Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Go Back                 Case Posted on October 14, 2012 10:15 pm Add to Favorites Justin Mortenson Reps: 108 Little children getting a little too close Let us say you have two children around 6-7 years old in your class who grow to be close friends. You see the girl just wants to be friends and the boy is overly attached bringing in gifts for the girl, is always around her, and you overhear that he is calling her at home. You can see it going in a bad direction, as far as someone's feelings getting hurt. Is there grounds for action, and if there is when is the right time?                 Submit a Possible Solution Please read response(s) below (if any) before posting your solution.                 Solution 1 Posted November 4, 2012 4:21 pm RyruNe Reps: 87 It is common for students to become close friends and sometimes one student to feel stronger about the other and the feeling to not be mutual from the other party. If, as the teacher, you feel that the situation is going in a bad direction, regarding feelings, it is important to talk to your students, separately, about the situation and then communicate with their parents what is going on. If the boy is bringing in gifts for the girl, it is likely that his parents or guardians have some knowledge of his interest in the girl and therefore can be informed of the issues involved in bringing in items for only one student. They may also be willing to talk to their child, once you explain that the feelings are not mutual between the two children, and help him to understand his feelings and what is happening in a more family oriented, loving, personal manner that may not come from having a talk with you, the teacher. This parent-teacher discussion could also put an end to the phone calls to her house. However, if the girl's parents have not contacted you or the boy's parents about these alleged phone calls, maybe what is happening is not as serious as you are assuming. While in school, it is important to do your best as the teacher to open the boy up to making new friends and engaging in conversation with multiple students. One way this could be achieved would be to have a surprise desk-rotation day in which you place students in a new desk formation with different students for them to be around and work with. This is a subtle way for you to separate the boy and girl and give the boy an opportunity to be around someone new. You can also create new cooperative learning groups and develop fun activities for the groups to do. This way the boy gets to participate in an activity with other students and not be so concentrated on the girl. Regarding the girl, unless she expresses her extreme distaste for the boy and comes to you with complaints, or the boy starts to become physical, I see no need in making it more than it is and no need to contact the girl's parents. Votes: +13 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Jenna Herberson Reps: 200 I agree, don't make it a bigger deal than necessary.   Posted on: February 25, 2018 6:03 am Add a Comment                 Solution 2 Posted October 15, 2012 4:14 pm GeJese Reps: 116 I have noticed that typically little kids are very touchy-feely, and they are constantly trying to touch one another. I plan on having the rule in my future classroom of keep your hands and personal belongings to yourself. By having this as a classroom rule, it might be possible to dicourage this type of behavior since there would be consequences for breaking the rule. I would also keep the students seperated; move their desks, spots on the circle, positions in lines, and so on. I would also contact the parents to let them know about the situation. Votes: +12 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 3 Posted October 15, 2012 6:40 am uNaBeZ Reps: 131 This is a tough situation. I think that it is important to strategically separate the students while in school and position them where they can make new friends. I think it is a natural course of action for two little kids to develop crushes on each other. If it gets physical and they begin hugging, hand holding, etc. I think you should notify the parents. I may be a good idea to remind students that we do not touch other people in school because we don't know if the other person wants to me touch. We keep our hands to our selves at all times. Votes: +8 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution erugyn Reps: 100 Great solution!   Posted on: October 18, 2014 8:06 pm Edward Gibbs Reps: 100 I would use this solution.   Posted on: October 19, 2014 3:51 pm Add a Comment                 Solution 4 Posted February 18, 2013 4:45 pm Latasha Chong Reps: 46 I would try to have those two students work with others to give them a little distance. I would only notify the parents if the behavior increases. Votes: +7 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 5 Posted October 16, 2012 9:08 am NaZyde Reps: 115 Although they are very young, it seems like a first crush kind of situation. I would let the parents know what is going on during a conference. They can talk to their children about what they may or may not be feeling. Votes: +5 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 6 Posted October 16, 2012 9:04 am JemyWe Reps: 132 I would want to talk to the parents to understand what goes on outside of the classroom. These students might be neighbors or play on the same sports team. You also need to encourage them to have more friends and include others in their circle of friends. Trying out group projects and activities to allow them to work with other students. I also would want to remind every student that they need to keep their hands to themselves and provide one another with appropriate person space. Votes: +4 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 7 Posted October 16, 2012 8:34 am ynudaq Reps: 121 I would try to have the students work with others while in school. It is kind of hard to control what they do out of school, but maybe try to exlain to the boy that it's not nice to bring the little girl a present everyday and to forget about your other friends. Try to explain to the boy that there are many other friends in the class. Votes: +4 / -1 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 8 Posted October 16, 2012 9:24 am Courtney Morra Reps: 118 This a really tough one. I would let both of the students parents know what you have seen and observed and see if the can have a talk with the children at home. If it really becomes inappropriate then I would have the child talk to a guidance counselor. Votes: +3 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 9 Posted October 16, 2012 9:27 am edaPab Reps: 147 Maybe try to explain to the student that if he wants to bring in presents and gifts, he needs to bring in enough for the whole class. Votes: +3 / -7 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Edward Gibbs Reps: 100 I do not agree with this solution. I don't think suggesting bringing the class gifts would solve this issue.   Posted on: October 19, 2014 3:49 pm dePyja Reps: 200 I do not agree with you. If telling the student to bring in gifts for the whole class may stop giving her gifts, but it could also lead into something different such as him getting more creative and writing her notes. I would suggest maybe talking to the parents if anything. Tell them to talk to their children and get a better understanding of where each of them stand. If the girl tells her parents she doesn't like him in that way, and the boy tells his parents that he does like her that way I think it is best for both the parents of the children to come to a resolution for the problem.   Posted on: October 19, 2014 10:19 pm Add a Comment                 Solution 10 Posted December 9, 2012 6:29 pm Shankeil Tarver Reps: 116 When in the classroom the students should be separated so nothing more then gift bringing is occurring. Teachers should notify the parents and let them know what is going on so they could deal with this problem at home. Votes: +2 / -1 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 11 Posted April 18, 2013 6:34 pm ZeNyJe Reps: 102 I would have a talk with the little girl how she feels about the boy being around all the time and I would let the parents know what is going on. If it continues, I would have a talk with the boy about different ways he can show his affection like drawing pictures. I think the right time for action would be as soon as the girl is uncomfortable with it. If it turns into harassment I would contact administration immeadiately. Votes: +0 / -0 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.