Why do so many parents say their kids are bored at school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh here we go again.

All sorts of children are bored in school, OP, from the ones with low attention span and little academic interest to truly gifted children who are not provided enrichment to their level.

AND there are children who have ADHD/LDs + giftedness, and who are very challenging to slot anywhere.

You're looking for an echo chamber of "stupid parents thinking their kid is gifted when he's not just because he can't focus". Have at it.

But the world is a more complicated place.

Op here. Actually I was just feeling insulted because my perfectly bright 5yo is learning to read in an age appropriate manner and having a wonderful time in kindergarten and feel it is rude for parents to say their kid is so bored because they know everything and not learning anything.

It’s not rude. They’re talking about their kid, not your kid. You’re just irrationally personalizing it because you’re insecure.

[Anonymous]

Those kids are bored because they already learned all this information in preschool. Both my kids went to highly academic preschools, because they were conveniently located and had good reputations. For math in particular the good preschools around here will teach more than is covered in k in the 4s room, considerably more if it’s a Montessori program and the kids like it. I don’t want to say I regret it, because it’s fine, kids can always practice and bright kids are bored a fair amount no matter what but when my oldest went to public school and I realized the teachers are also working with kids who have had no formal educational experience and in some cases are speaking English as a second language, yeah it makes sense they can’t just pick up where the preschool left off. So it’s literally nothing new the entire year of k.

Just don’t take it personally; I don’t think it’s a super polite thing to say but it’s not meant to hurt your feelings. Be glad your kid is happy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh here we go again.

All sorts of children are bored in school, OP, from the ones with low attention span and little academic interest to truly gifted children who are not provided enrichment to their level.

AND there are children who have ADHD/LDs + giftedness, and who are very challenging to slot anywhere.

You're looking for an echo chamber of "stupid parents thinking their kid is gifted when he's not just because he can't focus". Have at it.

But the world is a more complicated place.

Op here. Actually I was just feeling insulted because my perfectly bright 5yo is learning to read in an age appropriate manner and having a wonderful time in kindergarten and feel it is rude for parents to say their kid is so bored because they know everything and not learning anything.

So, what you are really saying is that you are insecure that this other person's kid is more advanced in reading than your average child?

[Anonymous]

When was the last time you sat all day “in class”?

It’s boring! Who doesn’t think it’s boring?

[Anonymous]

I don't think someone who says their kid is bored is automatically saying their kid is smarter or more advanced.

For instance, I didn't do Montessori for my kid because I think she would have been bored, because at that age she did better with more structure and would have struggled with the "choose your own adventure" nature of the approach. She is smart, but that's not why she'd be bored.

Sometimes kids are bored because the setting isn't right for them, because they are not being engaged in a way that meets them where they are at. Kids can also be bored if they are struggling socially, because it takes away a key component of school for children.

Even when someone says their kid is bored and clearly means that the academic work is beneath them, they may be mistaken. Their kid might be bored for another reason. Doesn't mean their kid isn't bored though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh here we go again.

All sorts of children are bored in school, OP, from the ones with low attention span and little academic interest to truly gifted children who are not provided enrichment to their level.

AND there are children who have ADHD/LDs + giftedness, and who are very challenging to slot anywhere.

You're looking for an echo chamber of "stupid parents thinking their kid is gifted when he's not just because he can't focus". Have at it.

But the world is a more complicated place.

Op here. Actually I was just feeling insulted because my perfectly bright 5yo is learning to read in an age appropriate manner and having a wonderful time in kindergarten and feel it is rude for parents to say their kid is so bored because they know everything and not learning anything.

There’s a lot that kids can learn about topics they find boring. The other parents aren’t necessarily saying their kids are bored because they already know everything; a lot of kids are bored by having to learn about topics they don’t personally find interesting. One of my kids finds math stiflingly boring, but she has a lot to learn in math — in fact, she’s behind, partially because she has ADHD and has an extremely hard time focusing on non preferred subjects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh here we go again.

All sorts of children are bored in school, OP, from the ones with low attention span and little academic interest to truly gifted children who are not provided enrichment to their level.

AND there are children who have ADHD/LDs + giftedness, and who are very challenging to slot anywhere.

You're looking for an echo chamber of "stupid parents thinking their kid is gifted when he's not just because he can't focus". Have at it.

But the world is a more complicated place.

Op here. Actually I was just feeling insulted because my perfectly bright 5yo is learning to read in an age appropriate manner and having a wonderful time in kindergarten and feel it is rude for parents to say their kid is so bored because they know everything and not learning anything.

My perfectly bright 5yo learned to read before kindergarten and is not bored. At all. But that doesn't mean another person's kid isn't bored.

There's no "age appropriate manner" to learn to read. Kids learn in different ways at different times. My own kid taught herself and surprised us. If she seemed bored in school it would bother me.

[Anonymous]

I find that the most gifted and intelligent kids are deeply curious and excited to learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh here we go again.

All sorts of children are bored in school, OP, from the ones with low attention span and little academic interest to truly gifted children who are not provided enrichment to their level.

AND there are children who have ADHD/LDs + giftedness, and who are very challenging to slot anywhere.

You're looking for an echo chamber of "stupid parents thinking their kid is gifted when he's not just because he can't focus". Have at it.

But the world is a more complicated place.

Op here. Actually I was just feeling insulted because my perfectly bright 5yo is learning to read in an age appropriate manner and having a wonderful time in kindergarten and feel it is rude for parents to say their kid is so bored because they know everything and not learning anything.

You so insecure and jealous of parents whose kids are accelerated. What is learning to read in an "age appropriate" manner? If a child picks up reading at 3 or 4 then yes, they will be bored in K while your perfectly average child is still learning consonant sounds. There are kids in your child's class who are ahead either because they are brighter than your child or because their parents invested the time to teach them to read. Get over it, or take a page from their book and accelerate your child too if you are so envious.

[Anonymous]

I would ask how the parent KNOWS that their kid is bored? They are not sitting in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find that the most gifted and intelligent kids are deeply curious and excited to learn.

yeah, and that doesn't happen much in an average class, unfortunately. there is a ton of down time and repetition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s your theory, op? That they are lying about being bored? Or they are not bored but simply miscreants, unlike your eager and non-bored child?

NP. But actually yes, all of the above are plausible theories. I have bright kids that knew all the K material before K and pretty much have been testing a couple grade levels ahead at minimum in all subjects and started academically talented programs once in upper el and middle school. They never said they were bored. They behaved in class and did what was asked of them with out complaints. At home we would supplement work that was on par with their level plus some challenges- but for their own growth, not bc they were “bored.”

I do believe much of the time parents use the “he/she is bored” either to humble bragging or using it to excuse away bad behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s your theory, op? That they are lying about being bored? Or they are not bored but simply miscreants, unlike your eager and non-bored child?

NP. But actually yes, all of the above are plausible theories. I have bright kids that knew all the K material before K and pretty much have been testing a couple grade levels ahead at minimum in all subjects and started academically talented programs once in upper el and middle school. They never said they were bored. They behaved in class and did what was asked of them with out complaints. At home we would supplement work that was on par with their level plus some challenges- but for their own growth, not bc they were “bored.”

I do believe much of the time parents use the “he/she is bored” either to humble bragging or using it to excuse away bad behavior.

I don't go around advertising it, but my kids are bored in school. They don't behave badly. They are bright. But they also have ADHD and learning disabilities. I think there are more of us out there than you realize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have heard parents say this in preschool, elementary and now middle school. The worst behaved kid at our preschool was supposedly bored so he acted out and hit and bit classmates. I have a kindergarten child who loves kindergarten and I find it insulting when parents say their kid is bored. They are implying that their kid is so much smarter and more advanced than the other kids in the class. I have 3 kids and they all do well in school. They are happy and don’t complain they are bored. They get good grades with minimal effort.

I think some kids ARE bored. My kindergartener can read and do multiplication - and his class is talking about “reading the pictures” and sorting the counting bears into groups of 10. But he loves kindergarten and has never said he is bored. He does know that word because I hear it on the weekend all the time.

My oldest was also ahead, but not nearly as much because he has a late summer BD and is young for his class. We do talk to our kids about listening respectfully and not saying rude things like “I already know that”. My kids tend to think they are an expert once they have done something twice - so I reinforce the concept that it’s important to have a good foundation built in practice and that teachers may give them new ways to solve the same problem or tricks to do it faster. I call it “adding tools to your toolbox”. I also tell them if they want more challenging work, don’t skip or be sloppy with tasks you think are easy or “babyish”. If you want your teacher to give you more challenging work, you have to demonstrate that you can complete the current work quickly and accurately without disturbing other students.

[Anonymous]

My child loves going to school but occasionally she tells me it's boring. I can see why, some of that Eureka math is so repetitive.