I taught four year old children for many years (and five year olds, six year olds, and seven year olds, but not all at the same time) and I know that four year old children cannot sit still for longer than appropriately ten minutes, fifteen if you’re lucky. They need to be active, which is why learning situations in schools are organised so that they are active during their learning. They are not expected to sit still and soak it all up like a sponge. They can’t do that, their bodies and brains are still developing and sitting still and simply looking and listening is almost impossible for them. These are skills that need to be developed which is why young children attend nursery schools and classes. Louis is at nursery and his learning opportunities will be geared towards his age, maturity, and ability. Clearly expecting him to sit still and watch a pageant (not one geared to the interests of a very young child) is too much for him, or his three year old cousin Lena too. He is obviously a very lively child, and probably thrives on lots of physical activity, something which will be available to him at home and at nursery. I thought his behaviour at the pageant was to be expected of a lively four year old. I feel sure that at home he might have been sent to the naughty step for a few minutes and also possibly made to say he was sorry, or some other appropriate sanction would have been applied. Given the circumstances I think Catherine dealt with the situation as well as she possibly could have done.
)
