Unwashed kid in my son class

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are terrible responses. How many of you volunteer to sit next to the smelly coworker?

I would talk to the teacher. You can’t control other people but you can control YOU. Your son should easily be able to change seats. After the teacher gets a few complaints, I bet she will address it with the parents. This is an issue that’s only going to get worse as the boy grows up.

There were kids in my high school that were smelly. There’s not much you can do.

We are talking pre-school here, not high school. Totally different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher, sorry but the last thing on my list of concerns is who “has to” sit next to a child who may or may not have a strong odor.
You have no idea if this child actually has a strong smell and if they do, the circumstances around it. If it is actually an issue, I’m sure the teacher is aware and is doing what they can to help the child/family.
Maybe try teaching and modeling some empathy.

Broken record here, but one single kid should not bear the burden. I used to teach. Changing up seating once a week is not going to overburden you as a teacher.

[Anonymous]

I am guessing his parent(s) smoke and the smell is on his clothes. Perhaps ask the teacher if she is aware of a problem. I remember kids in elementary school who reeked of cigarettes and I'm sure their parents never even noticed.

[Anonymous]

Does he actually smell? A four year old, I imagine, would have to be visibly dirty to be smelly. They are too young for BO. If he smells as bad as you say, there are deeper issues that the school is likely aware of. You can gently raise it with the teacher in a way “kiddo says this but I’m not sure what’s happening (or if it’s true. What do you think?)

Poor kid. He either has issues at home and/or is being singled out at school under the guise of smelliness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are terrible responses. How many of you volunteer to sit next to the smelly coworker?

I would talk to the teacher. You can’t control other people but you can control YOU. Your son should easily be able to change seats. After the teacher gets a few complaints, I bet she will address it with the parents. This is an issue that’s only going to get worse as the boy grows up.

There were kids in my high school that were smelly. There’s not much you can do.

We are talking pre-school here, not high school. Totally different.

np but why and how is it different? stinky kid is a stinky kid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does the kid actually smell? Have you confirmed this at pickup/drop off? Seems like there are two options - either this kid is not well cared for at home, or your son is being dramatic.

If it's the dramatic option, I'd go with a "respecting our differences" vibe - "hmm, I'm sorry you don't like the way Larlo smells. People are different. But we need to be kind to everyone." And give the teacher a heads up so they can intervene if your kid starts being rude about it.

If the kid is not well cared for, and is actually stinky, teach your kid some empathy. "Maybe his parents are too busy to give him a bath. That's so sad." "Maybe his house doesn't have any soap. That must be really hard for him." Then - "maybe he could use a friend. Maybe you could share your trucks with him?" Simultaneously, maybe reach out to the teacher to see what's going on. Maybe there's a way you can help this family?

I have not met the classmate yet, dh is responsible with younger son in the morning and pick up. We have talked to DS about everyone has a different smell and etc.DS is a good kid and he loves his teacher but the smell is very bothersome ,he doesn't want to go to school anymore. I just sent email to his teacher to schedule a time for me to visit the class and see what's going on.

[Anonymous]

Now several of you want to rally around the unwashed kid? If it was OP saying she never washes her kids hair or bathes him once a week she'd be ripped a new one.

[Anonymous]

OP, do you know for sure that the smell is from being unwashed? Is it possible that the child is simply from a different culture and eats different foods, so has a different body smell than your child is used to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, do you know for sure that the smell is from being unwashed? Is it possible that the child is simply from a different culture and eats different foods, so has a different body smell than your child is used to?

Or the smell is from the child being around a smoker?

[Anonymous]

It's actually very hard for a four year old to smell from being "unwashed." Four year olds don't stink the same way adults do from sweat, etc.

Are you sure it's not from cooking smells or from cigarette smoke or the parent's perfume? Or your child is just being dramatic and/or repeating what someone else says?

[Anonymous]

Dirty clothes can smell bad. I remember a kid in school smelled vaguely of tomato soup or something similar. Her home was not clean.

[Anonymous]

Wait until upper elem/middle school. Kids stink. Hell my own kid stinks some days when he forgets deodorant. You e got a long road ahead of you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does the kid actually smell? Have you confirmed this at pickup/drop off? Seems like there are two options - either this kid is not well cared for at home, or your son is being dramatic.

If it's the dramatic option, I'd go with a "respecting our differences" vibe - "hmm, I'm sorry you don't like the way Larlo smells. People are different. But we need to be kind to everyone." And give the teacher a heads up so they can intervene if your kid starts being rude about it.

If the kid is not well cared for, and is actually stinky, teach your kid some empathy. "Maybe his parents are too busy to give him a bath. That's so sad." "Maybe his house doesn't have any soap. That must be really hard for him." Then - "maybe he could use a friend. Maybe you could share your trucks with him?" Simultaneously, maybe reach out to the teacher to see what's going on. Maybe there's a way you can help this family?

I have not met the classmate yet, dh is responsible with younger son in the morning and pick up. We have talked to DS about everyone has a different smell and etc.DS is a good kid and he loves his teacher but the smell is very bothersome ,he doesn't want to go to school anymore. I just sent email to his teacher to schedule a time for me to visit the class and see what's going on.

Why did you call him unwashed if you don’t actually know?

[Anonymous]

This kid probably doesn't smell. But maybe uses products that your kid doesn't like. Totally different issue but one your kid just had.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This kid probably doesn't smell. But maybe uses products that your kid doesn't like. Totally different issue but one your kid just had.

Totally different issue but one your kid just has to adjust to.