Am I being a little harsh?

Vems

You are obviously a devoted and caring father but sorry you are being harsh. You are risking spoiling your time with your son and turning him against writing and drawing and making him feel that it is a chore - this extra hour's work is counter productive. He is only 41/2 and one hour to him is a lifetime - how wonderful that his report was fantastic - don't stress over one little negative remark. Motor skills at that age need to be developed and for a child of that age to grasp a pencil for an hour is hard going. For me one hour of reading to him and encouraging him to be involved with the story - get him to predict what will happen next, talk about the characters, talk about the pictures in the book this is much more worthwhile than an hour of forced writing. Let him run free in the park, kick a ball about, climb trees, play with dirt (I'm sure you do all this anyhow) these are the things he will remember when he grows up. At GCSE time - yes make (encourage!!!) him to revise but not at 41/2, kids need to be kids. Hope this his helpful.

gratefulforhelp_2

msb5262 wrote: »

Hope you are well, I keep bumping into you around the boards...MsB

Blooming thankyou!!

VK-2008

you are not a harsh a parent you just want to help him because you love him
what you should do is maybe cut down to say 15 -20 minutes as children pick things up at different times and speeds
he may not be ready and there is nothing wrong with that

Velcro_Hotdog

Again thanks to everyone who took the time to reply to the thread

Once the Saturday morning routine was over and we had been out to the local farm to feed the baby goats I asked him if he would like to draw a picture of the animals he saw and there names.

Result

More than willing and although it took a bit longer than 15 mins because he had to colour in the goats and write there names we both had great fun. So much so that he has asked if we can see the triains on Sunday and draw there picture so we can put another picture on his new picture wall.

Taking advice from the members on here who replied and looking at some learning sites I know I was asking for to much. Thankfully my mistake was not one which could cause any real harm and I have learned to be a more relaxed about it.

gratefulforhelp_2

If that's your worst sin as a parent you're doing bloody well!

Velcro_Hotdog

gratefulforhelp wrote: »

If that's your worst sin as a parent you're doing bloody well!

Oh god no, I've made my fair share of mistakes.


I pretty sure he will not be effected by them........long term :rotfl:

Errata

Velcro - you've found the secret of making work feel like play, and when you play it doesn't seem like work. You can now look forward to every surface in your kitchen covered in pictures ! Or you and he can make homemade scrapbooks to keep them in.

Velcro_Hotdog

Errata wrote: »

Velcro - you've found the secret of making work feel like play, and when you play it doesn't seem like work. You can now look forward to every surface in your kitchen covered in pictures ! Or you and he can make homemade scrapbooks to keep them in.

Is making hoovering the stairs a game a step to far?

I don't mind the pictures, the more the better. We have made a picture wall in his bedroom which he is very proud of.

niklepic

TBH if he can draw animals that actually look like animals AND write their names before he's even started school I think he's had a very good head start. My ds turned five in June and is just about to start year 1. All his animals look like blobs with legs and he wouldn't know where to start with writing their names (although i might have to bear in mind he does have some trouble with his fine motor skills)

Oldernotwiser

Velcro_Hotdog wrote: »

Is making hoovering the stairs a game a step to far?
.

Not necessarily, although chimney sweeping might be!:rotfl: