My little one has just gone to her first day at school

[Bozza]

pre-prep is ages 4-7 (the first three years of school) and then she will move up to the preparatory school for ages 7-13.

Ah, these other words for 'posh school', right?

 

[Don't get me started]

To support Dave here, I use to work with a Council Youth services, they also stated that the system could identify "deliquents" kids falling out of the school system etc from the age of 7 if not earlier!

I have heard from 3 teachers that 7 is a key age and by that time you have set them on the road they will follow, of course there are always exceptions to that but as a pretty acurate rule of thumb they say it works. It's because they are guided by the environment they live in, if Dad effs and blinds they think its OK, if people around them dont see the benefit of being a solid member of society then neither will they.

Having 3 of my own from 11-16 I tend to agree with that.

Make the most of them being tiny it doesn't last long they soon grow up.

Wow sorry that was a bit deep for me

 

[Uncle Buck]

Erm. I don't know what year 1-12 is and how that compares, pre-prep is ages 4-7 (the first three years of school) and then she will move up to the preparatory school for ages 7-13.

If year 1 is the first year then I guess she is in year 3 (ages 6/7)

and then there are the joys of Common Entrance at 13...

 

[Clothes Peg]

I support what Dave said.

When I was about 7 years old, my friends and I put all our class mates into groups. Thick, tarty, brainy etc...

These groupings are identical to this day. Many of the girls who started schools with pierced ears and heeled shoes are now teenage mothers. It was harsh, prejudiced labelling, but it turned out to be true. Only 4 people from my primary school class went to university. All 4 of these were in the brainy group.

 

[Starry]

and then there are the joys of Common Entrance at 13...

We are in the middle of all the reports, exams, tests and interviews for all that right now with my son.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

What is new about this phase - is that they start making their own friends. Up to now - their friendships will have been largely set by you.

 

[HampshireSeagulls]

Just started school?
Wrong jumper coming home by Wednesday and Nits by Thursday then.

 

[Don't get me started]

Seven ages: first puking and mewling,
Then very pissed off with one's schooling,
Then fucks, and then fights,
Then judging chaps' rights,
Then sitting in slippers, then drooling

All the worlds a stage and man plays many parts

 

[The Clown of Pevensey Bay]

The current Mrs Of Pevensey Bay is a primary school teacher (year 2) in west London and what Dave says rings pretty much true. Based on what she says (and what my dad says; he's been a teacher for 30ish years) the best advice I can offer you is ALWAYS back up what the teacher says*. That's the best way kids learn to respect their teachers AND their parents in the long run.





[size=-8]*Except in the obvious, exceptional, circumstances. But despite what you might read in the media, these occur less than once every four blue moons.[/size]

 

[NMH]

It changes when they start on the alcohol, fags and poppers.

So, that's at around 11.

 

[Gwylan]

The ultimate threat for our daughter is that she doesn't go to school; she's heartbroken at the very idea (as a 4-year-old, she has now idea that we have no intention of not sending her )

I wonder how long it will be before she dreads the prospect of going to school - my guess is when she starts doing algebra and French irregular verbs.

 

[cheshunt seagull]

and then there are the joys of Common Entrance at 13...

Remember it well, 1972 . The teachers at my prep school built it up so much that I have never been as nervous before a series of exams, even O and A levels.

 

[Jam The Man]

My son started school 4 weeks ago and loves it.. personally i loved school (not necessarilly for the subjects) right up till sixth form, which was the biggest let down ever!

 

[Lethargic]

My boy started in preschool as well 3 weeks ago and he absolutely loves it, we can't get him out of there.

I can understand what DTG is saying but I look at it another way (probably a bit more sceptically) the children are starting to develop into their own personalities and showing traits of what they may become. As with everything this allows them to be pigeon holed or categories and possible affects they way that they are handled (not literally before some smart alec jumps in). This therefore does lead to them living up to the summary, but it is far from a pattern laid in stone.

 

[Marshy]

I know my first who is now starting his 2nd year at school has changed considerably since he started.
He still enjoys it though which is the main thing.