spin off... kids who HATE being "taught"

638 Views 6 Replies 3 Participants Last post by 4evermom, Apr 15, 2009

umami_mommy

Discussion Starter · Apr 14, 2009

was relieved to hear my lil man isn't the only kid who hates someone teaching him.

this drives DH pretty crazy and causes them to have lots of conflict... i on the other hand have gotten pretty good at flying under his radar... but the reading thing is an issue because he WANTS to know how to read, but has NO PATIENCE for me sitting down and helping him with ANYTHING, but esp. reading. all he wants to do is experiments and sometimes it's really hard for me to pull something out of my hat for him when he decides he's ready.

how have others coped with this?

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4evermom

· #2 · Apr 15, 2009

Yeah, that's my guy, too.

He's getting reading down ok, though, by playing computer games (he asks me to read the instructions but is able to identify more and more of the important words). Computers and videos are great because they take ME out of the equation.

He loves experiments and mixing up glop. So he'll go back to playing with baking soda and vinegar from time to time (fizzy). He'll try other liquids instead of vinegar. Smetimes I pick up science kits. Got one on clearance called "Slime Science" that had the cornstarch/water mix, something more mucousy, and something that made putty (white glue and liquid starch).

Dh and ds are funny. Dh is a font of knowledge. Ds will ask dh a question (on car rides) and dh will talk on and on. Ds will actually tell dh "enough" and move on to his next question. It's a necessary skill with my dh, lol.

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Lillian J

· #3 · Apr 15, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by umami_mommy

...but the reading thing is an issue because he WANTS to know how to read, but has NO PATIENCE for me sitting down and helping him with ANYTHING, but esp. reading. all he wants to do is experiments and sometimes it's really hard for me to pull something out of my hat for him when he decides he's ready.

You might try subtly backing out of the experiments enough to let him find his own in fun kids' science books and websites and start figuring out how to read more on his own. I know of a lot of little boys, mine included, who seriously expanded their reading skills from Nintendo Power magazine or Calvin & Hobbes, for instance, but science tricks and/or science experiments books for children are another good resource for that kind of thing. Look into Vicki Cobb, for one good source. - Lillian

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umami_mommy

Discussion Starter · #4 · Apr 15, 2009

yeah, i sat down and read calvin and hobbes with him today and it's clear he can read wayyy more than he lets on.

i found a book called "super simple experiments" which he can pretty much do himself and so i'm going to help him with the reading and let him do the rest.

i won't tell you all the slime kits/dr. dreadful/kitchen science/kid concoctions he and i have been through in the last 4 years..... he and his sister spent 2 hours playing with all the stuff i through out from my pantry when we moved last year.....

he told his grandmother sunday "i know, i know everything." yikes!! is there a way to help a 6 yo with being more open?

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4evermom

· #5 · Apr 15, 2009

I get "I know!" a lot. He absolutely hates being told things he knows. But occasionally he doesn't know everything the person is going to say... I figure being more open to listening will come with more maturity. Meanwhile, I remind people to avoid repetition. It's pretty amazing how often people say the same things to kids, even myself when I'm pretty mindful of it.

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umami_mommy

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 15, 2009

well, most kids do have pretty poor retention for "facts" at this age. but i figure it's all dependent on what it actually is. he can't remember the days of the week, but knows all kinds of other stuff i had no idea he knew. he can't remember what his friend's mom's names are, but neither can his dad.

so i think it's natural for us to repeat sometimes, but i do see people acting like 6 year olds are stupid a lot.

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4evermom

· #7 · Apr 15, 2009

I think 6 yos tend to be good with facts just not necessarily the ones we think they should know, lol. I figure if my ds says he knows, he probably does. At least in a general sense. Operating on that assumption works well for us and I only assert something if I really really think he doesn't know and it's pretty important in the immediate future (tends to be safety oriented info). Otherwise, he'll figure it out.

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