The Incessant Tattle Tale

[daycarediva]

Goodness help me.

FT child, 4, some mild developmental issues put him closer to a young 3 in terms of behavior/social skills.

He tells on EVERYONE. ALL. DAY. LONG. Minor things I would let slide/not make an issue over. Things the other kids can (and do) work out for themselves. What the other kids SAID. What the other kids THINK. What he thinks the other kids are going to POTENTIALLY do.

The kids are D O N E with him by Friday. One of my most mellow children turned to him and yelled "JUST SHUT YOUR MOUTH ALREADY!" during lunch. I have heard a variation of that from the other kids as well "Don't talk to me." "Don't talk about me to Miss. ****!" "You can play but not if you tell." "You can't play because you tell." "You can be the dog, no talking, only barking."

This started a few months ago, around March.
I tried ignoring his 'tattles' COMPLETELY for weeks. He WILL repeat the same exact thing, over and over and over for several minutes. Although he still did it, all day long. This made it MORE annoying.
I tried "Leave it." or "Mind your business."for WEEKS.
I tried "Go tell so&so" for a few days this week (the other kids were getting too stressed by it, although it did help ME)

One of you ladies HAS to have something up their sleeve. I feel awful for him because nobody will even buddy with him by Friday. He does NOT see the correlation between tattle=no friends, even when told that's why flat out by myself and the kids.

[Annalee]

Goodness help me.

FT child, 4, some mild developmental issues put him closer to a young 3 in terms of behavior/social skills.

He tells on EVERYONE. ALL. DAY. LONG. Minor things I would let slide/not make an issue over. Things the other kids can (and do) work out for themselves. What the other kids SAID. What the other kids THINK. What he thinks the other kids are going to POTENTIALLY do.

The kids are D O N E with him by Friday. One of my most mellow children turned to him and yelled "JUST SHUT YOUR MOUTH ALREADY!" during lunch. I have heard a variation of that from the other kids as well "Don't talk to me." "Don't talk about me to Miss. ****!" "You can play but not if you tell." "You can't play because you tell." "You can be the dog, no talking, only barking."

This started a few months ago, around March.
I tried ignoring his 'tattles' COMPLETELY for weeks. He WILL repeat the same exact thing, over and over and over for several minutes. Although he still did it, all day long. This made it MORE annoying.
I tried "Leave it." or "Mind your business."for WEEKS.
I tried "Go tell so&so" for a few days this week (the other kids were getting too stressed by it, although it did help ME)

One of you ladies HAS to have something up their sleeve. I feel awful for him because nobody will even buddy with him by Friday. He does NOT see the correlation between tattle=no friends, even when told that's why flat out by myself and the kids.

I made a "tattle box" I saw on pinterest. It has a camera for pics, binoculars for seeing, phone to call someone, paper and markers to write down what you see. Even for kids that can't write, they will put something on that paper and I am giving them confidence by thinking they can handle this task on their own. When a child tattles, I tell them to use the "tattle box" materials and I will check it out later. Some use the box, but for those who don't, it stops the tattling because there is now no "cause and effect". They do NOT get the reaction out of me I think they thought they would??? Just an idea! Good Luck!

[daycare]

I dont do any thing special other than say GO PLAY

If I already know what it's about I will say go play. Of course as long as no one is hurt.

If I don't know what is going on, I will ask are you hurt? Is someone hurt, if the answer is NO, I respond Go fix or GO play.

[Shell]

I like the tattle box! Didn't Nannyde say once she has the kids tattle to a baby? She explained it better, but I thought it was both genius and hilarious.

[Annalee]

I like the tattle box! Didn't Nannyde say once she has the kids tattle to a baby? She explained it better, but I thought it was both genius and hilarious.

Telling a baby is funny, I may try that. :: I used to put a pic of the chipmunks up with a phone beside it and say "tell it to them".... The looks I got from the tattler was priceless. ::

[coolconfidentme]

I ask the TT, "Are you telling me to get DCK out of trouble, or into trouble?" I pretty much look at them until they answer. They DO know the difference btw. If they are trying to throw someone under the bus, I back it up over them & they get a TO.

[Blackcat31]

I like the tattle box! Didn't Nannyde say once she has the kids tattle to a baby? She explained it better, but I thought it was both genius and hilarious.

YES! The Complaint Dept here is my 18 month old.

He loves when anyone talks to him so if anyone needs to tattle, he will take care of it.

[daycarediva]

I will set up a tattle box! I like that idea!

My youngest is 2 and talks like a 4yo. She is the one who told him to essentially STFU at lunch. ::

[mrs.banks14]

Tattle

Even though I am a director of a center I have been the preschool teacher because lack of staff. No one wants to show up for work. Ugh. Anyways, all they do all day long is tattle and say mean things. It isn't just one child it is all of them. I have been having them talk it out. I tell them I do not want to hear it unless something major is happening. I want the children to be able to express themselves and work everything out on their own.

[Heidi]

Even though I am a director of a center I have been the preschool teacher because lack of staff. No one wants to show up for work. Ugh. Anyways, all they do all day long is tattle and say mean things. It isn't just one child it is all of them. I have been having them talk it out. I tell them I do not want to hear it unless something major is happening. I want the children to be able to express themselves and work everything out on their own.

For older children, a circle time or "unit" on the difference between tattling and telling may be good. Especially if you have a group of them!

Then, when they come to tattle, I ask "Is someone hurt?" noo... "Is something getting broken?"....noooo... Then, you're tattling. Go play!

Obviously, if either answer is yes, then "thank you for telling me, I will take care of it...now go play!"

[NightOwl]

I ask the TT, "Are you telling me to get DCK out of trouble, or into trouble?" I pretty much look at them until they answer. They DO know the difference btw. If they are trying to throw someone under the bus, I back it up over them & they get a TO.

Loo. Back it up over them....

[MarinaVanessa]

I have tattling turtle. He's a stuffed animal that lives in our library area. The kids can tell him their woes. They also have the option to draw me a picture.

Once I see them coming and they start the "Miiiiissus Neeeesssssaaaaaa! ..." I immediately say "In or Out?".

The veteran kids all know what I mean, the new kids always get this look :confused:. Then I start .. "Is someone hurting themselves? Is someone hurting someone else? Is someone hurting things?" If they answer no to all of these ... "Then you're trying to get someone In trouble." and I suggest they tell the turtle or for them to draw me a picture and we will discuss it later. If they answer yes to the questions then they're trying to keep someone else Out of trouble, as in they're keeping someone safe. That's "In or Out".

[NightOwl]

Must.create.tattle.box.NOW!!!

[melilley]

Go tell the person in the mirror.

[jenboo]

Time out/time away if you tell on someone.
That put an end to it for my dck. No one wants to be in time out all day.