I need some new ideas.

[Rhiannon Feimorgan]

My ds has had this thing he does when he dosn't want to do what he is being asked to do. He flops on the ground and says he is tired. He has done this for years.

I have looked into weather there is something medicaly wrong and he is realy tired, there isn't. I've changed his diet, bed time, exersize and so on also in case he is realy tired, no change. I've talked to him, bargened with him and left him alone.

Now he has started school. He seems to like school, he is always happy and excited about what he did when I pick him up. He is fine about going to school until we get there. As soon as we get into the school he flops down in the boot room and dosn't get up. Now I realy don't mind if he disrupts my day, but it isn't just me he lays down in front of the door and no one else can get in. I've tried coming earlier but he just lays ther longer. Homeschooling isn't an option for us. Spending the day in his class isn't either. His 9 month old sister is still almost exclusivly bf. She's never had a bottle. I can't/won't leave her with anyone (I have no family or close friends in this city and I WONT leave her with a stranger) Ds's teacher has told me point blank she dosn't want a baby in her class room. It's reached the point where I have to get physical with him (grabing his coat and pulling him up) to get him off the floor and out of the way of the other students.

Help I don't know what to do.

[Frigga]

Have you tried just ignoring him and walking away? I wouldn't start this at school but perhaps at home first, then tell the teacher this is what your trying. Kids will do anything for any attention, and it sounds to me like that is what he's doing, especially if you talk with him for a while about getting up. He may get upset the first few times you do it, but he needs to know good vs. bad behavior, esp. if he's going to school now.
Best of luck! :)

[j924]

I second the pp with ignoring him at home -- in a nice way of course :LOL Oh, I'm sorry your tired. This is where I'll be when you fell like (insert activity). You're giving him some commiseration but leaving it in his hands. I would however push a bit with the teacher. Her comment was not helpful. Tell her you are going to start working with him at home and ask what can she do to make his transitin easier. Maybe she can meet him before the mud room and walk in, or maybe she could find something for him to do to get his focus off lying on the floor. Without any name calling, she should be able to be a great resource to you. Kids will do things for teachers they won't ever do for us.

[MotherWhimsey]

j924- I don't think the teacher was name calling, I understood that she didn't want the 9 month old to come to class with the mother. I think she was saying she didn't want that baby in her class. at least that's what I understood.

[j924]

Oh man I'm sorry :blush I thought she was saying your ds was a baby. I was aghast that no one else thought that was a problem. Someday I will read slowly. How is your ds anyway? Have any of the suggestions helped? Sending you happy weekend vibes.

[soladeo]

Have you tried the "choice" thing with him?? For example, at home he flops down on the floor. Say, "Here are your choices: you can play ball or you can read a book" something like that. At school, say, "You can go give your teacher a hug or give her a handshake." I don't know- I've found it to work with 3rd graders (I used to teach).

I read the "baby" comment wrong too! I was going to say something about switching to another class if the teacher is going to rude, but you're explanation makes more sense. :) I wouldn't want a baby in my class either, because everybody will be looking at her and not paying attention!

I also second the ignoring strategy: if the teacher is up for it, have kids step over him and just leave him alone. As class gets started, there's a good chance he will realize the fun he's missing and he'll join in. You could try a combo of the choice/ignoring thing. It might be a control and attention getting strategy for him, and the choice thing helps him feel in control and ignoring him doesn't feed the negative attention.