Sibling Policy at School

[HLAuburn]

My DD is in Kindergarten and her elementary school has a pretty strict "no sibling" rule. I can understand situations where parents are volunteering in the classroom and even visiting for lunch, but DD has a Valentine's Day performance coming up, and the sheet the school sent home specifically says "no siblings".

I started my 2 year old in a Mother's Day Out program so I could I volunteer in DDs classroom once a week. I've missed parties because I didn't have a sitter for my little one, but now I'm a little annoyed. Because we can't bring her little sister, now DH or I has to miss older DD's performance.

Is this a typical policy for elementary schools? Like I said, I totally get it when they ask you not to bring little siblings into the classroom since they could be a distraction, but for a holiday performance in the school cafeteria, the "no sibling" rule seems a bit much.

WDYT?
Thanks!

 

[RadioNate]

My DS has gone to 3 Elementry schools & they have all been 'no siblings' for anything that happens during the school day.

 

[DisneyScraps]

How awful. My DDs school has a rule of no siblings on field trips but not for school events. They want you to hire a baby sitter to see your child at school? I would complain.

Lisa

 

[Cinderella94]

My DD is in Kindergarten and her elementary school has a pretty strict "no sibling" rule. I can understand situations where parents are volunteering in the classroom and even visiting for lunch, but DD has a Valentine's Day performance coming up, and the sheet the school sent home specifically says "no siblings".

I started my 2 year old in a Mother's Day Out program so I could I volunteer in DDs classroom once a week. I've missed parties because I didn't have a sitter for my little one, but now I'm a little annoyed. Because we can't bring her little sister, now DH or I has to miss older DD's performance.

Is this a typical policy for elementary schools? Like I said, I totally get it when they ask you not to bring little siblings into the classroom since they could be a distraction, but for a holiday performance in the school cafeteria, the "no sibling" rule seems a bit much.

WDYT?
Thanks!

I'm a senior in high school, I have a brother in middle school, and my mom is an elementary school teacher. So I've heard a lot about classroom parties/assemblies/concerts/anything else like that during school hours, and yep "no siblings" is the norm, around here at least. Those things get crazy and crowded as it is with just inviting parents, siblings would be way too many extra people. Evening chorus/band performances, however, are always welcome to anyone.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I would probably ignore the rule and force them to send me home - but I'm a rebel.

 

[golfgal]

For classroom only plays, etc. we had no sibling rules but if it was a schoolwide performance (Christmas pageant, etc.) siblings, grandparents, etc. were all invited. The no siblings in the classroom was mostly because of space limitations. If we were volunteering outside of the classroom (fundraisers) people often brought younger siblings but if you were in a classroom you were not allowed to bring in siblings.

 

[Becky2005]

Hmmm....we definitely have the no sibling policy for volunteerring, field trips & parties but every performance has always been open to siblings.

Most of our performances are in the evening though. The only other performances that have been once in 3rd grade their class did a play but it was just their class, I'm pretty sure siblings could come. The other thing during the day is in 4th grade, the 4th graders perform for Grandparents day and parents can come watch that. They suggest you come to the first performance (they have 2 since we still have 1/2 day Kindergarten), I know I brought siblings to that.

That would be REALLY weird if there was an evening performance and no siblings were allowed.

 

[SCHBR'smom]

When my oldest was in public school, that was not a rule. I took siblings to school parties and never had a problem. I, also, took them to awards ceremonies and programs during school hours.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

Here - No siblings for anything that occurs during the school day. Siblings welcome for anything that happens after normal school hours.

 

[HLAuburn]

I would probably ignore the rule and force them to send me home - but I'm a rebel.

They'll do it! Before DDs Christmas party, they had a little presentation for the classroom volunteers. Her teacher asked me to come but pretty much said since I would have younger DD with me, I'd have to leave for the party. I was OK with it and just stayed for the volunteer part, but when I checked in at the front office, the clerk asked "You did get the email about siblings...?" , so I had to assure her I was just going to be there for a few minutes. I felt like I was trying to bring in a rabid dog or something!

 

[mjkacmom]

Our school always had many no sibling rules, including one for a kindergarten picnic, on school grounds, during the school day, outside, and you brought your own food. As you might guess from my siggy, this came up a lot. Luckily, my parents live in town, and most SAHMs end up with mom friends, who help each other out in these situations.

They also request that siblings stay home for night performances, since the school-age children see the show at school during the day, and the auditoriums hold only a fraction of parents as it is, but most drag the kids along. If I have to (no sitter), we stay in the hall - I don't expect another parent to stand so my kids can sit.

 

[disfan07]

That seems to be typical where I have lived. That's how I got a lot of babysitting jobs especially at the end of the year when attending community college.

 

[brockash]

Huh, no neither of the schools my ds has attended has had a "no sibling" rule, for really anything. It's a good thing for me, because I help out a lot at his school for different things, and there's no way I'd be able to do any of it, if it was a "no sibling" rule. I can see the reason for it, especially when you have parents that don't control their children, but I'm glad we don't have it.

 

[dhcoffey]

No such rule at our schools here. I'm glad because I'd be pretty unhappy if I couldn't bring my kids to each other's things at school.

Heather

 

[HLAuburn]

Huh, no neither of the schools my ds has attended has had a "no sibling" rule, for really anything. It's a good thing for me, because I help out a lot at his school for different things, and there's no way I'd be able to do any of it, if it was a "no sibling" rule. I can see the reason for it, especially when you have parents that don't control their children, but I'm glad we don't have it.

I'm sure this all came about from a few incidents with parents not controlling their kids. It's too bad a couple people have to ruin in for everyone, but isn't that always the case?! If DD started acting up, DH or I would take her out immediately, but I know that's not always the case with parents.

 

[LuLuO]

My DD goes to our public school district preschool and they too are no siblings for parties and classroom stuff. They haven't done a performance so I don't know if no siblings would apply but I think it would. We too will get sent home if we show up with siblings.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

There is a no sibling policy for any event that happens in the classroom. DD had a Young Authors program and I had to leave DS with a sitter. If it is a program in the cafeteria or gym, we can bring siblings.

 

[daisyduck123]

We started the "no siblings during school hours" rule about 5 years ago. It was just getting ridiculous. Moms were showing up with strollers (even some doubles) and there was NO ROOM at all in the classrooms. Even without the strollers, space was very limited.

I also don't think that infants/toddlers/preschoolers have any business being at an elementary school classroom function. Many times they are just a distraction. We teachers are also considering asking our principal to make Back to School Night a "don't bring your children" event as well. The crying babies are just such a distraction.

Ok, rant over.

 

[BKMETV]

We have no siblings for field trips because of insurance issues. In the classroom it's at the teacher discretion...most kindergarten teachers don't mind another younger one but not in the older grades. The parent volunteers who come to help deliver pizza and other fundraising are welcome to bring little ones...they are also allowed at all assemblies.

 

[MommyJack]

In DS's old school, it was up to the teacher. DD went on a field trip and came with me when I occasionally volunteered. DD's school has a no sibling policy. What gets me is that they have a "Family Night" once a month, but no siblings allowed. How exactly can you have a family night if only half the family can attend?