I'd like your opinion on this matter. Mr.Brady and I received this email from Jan's kindergarten teacher. I'm not sure I agree with the punishment for showing affectiong, but I'd like to know your thoughts...
Hello Parents
While normally I would save classroom discussions for my Friday reminders email or Monday newsletter, I feel we have an issue on our hands in kindergarten that I would like to nip-in-the-bud with your help. We have developed a kissing problem in our classroom, which I see mainly outside at recess and in our lines before school. The kissing has occured over such a range of students that I felt it necessary to send out a quick email in search of support.
Please remind your kindergartener that kissing is reserved for home: parents, grandparents, and pets. At school, we have discussed that this will be an automatic turn-to-red card change with a loss of 5 minutes of recess. This early in kindergarten it is so important to set social and personal boundaries at school, which is why I am really trying to curb this behavior.
Thank you for your help and support!
While I can see the issue at hand - my suggestion would be to encourage the kids to bond in a different way. Why not teach them a secret handshake/highfive, that only their class knows? Or hugging instead of kissing?
What do y'all think?
9 comments:
I think it is definatly wrong to punish the kids for kissing, because by making it taboo not only do they make it desirable that builds the mindset the kids will have forever. I think teaching them handshake/hug would be a better idea. Much more constructive. You should suggest that to the teacher. I'm glad you had a good time in disney land :)
I'm not so sure that changing their card to red makes it taboo. I remember vividly (and it's been QUITE awhile) when I was in kindergarten and I got put under The Chatter Duck for kissing a boy in my class. I was mortified. I don't, however, have an aversion to kissing now and it didn't scar me for life or make me want to kiss all the guys in my Junior High because it had been so taboo.
However, I agree with the idea that making it fun to think of other, more appropriate ways of expressing affection is good. It might have more long-lasting results, and teach the kids personal boundaries in a way that allows them to take the lead on it. They could even come up with an incentive -- like the most imaginative secret handshake or something.
I agree that the teacher should present other options to kissing than just saying "No Kissing!" Are you sure she hasn't? She may have had a discussion with the class about no kissing, to which they would all ask why, then she would have to talk about more appropriate methods of showing affection. You should ask if this occurred.
I totally understand why the teacher wants to kick this habit asap. There have been serious lawsuits over this kind of thing - including students (yes, in K!) getting suspended. Take it seriously!
First rule about children you don't talk about children....just kidding.
I think even at kindergarten age, if you tell the kids not to do it, they're going to continue to do it until a) they grow tired of it, which they will b) their parents get involved and help each child find a different way to express admiration or c) they find a different pre-recess hobby.
Sounds like the teacher might need to get a better hand on her classroom and stop blaming the parents.
I agree that teaching them appropriate social interaction in public such as hugging. Not only that, this could just a phase the kids are going through. I remember it in first grade on the playground. It lasted for about one week or less. I sometimes think adults make a mountain out of a mole hill without realizing that in many cases, this is just part of discovering who they are and what life is all about. Not only that, we here are the "untouchables" of the world. Other cultures are much more physically affectionate than Americans. I think people today are starved for contact - yes, appropriate contact and we should encourage it when we can. - JMHO.
Hugs and handshakes sound like a good policy. What ever happened to cooties?
hi i want to kiss you too
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