When Phoebe started school in Little Learners, she was only 21 months old. Reuben started attending Little Learners in January this year. He was 22 months old. Reuben wore his sister's school uniform and it fitted him well. We gave him the ladybird trolley bag which he enjoyed pushing it around. In fact, he liked it so much that he refused to let Mrs Suppiah or Ting Lao Shi to put his bag up on the shelf and continued pushing the bag around the classroom when everyone was seated.
Needless to say, the first week was terrible. The classroom was a chorus of children crying. The classroom was swarmed with parents, grandparents and maids on the first day. In fact, there were more adults than children. The teachers had to set the rule that only one accompanying adult was allowed in the classroom for the next day. Reuben was definitely not cooperative. He refused to sit on the chair and would rather sit or lie on the floor. He cried and sat at the door, constantly saying his famous two-word phrase "Open door". He refused to queue up or wash his hands. He refused to drink or eat his snack. He would rather press his sandwich or play with it. He was definitely more bizzare and daring than Phoebe at that age.
Needless to say, the first week was terrible. The classroom was a chorus of children crying. The classroom was swarmed with parents, grandparents and maids on the first day. In fact, there were more adults than children. The teachers had to set the rule that only one accompanying adult was allowed in the classroom for the next day. Reuben was definitely not cooperative. He refused to sit on the chair and would rather sit or lie on the floor. He cried and sat at the door, constantly saying his famous two-word phrase "Open door". He refused to queue up or wash his hands. He refused to drink or eat his snack. He would rather press his sandwich or play with it. He was definitely more bizzare and daring than Phoebe at that age.
Second day was like that too. He refused to step into the school. In fact, he refused to be unbuckled from the stroller. He cried and yelled. When it was time to go home, everyone took their bag and sang their goodbye song. All except Reuben. He would sprawl on the floor and watch others sing. When the singing was over, he would start to whine again. But he did make some good progress for day 2. We managed to put his bag on the shelf. He queued up to wash his hands, though he jumped queue a little. He did allow Mrs. Suppiah to wash his hands, though he was too short to reach the tap even with the help of the stool. He managed to sit on his chair for a while to nibble his sandwich while looking at his friend's Thomas water bottle. He also managed to "colour" his star with a wax crayon.
Phoebe cried for about two weeks. Reuben had started school for almost a month. He still cries whenever he had step into class. In fact, all the children had stopped crying and would go to school happily except Reuben. He would cry and whine, asking for his eddie and bear bear, which are in the pockets of his bag. His teachers would carried him in and then take his plastic animals out for him. Mrs Suppiah would animate them for a while. The children laughed and Reuben would be alright by then. All of his nonsense ended in five minutes. Whenever the door opens to release the children at the end of the lessons, Reuben will always be smiling brightly, pushing his ladybird out happily.
I know that Reuben enjoys school. He does not detest going to school. He puts on his uniform in the morning without struggling. He comes out of the classroom happily. He sings the "Sha-La-La" aka Goodbye song at home. He likes school. Then why is he crying whenever he steps into classroom ? Throwing tantrums I guess. Seeking for attention probably.
I'm still waiting for the day when he would walk into the classroom willingly, pushing his ladybird in. It will come, I know :)
Everyone's singing the "Sha-La-La" aka Goodbye song, except Reuben.
1 comment:
happy schooling reuben!
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