Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Go Back                 Case Posted on October 9, 2016 7:52 am Add to Favorites QaNese Reps: 102 Dirty kid I am a substitute teacher that often does long-term assignments. There is a 4th grade student that always comes to class very tired, in dirty clothes, and often smells bad. To add insult to injury, I've seen his mother and she is very well kept, dressed with all the "bling accessories," her nails done, hair done, etc. I can't understand how a mother can take such great care for herself, and leave the child a filthy mess. How should this be addressed and handled properly?                 Submit a Possible Solution Please read response(s) below (if any) before posting your solution.                 Solution 1 Posted October 10, 2016 2:42 am LeWuVy Reps: 125 This may not be a reflection of the mother, but just a stubborn child that refuses to have proper hygiene. I would start by casually talking with the student about their home life with just a friendly conversation, not inquisitively. This may help you to get a better understanding of the situation to know how to handle it appropriately. Votes: +71 / -5 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Kristen OBryant Reps: 103 I totally agree. There is only so much a parent can do. Mom cannot drag a 9 year old boy in the shower.   Posted on: October 16, 2016 2:38 am PeMuQa Reps: 200 I agree with this solution. There is only so much that a parent can do, and once you talk to your student you can figure out where to go; if there is neglect you can report it and if there is just stubbornness for the child you can give them a chance to learn.   Posted on: October 16, 2017 1:01 am WeDyje Reps: 100 I agree with this solution. Do not make the child feel bad about themselves but bring it up in a friendly manor   Posted on: July 6, 2018 1:32 pm yJuhuv Reps: 100 If I were in this situation, I would exactly do this.   Posted on: October 14, 2018 8:45 pm emetub Reps: 311 I agree!   Posted on: March 5, 2020 3:57 pm Xetuzu Reps: 206 I agree completely with your solution!   Posted on: March 2, 2021 12:48 am Add a Comment                 Solution 2 Posted October 9, 2016 6:17 pm yDyjuB Reps: 203 As a substitute teacher I would inform school admin. Votes: +27 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 3 Posted February 24, 2017 6:15 pm gyVyPe Reps: 250 I do not think you should talk to the parent or look towards the mom about the situation. Maybe briefly talk to the student in private to see how things at home are going. Try not to make the student feel embarrassed and maybe keep some hygiene items in the class in case he does not have those things at home and may want them from you if you offer them. Votes: +19 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 4 Posted October 10, 2016 12:00 am PeQyGa Reps: 201 I would leave this to administration. This is a tricky subject and needs to be handled in a way that won't offend anyone. The best way would be to inform admin of the situation and let them take it from there. Votes: +19 / -15 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution uBuDap Reps: 201 I agree completely. Sometimes it's not the parents fault, and we don't know the situation. Gaining more perspective will be important in moving forward with less likelihood of offending someone.   Posted on: October 12, 2016 12:38 am duNuJy Reps: 203 I agree with this solution. You would not want to offend anyone for no reason or possibly embarrass the child.   Posted on: October 12, 2016 12:46 am Add a Comment                 Solution 5 Posted October 9, 2016 8:39 pm qyryMa Reps: 203 In this particular situation i would bring this up to administration and let them know. I might even go as far as bringing some clothes for the student. But i would bring this up to Admin first and see how they want to handle it. Votes: +8 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 6 Posted October 16, 2017 1:44 am ReLeve Reps: 201 The first step is to always address the problem with the parent. Do NOT attack the parent or make her feel like she does not know how to take care of her child. This will only result in her closing herself off and won't make her want to listen to what you have to say. If the problem persists, it can always be taken to the school's social worker and they are trained on how to handle situations like this. Votes: +6 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 7 Posted October 9, 2016 7:28 pm juWuPe Reps: 203 I would bring it up to admin and the counselor. Votes: +5 / -1 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 8 Posted October 12, 2017 2:42 am aRaLeg Reps: 200 As a substitute teacher, I would leave this to administration so they can handle the situation by the schools regulations Votes: +3 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 9 Posted October 17, 2016 2:40 am qunumy Reps: 201 I would inform administration or the school counselor. This may be as simple as a young boy who does not want to shower and stays up playing video games at night to something serious in the household. I would not step into the situation personally. Votes: +3 / -1 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 10 Posted October 14, 2016 7:23 pm Husava Reps: 180 Unfortunately this happens all the time and the way I would addresses this is to have a talk wit the parent and let them now about matter that is occurring in class and needs to be addressed. Votes: +3 / -9 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 11 Posted October 9, 2017 8:51 pm vugage Reps: 201 I would pull the student aside and ask him what he thinks it means to have good hygiene. I would let him know that having good hygiene is a requirement in school. I would give him tops for self grooming and let him know you are there to help. Votes: +2 / -3 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 12 Posted February 24, 2017 4:01 am ZaBuBy Reps: 200 I think this needs to be brought up to administration and looked into. Votes: +1 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 13 Posted March 3, 2018 3:39 pm Chelsea Navarro Reps: 201 I would take this situation up with the school guidance counselor, case worker, or administration. I would explain your findings and explain what you recognized with the mother. I would ask if they feel it is necessary for you to call it in as neglect or if they would feel more comfortable doing it themselves. The mother may look nice and put together, but she also could be aloof. She could be working all of the time, siblings could be raising the child, etc. Votes: +1 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 14 Posted February 25, 2018 4:03 pm eSaPaz Reps: 200 I would not totally judge the parent on the students appearence right away, children can ber very stubborn. I would take the student to the side and talk with them and discuss with them about heigene. Then if it is a parental issue i would offer to have a change of cloths in the classroom for the student and maybe deoderant and a toothbrush to help that student. Votes: +1 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 15 Posted October 12, 2018 3:35 am RamaJe Reps: 202 I would start by having a conversation about the situation with the student and see how he responds. If the student does not respond well I think that it might be time to get the parent involved. Votes: +1 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 16 Posted March 6, 2017 2:13 am Andrea Howey Reps: 201 I would first talk to the parent about the child and if that didn't work I would consider the child to be neglected and call child services Votes: +1 / -2 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution yJuhuv Reps: 100 I would never do this. This is wrong.Speak with administration if the parent doesn't resolve the issue, not child services.   Posted on: October 14, 2018 8:41 pm Add a Comment                 Solution 17 Posted February 22, 2018 12:43 am Hannah Poore Reps: 200 As others have mentioned, although this scenario seems a bit odd with the mother being so well kept, it is not necessarily a case of neglect. I would try and talk to the student privately to get more insight on the situation. Maybe begin by mentioning to the student that they seem tired lately and ask a bit about their nightly routine. The student's response could add some clarity to the situation onto whether or not they are being properly cared for. It could be that the child simply doesn't want to bathe and stays up in their room late into the night without mom knowing. It could also be helpful to have a few hygiene products available in the classroom for the student to use. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 18 Posted February 25, 2018 4:08 pm meXyHy Reps: 158 I would hold a parent teacher conference and sit down with the parent and explain to her what I see everyday and ask her how we are going to fix the problem. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 19 Posted July 3, 2018 12:06 pm Dawn Palaio Reps: 209 This may be the child's decision rather than the mothers. If you happen to see any signs of abuse them I would report the parent, if not I would leave it be. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 20 Posted February 19, 2019 2:26 pm Hyhame Reps: 101 I would bring it up to schools administration. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 21 Posted February 20, 2023 5:17 pm aXeDen Reps: 205 There could be several reasons as to why the student comes to school dirty, such as absolutely refusing to clean themselves. It is best to approach the situation delicately. Stay polite and just explain that their hygiene is making a disruption in class and that it would be better if they came to school clean. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 22 Posted October 8, 2020 8:44 pm utyDaW Reps: 200 To avoid insulting the child and making him feel bad, I would ignore the bad hygiene because some children are very stubborn when it comes to daily care. I assume his mother tries to get him in the shower and take care of his hygiene, but he may refuse to and not listen. Votes: +0 / -1 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 23 Posted October 9, 2017 1:40 am Travis Cannon Reps: 211 before i report this to anyone, i would suggest to the mother that her child is being picked on for being a little smelly and would recommend he bathes every night. the child may or may not be being neglected. Votes: +0 / -9 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Submit a Possible Solution Please read response(s) below (if any) before posting your solution.