Parenting Forums

Posted: 14 March 2008 at 1:12pm | IP Logged

Sorry i don't know if this has much importance but i was worried about kids getting worked up about tests etc. (so please bear with me)

My son's in year 2 (6-7yrs) and has been doing alot of tests this week and i have a couple of things that are worrying me and i wanted opinions....

I didn't know these tests where going on.... i know they do them through out the year, but i don't really know if they are important, but this morning my son didn't want to go to school, we had tummy aches, sickness (or trying to be), not getting dressed etc and then he suddenly he breaks down after me asking again whats wrong then trying to list everything possible...playground stuff... no..... school work stuff.... yes he says i'm stupid i'm thick.... where did that come from...?? And the reason he doesn't want to go is because of another test today.

Turns out he's convinced himself that he's not bright as he can't write or stay concentrating and is always having his name mentioned, to get him to re-focus on work, due to his adhd.

So i explained that the tests are to see who gets the most or least, they just want you to try there best to see how much they can remember to see if the teachers are doing a good job, because if they all get something wrong then the teacher needs to re-teach it as they obviously didn't make it fun enough to remember the first time.....

After this chat and a call to the school to explain i would now be late as he refused breakfast etc but he would be in and why.... the teacher said he is a sweet boy but shouldn't worry and would i mind if she had a word with him out of class today to make sure he knows he should worry.... naturally i said no problem but i did warn my son that the teacher was going to have a chat so he didn't panic again and that he wasn't in trouble and most teachers don't want someone to be upset or worrying as they too are normally a mum.... and they all care deeply for them.

I hope that all kids out there are allowed to be kids i think there's too much homework and my son gets very worked up about it all and i worry deeply.... i didn't know if there was anything else i could do to help him through bits like this.... it breaks my heart to see him worry and loose sleep over it and that he didn't want to tell me and has worried himself sick..... i feel like a pants mother and that i'm failing him... any suggestions to help he though this all as i know he's got many more years of bits like this to come.