Entertainment or Cruelty?

nanna8

Apologies, had a bad day yesterday

No problem

Wow NotSpaghetti that entertainer sounds appalling and it's weird that the nursery and other parents seemingly thought the act was fine.

Apologies, had a bad day yesterday

Thanks for clarifying that Beswitched

I was responding to Toadintheholes earlier post.

No I was talking about the other entertainer mentioned but hey ho. Take what you feel happy with. I don’t care.

Toadinthehole. What a rude response.

The ‘entertainer’ sounds dire and I would definitely complain. Not just dire but creepy with it.
The little boy with ASD sounds as though he is doing really well and he will learn such a lot from his peers. At that age kids usually aren’t into bullying and tend to be accepting of others. The odd comment is just part of life and if he doesn’t
get upset by it I wouldn’t worry too much.

And here's someone else who had problems with children's entertainment:

tobygoesbananas.co.uk/childrens-entertainer-crossed-the-line/

Regarding the two dreadful "entertainers".
If you know who they are why not call them directly and tell them what you think? I would do this.

For those of you talking about DBS, a children’s entertainer doesn't need to undergo a DBS check as they are not expected to be alone with children.

To those of you wanting to know about the pushing game the OP says it is Duck duck goose.

This is the (old) game where one person is "it" and is outside a circle of children. They walk around and (in my day) used to "tap" the other children on the head saying duck until they choose a goose. I expect they now "tap" their backs instead.
Once someone is the goose they chase round the circle trying to catch "it" before they get back to the goose's spot.

We used to play this seated in the school hall but standing if it was wet and we were in the playground.

Oh dear, like others wish t here was an edit buttong. My grand son is now a 21 year old - not 32

Should be very pleased that this child was invited to a birthday party. So often, children on the ASD spectrum become totally isolated from their school mates. I can still remember so well, my gson having sent out about a dozen invites for his 8th birthday party, receiving about three reples, saying they would attend, and then waiting at home amidst decorations and cake and no-one came. Never invited to anyone else;'s party either!!! Heartbreaking for all - especially as his youner sister, whose birthday was two weeks later had virtually the whole class wanting an invite to HER party.

Well in the past now, he is a happy, well adjusted 32 hyear old doing his Masters degree in Chemical studies. No very close friends, but definitely several good aquaintenances.

Think that the so-called entertainer at the Holiday Camp needs reporting for race hatred. Sound unbelievable dreadful - I would be reporting him to the police and informing the Camp Manager and Head Office what I was doing and the reason.

Sounds as if the OP's g.son is managing extremely well in main-stream school and they are coping with his special needs well. Hope that continues.

Going back over sixty years ago, I was about ten and at primary school, a two-tier system back then, no middle school.

One morning at assembly, at the time when assembly would normally finish, the headmaster said he had something to ask us about. (They were called headmaster then, I think it is headteacher now.)

He explained that living locally was a little boy who had never been to school and that he was seven years old and that was because unlike for all of us, something had gone wrong when he was born.

It was explained that he needed to go to school.

So there were two possibilities. One was that he would have to go away and live at a special school away from his parents and his brother. We all thought that sounded horrible. There was another possibility, he could come to our school and then he could stay with his parents and his brother. We thought that was better. The headmaster then explained that that was only possible if we all agreed that whatever he said or did, whether in school, or in the playground, or anywhere, that we would not get in a fight with him or say anything to him and so on.

Then we were all asked whether we would all promise to do that so that he could stay at home with his parents and his brother. We all agreed.

He did not join the class that a seven-year old would normally be in, but was in the infants class (though not the initial reception class) where a very experienced lady teacher looked after him.

What was amazing was that he drew pictures in 3d whereas everyone else drew them flat, including we older ones.

There used to be a Fry's chocolate painting contest each year for primary schools. Everybody got a printed board game and there were a very few National prizes, not one per school.

He won one of the National prizes. We were utterly amazed.

Some years ago I was watching Questions to the Prime Minister on the Parliament Channel. Although other television channels go back to the studio for people to discuss it, the Parliament channel stays with the proceedings.

A 10-minute rule bill came up. It was about osteopaths. It was a bill to require professional registration for osteopaths as up until then it was said that anyone could quite legally set themself up as an osteopath without any regulation.

A registration requirement and associated training, qualification and professional standards requirement would be good to have for children's entertainers, on top of the police check.

So writing to Members of Parliament would seem to be one way of possibly getting something done.

25Avalon

Peach blossom that is true but nonetheless you should not be working with children without an in date DBS.

It is not good to use 'you' in such a sentence.

It is better to write 'someone' as otherwise it reads as if the statement is being made to a specific person, indeed telling them off.

If someone uses that format to me, I correct them, perhaps saying 'But I am not doing that and have not done so."

That usually get a reply that they did not mean 'you you' and I reply by saying, "Well, use 'someone' then rather than 'you'".

People often use that way of speaking in commenting on government policy. If the speaker means 'a government' then that term should be used, not 'you'.

I remember one primary school teacher complaining that the class seemed to find my ASD grandson's "lectures" much more entertaining than her lessons. I felt like saying "Perhaps if you lessons weren't so boring" but I managed to restrain myself.

I do think a conversation needs to had with the school and perhaps they could do some lessons on the subject of being different and how that affects different people in different ways, hair , skin & eye colour how their brains work and some people are good at maths /reading/drawing , try and find a positive thing in each child rather a negative. I am sure there is practical support for teachers, perhaps get some proper literature together and ask to speak at one of the teacher training days.

Granny23

Icanhandthemback I am wondering if the school has explained to the other children in the class that your grandson:

*is very clever at .....
*pointing out to the children when he (and any other children) do the right thing, are NOT naughty!
*pointing out when he ( or other children) do something kind

It sort of looks like the balance isn't there, despite their efforts to help him fit in.

Young children can also quite easily understand when someone has special needs and can then be eager to help ...as long as it is explained and they are supported.

My granddaughter had a little girl in her class who sounds similar to your grandson; the school explained to all the children that she needed help to remember the right thing to do, to remember when not to do things, to realise her own strength. They also deliberately involved her in specific activities but after an initial reminder of the right way to participate, with regular "mini reminders" to support her. The children were kind and tolerant of her needs , worked to include her and she was an asset for the whole class. That was from 5 years old!

"Pushing games"! - what the heck!?

Silly entertainer to ask such a thoughtless question.

I'm not sure what a "pushing" game is either. When I was teaching several games were banned in the playground and pushing certainly was. It's something which so easily slips from fun into violent play, and I don't think your GS is alone in not realising when he is being too rough it's a common thing amongst young children.
I think as adults as well we sometimes mistake the values children put on things. I understand your DS doesn't want his child to be labelled because he has difficulties and these impact on his behaviour. But with children the term"naughty" isn't always a negative one, indeed it brings with it some sort of status. I think also that children differentiate between children who behave badly. Your GS is obviously popular so the others see him as someone who sometimes makes mistakes but who is friendly and caring, rather than someone to be avoided because his behaviour is bad.
If I were your son I'd approach the school and ask them to review their health and safety rules for playtimes and breaks with specific emphasis on pushing.
If that entertainer has a reviews section somewhere on social media I'd post a negative review.
I do think you are doing a wonderful job with your GS who is obviously developing and adapting to school. I hope he continues to thrive.

User7777

This reminds me of the time, a teacher, slid up to me in the playground and said, Do you find .... is naughty. She was referring to my child. I said, yes, when .... is bored. The teacher looked taken aback. Apparently the teacher had a habit of asking parents that question. I never heard of any parents asked that question ever again.

That reminds me of a teacher my son had in reception. She was known for, shall we say, having a weaker form of discipline, in that the children were often not behaving well in class.

One day , she told me that sometimes, my son liked to ‘ run’ the class. I replied, ‘ well, someone’s got to do it!’

And yes, what on earth is a ‘ pushing game?’ Honestly feel like giving up?

I’d really like to hear what the pushing game is. I asked my DGC (primary and secondary and they all immediately said pushing isn’t allowed, even in the playground.

This reminds me of the time, a teacher, slid up to me in the playground and said, Do you find .... is naughty. She was referring to my child. I said, yes, when .... is bored. The teacher looked taken aback. Apparently the teacher had a habit of asking parents that question. I never heard of any parents asked that question ever again.

Yes GRANNY 23 that holiday camp childrens "entertainer" should be investigated that is wrong on so many levels.