18 January 2010

noisy on the inside

Lexi, overstimulated, darts around the room, running and shouting, unable to focus on getting dressed to go out and play.

Boy in kindergarten: Why is Lexi so crazy?

Me: You know what, Sash? When it's really noisy around Lexi, she feels noisy inside and just can't make herself be quiet. That's when she needs some quiet around her so that she can feel quiet on the inside.

And I said it in front of the kindergarten teacher.

I've asked principal if I can go in and explain that to the whole class.

12 comments:

Unknown said...

What a perfect way to explain it to a little one! Did the principal say that you could go into the class and talk to the kids?

Jenni said...

Thinking of you and hoping for the best.

Tina in CT said...

You go momma!

Tami said...

What an EXCELLENT explanation. Maddie still struggles with this. Not as much as she used to, but even on days like today when she was off from school, at home with her brothers and sister and with their babysitter...just that little bit of change is enough to make her a bit 'noisy'. Add to that the hearing deficit...and well, you can imagine.
We'll keep praying that the teacher starts 'getting it' soon! :)

The Accidental Mommy said...

Yup.

Lindsay said...

Good for you. Perhaps the kindergarten teacher will get it too!

Unknown said...

Yeah, I have two of my kids that need calm to be calm, who need peace to be at peace. I thought most teachers understood that very general concept? I'm sorry Lexi didn't get one of those.

Jim said...

You seem to be a natural at this mommy stuff. Good for you!

julian said...

Wishing you the best...not a great situation. Can't the teacher observe other classes to watch the discipline used in the more structured classes?

Matt and Carla Morgan said...

brilliant!

Annie said...

A friend of mine raised three adopted children...and I recall the issues he had with the summer and after-school care director. The director was all about "children need choices" and she felt that after school they NEEDED to "let off steam" and be loud and crazy and undirected.

I remember feeling the frustration on both sides. She was a pretty good childcare person - she was CAPABLE of keeping order and having a very structured environment - she just didn't like that style very much.... She reveled in chaos ("creativity"). And, I think that is how she'd been taught, too.

But John knew that this was the very environment that made his three fresh-from-fostercare kids crazed. THAT environment was what made them lash out and hit other kids, destroy other kids' artwork, say bad words, carry the "wildness" too far. And the director thought it was all the children's fault. I do not think that she believed they'd be different if the environment was different. Though I did not much like her "vision", I was not convinced in those days that she was wrong; I sure am now.

Someday I will need to tell you about the class where I was sent for my student teaching! Yipes! It was so chaotic that I myself couldn't stand to be in the room. But it was "cutting edge"! They considered me one of their top recruits and they wanted me to experience "the best".

J. said...

Great explanation! Harry had this problem for a few months, then it seemed to subside, but the holidays or parties bring it on again...we know its' coming so we prepare, and deal!