Dad Sits In On Kindergarten Class And These Were His Main Observations
Even though just about all of us have gone through kindergarten at some point, it's hard to remember what it was really like to be a little kid in a classroom once you reach adulthood. One father, Reddit user neatgeek83, got to relive the experience when he sat in on a day of kindergarten with his daughter.
Amazed by the experience, he decided to share his main observations from the classroom.
Dads Are Invited To The Classroom Regularly
His daughter's school has a program called "WATCH D.O.G.S." that encourages dads to volunteer one day a year in the school, normally making sure dads are paired to their children's classrooms.
The Program Gets Dads More Involved In School Activities
The program encourages dads to bond with their kids and see what their days are like. It also provides positive male role models for other students who don't have many male figures in their lives, especially since elementary schools where are primarily staffed by women.
He Turned It Into Anthropological Study
Like Jane Goodall living amongst the apes, this one father decided to use his time in the classroom to make some astute observations about how the children behaved and interacted.
It's Not All Fun And Games
"The day started with a fire drill and was followed by a 'lockdown drill,' which we didn't have when I was in school. All four classes piled into a single classroom and had to be absolutely quiet and still while the lights were off and the doors were locked..."
Safety Drills Are Sadly A Necessary Norm
He seemed kind of shocked by the new norms. As he said, lockdown drills weren't a thing when he was a kid, and it can be scary to think about why these drills are necessary. "Scary to think about, but necessary in today's [...] world," he wrote.
Show And Tell Is Still A Thing But...
The father said that after the drill, they did show and tell: "The 'star student of the week' brought a tablet for show and tell. Everyone got excited. He pulled out what looked to be one of those [...] LeapFrog devices" designed specifically for children.
Kids Have A High Level Of Technological Understanding
"...Kids started peppering him with questions: 'Can you play Angry Birds or Crossy Road?' 'No.' 'Can you FaceTime?' 'No.'
"I felt bad for him…he was excited to show off his favorite toy and immediately got railroaded by the iPad posse."
He Created A Little Trouble For Other Parents
"I spent most of my classroom time playing Chutes and Ladders with rotations of kids. They also had a card game called Line Up that's sort of like solitaire. My educational contribution was telling them 'those upside-down hearts are called spades….those clovers are called clubs. Tell your mommy you want to go Vegas for spring break!'"
Why Do They Eat So Early?
"10:45 AM—time to force-feed myself lunch. I rarely finish my coffee before 11, much less have lunch. [The early meal] made the rest of the day seem extra long.
"Also, the kid sitting next to us didn't have a spoon for his pudding and was TERRIFIED to ask for one."
It Made Him Happy He Had Daughters
"Boys would randomly do karate chops, push each other, and try to stir up trouble. About half of them were wearing Star Wars shirts. I asked a couple what their favorite Star Wars movie is and they all answered that they’re not allowed to see the movies but watch the cartoons.
I told them that when they’re older to skip the prequels [...] and not to get too attached to Han Solo."
Shocking Gender Differences In Classroom Behavior
He was fascinated to see the gender differences at play: "The teacher divided them up to turn geometric shapes into animals. The girls worked together, sharing ideas and encouragement. The boys turned into cavemen, arguing and fighting, grunting, and growling."
The Playground Is A Lawless Land
"To paraphrase Jerry Seinfeld, recess was like 'running a blender without a top.' Or a prison break. Pick your metaphor. One of the boys ripped my sunglasses off and refused to give them back. I'm 33 years old and I'm still getting bullied. I was going to tell him the truth about Santa, Tooth Fairy, and Darth Vader if he didn’t give them back."
Kids Will Eat Trash Given The Opportunity
"Post-recess, an urgent meeting was called for the entire grade. Apparently, several of our 'kindergarten friends' were picking up trash on the playground and putting it in their mouths..." I'm sure he had a hard time keeping a straight face during this announcement.
Even Trash-Eating Has A Lesson At The End Of It
"Leave it to a teacher to turn a negative into a positive—she's bringing work gloves and trash bags. 'If you want to pick up trash, you can help clean up your playground instead of making your mouth dirty.'"
Tag Is A Warzone Game
Additionally stated in the post-recess debriefing: "Hide and seek and tag have been banned until further notice because 'several of our friends have been pushed and gotten hurt.' #Yolo."
You've gotta love the hashtag he added when relating that serious announcement.
Kids Are So Easily Active And In Shape
"I participated in most of PE class. Jumping jacks, squats, etc. The gym teacher said I was one of the few dads who's been able to touch their toes. [...] I did, however, have to sit out yoga." The kids would probably have yoga-ed circles around him if he tried.
Teachers Work Hard To Maintain Order
"Teachers are really good actors. They run their classrooms like drill sergeants. I don't want to say mean...but definitely very strict."
Being so strict probably goes a long way to helping them keep control of an unruly mob of garbage-eating children.
...But They're Still Just Regular Adults
"...But then they would turn to me to chat and would be super sweet. It was a switch they could flip on and off. Never crossed my mind that teachers are playing characters. And after spending a day in their shoes, I have the utmost respect for who anyone who dedicates their lives to molding young minds...especially kindergarteners!"
All In All, It Was An Exhausting Day
Immediately after returning home from his day at school, this dad had to lie down and take a nap to recover some energy. Naptime, it turns out, should be normalized for everyone, no matter their age.
He's Happy He Had The Opportunity To Be There
PTA groups are mostly women, and moms dominate parent involvement in school activities, so it's nice that this school is encouraging dads to be just as involved in their kids' school lives.
