Recently we took our kids to a two day gun training. While my husband and I did our gun course, our kids went to the youth safety program. It was from 8am-5pm with a one hour lunch break. After our class ended on our second and final day, we got into the car to do the five hour drive home. Our youngest, who is five, chattered nonstop for the next two hours. Nonstop. She chatted to us, she chatted to herself. She nonstop talked for two straight hours. It was pretty unbelievable. Of course she's always been chatty- but never to that extent. Why? I think it's because she had to be quiet and focused for eight hours with no real social outlet. There were other kids there, she could play and talk to them, but she likes to be heard and listened to.
This got me thinking about how she would act if she went to school all day everyday. And how would my other kids' behavior change? Here's my guess...
Son (11)- He would be very influenced by his peers. He wouldn't be as nice to his parents and siblings and would care more what his peers think. He'd probably have a too-good for us personality. Not to mention a change in his slang and vocabulary.
Daughter (10)- She wouldn't get the one on one instruction that she requires for math so would probably be behind in it. She wouldn't have as much time for her arts and crafts, which is a major part of her life and happiness. So she wouldn't have that creative outlet and would probably not be as happy. She would also be more influenced by her peers with a changed attitude and all the other drama that goes along with pre-teen girls.
Son (7)- He would be behind in reading and so incredibly bored in math. He would be riled up by the other kids and might have some discipline problems. He wouldn't have an outlet for his sensitive nature all day. He'd probably like some aspects of it, he'd love all the sports, recess, etc. But he'd either be ultra quiet or he'd get in trouble. He is so wiggly and has a hard time sitting still- so that would be very hard for him.
Daughter (5)- She would have a social outlet with all the peers. But she wouldn't have someone to listen to her all day and would be a chatterbox when she got home. She'd probably do well in all her subjects. Her teachers would love her. And she'd either be a good influence on her peers because of her strong personality, or she'd get influenced by them in the other direction. She'd probably have some girl drama/quarrels.
Of course, these are all hypothetical scenarios. But from my observance of their personalities and how they act all day, during school, and when they've been gone all day, I think they're pretty good guesses. Maybe all children who go to school full time have had some personality change because of their circumstances. I'm glad mine haven't. And that I get to cater to their personalities and their individual needs.
