Parents of Schoolgoers  Discussion Forum

My son is 5 year old. He is a good kid. He goes to Pre School since last 2 years. He is really good kid in school. He knows all school rules & follows them well. But when he comes home, he just wants to do things in his own way. After we come from school, I have a rule for him. He has to wash his hands, change his cloths & eat snacks. But he never does all things by himself without me reminding him. At home after playing he does not like to clean up. I am not sure is it normal or not. At school he puts everything at its place & at home his room is just mess.

Unfortunately here in US I don't have much Indian friends who have kids of his age. I know some of his American's friend's mom & when I talk to them I feel their kids are very disciplined.

I am not sure am I having too much expectation from him? What do I need to do to make him do things?
I don't believe in biting but does that work?

Please advice. Thanks a bunch

Dimpy
mother replied. Hi Dimpy,
THis is very normal. My son is 7 year old and he also does the same things. While he is very disciplined child in school, in home he is very naughty. I also initially used to worry about this but slowly I found that there is nothing to be worry.
Kids behave differently in different surroundings, they are very smart and knows that if there mother is around they can mess up. I think same is with us also. At our work place we want everything to be done with perfection but at home we also wants to just lay around and enjoy.
So first of all don't think about bitting him that's not going to work. Instead start him by teaching. You can try the following tricks, I have tried them and they work.
1. Make one day of the week as cleanliness day (probably sat or sun, if u r working). On that day put a competion with your son, like for the whole day you will keep one room/kitchen clen and he will keep his room clean. If any one of you spotted a mess in each others area you will get points. At the end you both can go and treat each other with some ice-cream.
2. Put some posters in his room or area where he plays realted to good habits and tell him to check out the ones he follows.
Lastly don't compare your children with others, every little angle is different.
Regards,
A Mother