AboutLeslie Truex Expertise I am a parent of two, but also I'm a social worker with over 15 year experience working with children and families. I can provide many tips and techniques to help with child behavior, interventions for specific behavioral issues, ideas to help children through difficult times such as divorce or grief, hints on keeping the family running smoothly, and tips for developing confident, happy children.
Experience I have a master's in social work and over 15 years experience working with children and families. I have worked in schools, public health, mental health and adoption agencies providing parent education courses and children's groups.
Question My daughter is in kindergarden and does very well with all her work. Her teacher indicated on her progress report that she would like my daughter to stop talking as much in class. I volunteered in the class one morning and from what I could see she completed all of her very easy classwork and then chatted with classmates. How can I tell if she is bored or if we need to work on following the rules more?
Answer Hi ReConna,
Being talkative in and of itself is not bad. However, if it effects your daughters work OR other students work (they can't concentrate because your daughter is talking to them), then she needs to get control of it.
You indicated that the teacher wants her to stop, but you didn't indicate what the teacher has tried...if she has tried anything. For example, has she discussed the talking with your daughter? Has she help keep your daughter occupied when her work is done so she doesn't disturb others (she can draw, start on the next project, help the teacher, etc)? Has she set a consequence for not following the rule?
Whether she is bored or just social doesn't really matter, she needs to learn the rules. But the teacher or you can help by having other things she can do when she's done with her work so that she doesn't bother other students.
If she chatting while doing her work or continues to chat when she isn't supposed to, then you want to let her know the rule and set limits such as lose 5 minutes at recess or having to sit away from others.
