Nasty children

[Scarlett]

I have many years experience of being a teacher, but lately I have come across a couple of children who are just nasty. I don't know about their upbringing or background, but for 7 year olds, they are spiteful, hateful and rude. It's as if they are already bullies.

How come most children of this age are literally, angels, and occasionally you get children who look innocent but are really horrible people? It grieves me to write this. The girl in particular called me a "fat blob" today in front of the rest of the class. That has NEVER happened before, and it really embarrassed the rest of the class, and really undermined me and knocked my confidence.

Has anyone else come across children that are like this, already, at 6 or 7?

[spacechimp]

lol, it's chav culture my friend.

[Lonnie]

Regardless of anything else, you have to blame the parent/parents, nothing beats a good home upbringing, maybe you could speak to these little darlings parents.In

[Lonnie]

Pressed the wrong key, but i;ll stop there anyway.

[trevHCS]

Came across a few like that when I was that age - about 25 years ago, but not too many. Generally from pretty screwed up backgrounds or attention seeking. From what I hear however, in some of the cities this is normal behaviour.

[andy-hughes]

I sympathise deeply. Successive governments have removed all disciplinary sanctions from schools, and replaced them with nothing, so children arrive at school with a 'You can't do anything to me' attitude, which was not the case in previous generations.

Usually children like this are insecure and seek attention, even in the most unsuitable ways. The only way round it is to get them on your side - give them some responsibility and praise them loudly to the class when they respond. Self-image is in its formative stage now, and ytour help could stop major problems further on.

Sorry to hear that you have been insulted - hopefully you will be ready next time with a suitable punishment - what ever can dilute attention away from the offender.

Good luck!

[sense4all]

Of late we have had a couple of little charmers who have been removed from other schools foisted on to us. Not bad for an 8 year old, and a 6 year old. Some kids are misunderstood and others are just a victim of their upbringing, I think it's quite rare to meet a genuine bad child. If no one sets a boundary (or leads by example)regarding behaviour, how do these children know what is not acceptable?

[noxlumos]

Yeah I agree very strongly with Andy, these kids are in urgent need of genuine self esteem ( not the bravado they are displaying). Help them to be nicer by placing them near to you and asking them to do little jobs for you and thanking them profusely and politely.Make sure it is something that they cannot get wrong, they have to succeed at whatever they do for a while.They may have an unstable homelife or they may have other reasons, but they are clearly kids in urgent need of attention and your support.

[Sunnie]

Sorry to hear you were insulted. Just think of the other children in the classroom who have classmates like this for the rest of their school life.The problem is growing. From experience, children who are like this have deep rooted problems at home. Helping out in the classrooms, throughout the growing up years, I have noticed that they seem to get worse and try an act like little adults very quickly. They seem very forward but are actually very 'backward'. In one case, this girl was taken out by her family every weekend to the social club - she bragged of going to the pubs/clubs and playing darts on her estate,(she was 8). She was allowed in the 'family-friendly' pub where smoking was allowed. Now, age 16, she has left school(she could'nt wait) to have baby. Yet another child in the same grain. She knows nothing else-in her very small world/town. The government will yet again set up another institute to help?

[mycatis]

I had to stop going to a friends house because I didnt like her 7 year old daughter. She was just (as you say) nasty and I couldnt bring ,yself to be around her any more. She lied and stole, kicked her mother and smirked! (a slapping offence in my book lol) I just could not be near her and felt bad at actually seriously disliking a child but she was horrible. One good thing was that my son (who was about 4 at te time) was absolutely horrified when the girl lied right to her mums face one day, in front of us after I caught her drawing on the wall. she looked straight at me then told her mum she hadnt done it! I just left and walking home my son said in a totally shocked voive "She LIED to her mum!" I was really pleased that he was so disgusted about that.

so yes, there are some children who are just horrible.

[electricblue]

Isn't this behaviour normally either parents who think their kids bad attitude is"Ah bless 'em" or who really couldn't give a damn so this way they get attention,either way I would think the parents are totally unapproachable,,,,,,,,until their little darlings are told off and then they come into school blowing their tops.

[sueemc]

unfortuanely yes, not at school tho, at church.. where we welcome all...

I'm a teacher too, what could you do? Send them to another class calmly? I would probably say something like, I'm sorry you have so much hate inside, but that isn't ok in my lesson. Maybe get them on a one-ot-one, ask them why they are so sad? Sounds like they need the child pscyh.. its not normal to be so aggressive at that age.

Dont let it get to you, they're 7 remember! and the rest of the class were with you in embarressment.

[mw]

why is it the parents fault? Maybe some thing is worng at home or they have problems?

Have you spoken to the head teacher about your worries of these children? Have you thought of finding out about their background or had a quiet word with them and their parents?

Do you think they may have a certain problem and are acting up in class for some type of attention, whether negative or positive?.

IHave a word with the head teacher or maybe even with the educational phycologist may be worth a shot.

[emmapayne27]

My son has a friend who is absolutley vile. I have become friends with his mum, but I have stopped the boys playing together now, not to be biased but my son is the typicall bull in china shop kind of kid but he is very caring & loving, but friends son is just so rude & violent, I do believe it is his parents fault they let him speak to them in a disgustingly disrespectfull manor, he hits his mum ( and anyone else ) calls her names tells her to shut up ( god the list never ends) he is just horrible, but they never stop him or tell him off. I'm not ancient (28) but my mum bought us up to be respectfull of your elders and thoughtfull of people & things around you. kids now have no respect for anything themselves & parents included. sorry for the essay it just baffles me why anyone would want there children to be so horrible!

[dancealot13]

I must say Andy_Hughes, you are an old soul. I've enjoyed reading your responses, and I'm sure you're helping many people.

[eezablade]

Not being critical, but are you a supply teacher? If so, children always try it on, get over it.
If not, why don't you know about their background? I know all the important and not so important details about the 29 kids in my class., and always do. You should never let a child knock your confidence. You are an adult.

[emmaorange]

Yes i've come across them many times in innercity schools. I had to have a really good discipline policy which all children knew and understood and use it rigidly. Also heaped praise and rewards on children who were doing positive things and give the 'nasty' kids tons of praise when they do something desirable they might then be less likely to try to get your attention by being awful. When it was time for them to be sent to another classroom they refused to leave so I had backup help for that. I had to have regular meetings with the parents of the dreadful kids with the headteacher present so we could discuss their childs behaviour and they also had sticker charts to work on at home.

[Scarlett]

eezablade-

This is Stagecoach Theatre Arts school where I teach this nasty girl. we don;t know their backgrounds- they come to sing, dance and act on a Saturday. Their parents pay and we teach them. Believe me, if this was a school I would have sorted it!

[vivalamojo]

I agree with E Z Blade. You are the boss, and if you question that the children will sense it.