosed with ADHD and started taking his med's he went from a C-D student to an A_B student all through school .

I would get her checked out if I were you before you go punishing her for something that she can't help .

Wow. I think you're missing what it means to be 6. I don't know about the school behavior, but I want to comment on how she responds to you when you're reading to her. When you read to her and she is making up a story instead of reading the text, she's doing exactly what she needs to do to become a better reader. Her creating a story is part of the process of learning to read. Getting her to predict what could happen next, inventing a different end to the story, creating alternative dialog for the characters... these are all part of learning to read. You do these things when you're reading and you don't even think about it.
My opinion is that she is trying to gain some control over her world. Perhaps you are trying to take too much control over the things she could have a choice in and she is rebelling. I would try to look at where I could give her more freedom and talk to her about the times she needs to show respect for others.

i am a mother of 3 and one on the way and have worked in daycares for quite some time and i can tell you from what you are describing she is looking for attention. My 11yr old son was the exact same only he would walk around the classroom talking it up and chatting to friends and be playing with things when there was work that needed to be done. He was tested for ADHD and tests were positive however i did not medicate him.
I gave him more things to do to stimulate his mind after school so that he was so tired that when he woke up he was still a bit groggy but ok enough to work through his school day.
I also found out that he lacked the attention he desperately needed from his father who hadn't been active in his life since birth. When my husband and i got together when he was 6 he changed into a whole new person. He stopped the acting out and talking and walking around in class and his grades were steady A's. Your daughter is doing things she knows will make you angry cause she knows she can get attention that way. Have her father if he's in the picture help her with homework and if he's not in the picture then find a close family relative or freind who would be willing to sit with her and help her.
Please keep in mind that she is only 6yrs old and most of these teachers would be perfectly happy if kids sat and did work all day but the reality is the teachers never take the time to say "ok we are going to do math work for 20minutes then we will have a 5 minute break" As human beings we are creatures of habbit and we all feel the need to socialize just because she is 6 that doesn't mean she doesn't want to socialize.
Good Luck and i hope everything works out for and sorry this is soooooo long.

she might have ADHD. im eighteen and when i was younger it was hard for me to focus in class and everything. so when i went to the doctor, i was diagnosed with it and they put me on ritalin. it really helped me focus more in school and i was less hyper. maybe you should consider that. i don't think she's doing it to get on your nerves, honestly.

A few things come to mind.

Don't be too hard on yourself. You've recognized the problem and are taking steps to correct it, that's two huge pluses on your side.

As for the schooling, my oldest sister was held back a year in kindergarten while I jumped a grade. We're both College Grads now.

Different kids develop at different rates.

However, one thing you said concerns me greatly. You say that she talks while you're reading to her, doesn't do what you tell her to do, etc.

Have you checked her hearing? It's possible, given the behavior that you describe, that she may have limited hearing. When I was a kid we got periodic screenings, but you might take her to the doctor as well.

I have never heard about a school holding back a child in Kindergarten. The teacher usually suggests they be held back at that age, but usually the parent decides.

Children develop at different paces. It sounds like your child has a behavioral problem. It may be because of a learning disability or it may be she is acting out because you don't give her enough attention.

Do you sit down and read with her every day? Do you give her positive comments when she succeeds? Have you looked into private schools? Montessori schools help children progress at different paces.

Personally, I think it is a bad thing to hold children back at that age. The first three grades are really just setting up basic learning. Do you really think she will never learn to read or write?

Look into a child psychologist if you think there is a behavorial problem. Discipline is necessary, but don't over do it to punish her for her failures.

Good luck.

Okay, many many many six year olds are not ready for school!! Sitting for hours is very hard.
I am surprised (but shouldn't be) that her teacher never called you.
Ask to have her evaluted by special ed. They have all kinds of motor skill therapies that help kids sit still and listen better.
You may want to try a different teacher. You can insist on this! The school may say the other classes are ful blah blah blah. But you can insist they move her.
She may have ADHD. Since you saw this first hand, talk to her doctor. Do not jump right into drugs if you do not need to. The school has resources to deal with it, even though they may not have told you about all of them.
Don't panic. She is in Kindergarten. This is the perfect time to catch and fix this behavior.