I am a step mom to a 5 year old little boy. Tonight DH and I were discussing an Easter dress I want to buy for my baby (due in March) and DH said to wait because we don't know how big she will be- to which the 5 year old replied "yeah we do- she be fat like you!"

What do you think appropriate handling of this situation would involve? DH told him that's not nice and I got a forced apology- but that is it. My feelings are totally hurt and I feel that time out, send to room, stop playing video game for the night, etc would have been more appropriate to somehow reiterate that being mean has negative consequences. Thoughts?

 TIA!  

I'm trying to come up with healthy foods that wil look cute on the table, and can be served in small portions.  So far I have:

Healthy"ish": popcorn - veggies with hummus - yogurt covered raisins - goldfish - cheese and turkey cubes (or pinwheels, not sure)

The "naughty" stuff: chocolate covered pretzels - cake pops - meringue cookies and of course, birthday cake.

Any ideas for the healthy list?  Thanks!

I do see that it tends to be mostly the math that's confusing "us". The language arts are easy for her. 

 Her exact words were: "So-and-so has to take medicine because he gets really crazy. He has something wrong with him that makes him have bad behavior and the medicine makes him behave." I assumed she was talking about ADHD or something along those lines.

I asked her how she knew this and she said she'd heard it from some of the other kids in class. I talked to her about how certain information should be kept private and it's not polite to talk about people that way. She didn't seem to get it though.

Should I mention to her teacher, or just leave it alone?

Do you have any suggestions on how I can help him? I feel like this shouldn't have to be such a struggle every night. We do have a reward system in place if he gets all his spelling words right. Thanks ladies!

1. I was told that my daughter is quick to tears, she cries very easily like if someone budges in line in front of her or say something mean. I understand it hurts her feelings but how do I help her better cope and handle the situation in a better way? 

2. I was also told that there is a girl in the class that treats my daughter and another girl in the class like...(not sure how to word it)  her followers? The teacher thought enough to mention it as a concern being as how they are only in kindergarten. Also I worry because I have seen this child being quite rude and demanding to other children?! How would you handle this situation? Its not that I don't want my child to be friends with her its just that I want her to know she doesn't have to do everything the other kid tells her to do?

TIA for any advice I am just not sure how to handle it. So any help from you ladies that have more experience with older school aged children would be great.

He has already read:

ALL Magic TreeHouse, Junie B., Encyclopedia Brown, Jigsaw Jones, Time Warp Trio, plus a lot of Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew and most of the Boxcar Children. He is nearly done with the Geronimo Stilton/Thea Stilton books. (We do not care for the Captain Underpants type books.) He is an avid reader, if that's not obvious lol.

He is 7 but reads on at least a 4th grade level? We just finished Johnny Tremain, if that's any indication. Basically, just looking for recs for good books/lit for a boy that loves to read but that is also appropriate (he's in 2nd grade). Thanks!

These same kids have bullyed my daughter in the past before so I'm assuming she is getting into trouble with them mostly to fit in.  She's still at school so I haven't had a chance to really sit and talk with her to get the story yet.

How would you guys handle this?  I like to hear other parents' experiences--what you would do, how a situation turned out--so I can decide on what I'll do based on information, I guess.  My first instinct is to have a talk with her, ground her from her games and stuff for a few days and possible have her write a letter of apology to the driver.  Depending, of course, on what her story of the situation is.

Any advice?  Anecdotes?  Thanks!

I suggested adding a line to our plan and getting her a free phone which she would only be allowed to use from the time I leave for work until he gets up. Also, since her father doesn't like calling my phone to talk to her she could use the phone to call him as well. There would be definite stipulations to her phone use. 

My b/f thinks she is way too young and not mature enough for a phone, and it would become another thing for her to "whine" about.

What do you ladies think? TIA

Oh and just to clarify the days I don't take her to school I am home around 5 and we "hang out" after she is done her homework.  

Thought I would update with the decision that we made. We will be upgrading our phones as well as getting her a phone as Christmas presents. That was we all get new phones at the same time. 

DS is 9 and we have noticed a few tics (he pumps his fists, taps his foot behind his leg when standing still and squints/blinks several times in a row)

He says he can't control it and he needs to do it-which I know is true

I am just wondering if this is something we need to make a dr appt about or wait until his 10 year checkup in march to discuss

TIA

First, are there any chat rooms/support groups etc for parents of gifted or accelerated children?  Or books?  It comes with its own set of challenges...

Second, what's the difference between a "gifted" child and a child who is just interested in learning?  My child LOVES learning, and has tested very high (in K but testing at above 1st grade + 5 months level). I don't know that she fits the definition for gifted - she's not a savant or anything - she just thinks learning is fun so that's her focus.

Third, do any of you have a hard time talking to others?  I feel like I can't share anything about my DD (except with her grandparents) because in doing so, I make other people feel badly, which is not at all my intention.  I don't want to brag, but like any Mother, I am proud and want to share with friends.  The second I open my mouth though, I wish I'd kept it shut.  I heap praise on my friends children for any of their accomplishments - why can't they be happy for my DD in return, instead of turning everything into a competition?

That's all for now folks - TIA for any help!

Jenna

I have kindergarten information night in a few weeks and need to decide which program to enroll her in and just looking for thoughts from those that have been there.  I know which way I am leaning but looking for experience from those who have been there/done that already.

DD will be at school for the full school day since I work full time.  Getting into full day kindergarten is not a guarantee as they only have 1 full day class unless there is enough interest to have 2 full classes.

Option A:  Full Day kindergarten - 6.5 hours with a licensed teacher plus an aide. Normal kindergarten day with lunch, recess, etc.  1 classroom all day with the same kids all day.  Not sure on the number of kids in class or how many aides in the room.

Option B:  Half day kindergarten (2.5 hours)with a half day in KinderConnection (4 hours) at the school to equal a full day program.  Kids attend half day kindergarten 5 days a week.  KinderConnection kids can do 3, 4 or 5 days a week.  I would do the 5 days a week.  Total is still 6.5 hours.  10 to 1 student ratio in KinderConnection (not sure of the ratio in the actual kindergarten room) but the teachers do not have the same ceritification as the regular kindergarten teachers - I think it is more on the daycare level of certification or early childhood. 

KinderConnection is the program that runs the schools before/after and vacation care programs.  My DD will be in the before care program since we are a late start school (9:40am) and I will pick her up when school gets out at 4pm.

My DD's 2 PreK teachers both have different feelings on kindergarten - one leans toward the half day with KinderConnection as she feels the smaller number of kids in KinderConnection is really a huge plus even though they don't have the same certification level and the other leans towards full day as the kids get more consistancy in their day.  Cost for full day is a little more but not a deal breaker.

 I am leaning towards trying for the full day kindergarten option but am open to hear from others about their experience.

I just don't know what to do this year. Should I just deal with the feelings I have about buying a costume or keep trying til Friday morning??? UGH......

Please let me know if there is a website with a letter to send to the school.

Thanks.

Does your child's school allow Halloween parties?

Do you do an allowance? how much?  

TIA 

She also got a 100% on her spelling test last week.

All thoughts welcome....I'm also considering a DS for him (not sure which version).

Awaiting a call back from the doc..... 

 I am hunting for a toy that was "as seen on tv". I have no idea what the name is and can't seem to find it online no matter what I search.

It is a vacuum sealed troll/furby like stuffed animal. When you open the package it "grows" and little girls can put bows in its hair.

Do you know what this is?  

I'm in dire need of advice, words of wisdom or whatever you have to offer.

Last winter however the district altered their age policy to allow parents to advance their children to first grade provided they had successfully completed a full-year of K, had teacher recs and could show academic proficiency. This was likely in response to new families coming in from towns/states which have a later cut-off. Her teacher said dd was one of the smartest in the class, picked up the material quickly and strongly pushed for advancement. Come springtime, we agreed and went through the necessary steps. 

The district administered language/math assessments and observed her for one hour in the classroom. Although she scored very high for her age, they were on the fence and chose to air on the side of caution since it was the first time they were doing it and said no. Her teacher was vehemently opposed to it and we tried to appeal the decision but the best we got was "we want to observe her in our own classroom for a bit and then maybe advance her at some point during the year."

Well here we are almost 2 months into school. They have redone the same assessments, come to the conclusion that academically she is an above average first grader and, after speaking with her current K teacher, she can and should move to first grade. But they are leaving the final decision to my husband and I.

After all we went through last spring, the discussions, the appeals etc I'm happy and pissed at the same time. She is settled in her class, knows the processes, etc. Although she has made some comments in the last few weeks that lead me to believe she may beginning to feel boredom, she has also made some good friends and is quite comfortable already. I'm also struggling with how to approach it with her or with the other moms of kids she plays with--some of whom are good friends. She's quite adaptable, is very well-adjusted and I think we are leaning heavily to advancing her but i'm just nervous about what happens next. 

Thoughts?

Spooky Science

She has an older child so I figured it was just more her norm but all of the other moms stayed.

When do drop off parties start and how do you know you're NOT supposed to stay?

Mine are 17 months apart.  I only take the child whose name is on the invitation unless it says "siblings welcome" or if it's a family friend where we always include all siblings.

However... I'm shocked to see how many people DO bring siblings that I know were not invited by name.

What's the right thing to do?

Or does it depend on the type of party?  If it's a back yard blow out what's a few extra kids vs. a bounce house situation where you're paying by the head?