Repeated, Insistent Questions

[Hunni Bee]

Okay...finally a non-baby related post!

My new kids have some issues....they were severely babied by their old teachers. So they cannot put food on their own plates, manage own clothing, go an hour without going potty or sit in a Circle Time for 5 minutes quietly. These are 4/5 year olds.

One if the girls does this insistent question asking thing, if you say no or ask her to wait. Like this:

-I wanna change my shirt.
-Your shirt is fine, you don't need to change it.
-I wanna change my shirt.
-Wash hands please.
-I wanna change my shirt, I wanna change my shirt, Iwannachangemyshirt...etc etc et freaking c

There are no special needs, this child can read. She's just been constantly placated by her parents and the teachers last year.

She is constantly asking for stuff or minding someone elses business or tattling. I don't think she's too"advanced", she needs to be there and learn how to help herself and be a friend.

Today I've just been giving one answer, then a follow up of "please don't ask me again" and redirect. Then ignore any further questions/requests/demands.

Is this the right way to handle this?

[Jack Sprat]

I think its just fine.


You could also try " I understand you want to change your shirt. You can go ________ or _________." Basically what you said but, your letting her know you heard her and understand what she is wanting but, giving two other options instead.

[Lil'DinoEggs]

My answer would be based on your teaching philosophy.

If she wants to change her shirt, she can go do it herself. If she changes it twice and there are no more clean shirts, then she can't change her shirt.

If it is not an appropriate time to do so (such as during handwashing), then I get down to her level and say "time to wash your hands" i say it twice then I do hand-over-hand hand washing then tada go change your shirt.

For repeated questions, I make sure they can see my eyes when i give the answer. Than if they say it again, I ignore them or say "What was my answer?" in which they usually repeat what my answer originally was. The hardest part for me is not reacting to the repeated questions though it is like nails on a chalk board for me.

As for circle time, I am not a great on that. My learning circle is only ten minutes long right now and I do positive reinforcement for those who finish. I have a chart and I give stickers who finish the whole circle. I don't threaten "if you don't sit down, no stickers", I just use my actions and the reactions of the kids (usually my own!) who complete the circle time.

[Bookworm]

I have several DCKs like this. When the ask to change shirts, I ask why. If the answer is because they have a drop of water/food on them, I say no. If they ask again, I say no. If they ask a third time, I say "What did I tell you the first two times?" When they repeat what I said and the reason I gave them, it usually stops. When one of my DCKs continue to ask/whine about it, is ask them "Why are we still talking about this?" and then continue what I was doing. So far it's been working.

I completely understand about being babied by former teachers. This is the main problem I. The 2 yr old room. Infant teachers think everything they do is funny so when they move up, the teachers spend months "training" them to listen.