Sibling Policy at School

[daisyduck123]

How exactly can you have a family night if only half the family can attend?

You get a babysitter.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

You get a babysitter.

I think she means that the event is called "Family Night" and not all of the family is invited. Sounds like it should just be called "Parents Night".

 

[lajones81]

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!

During the school day = no siblings
Outside the school day = can have siblings

 

[pyrxtc]

well no siblings on field trips but they are invited to everything else.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

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.

As a parent who helped a great deal in classes at these events I can say, do it all without the parent's help then.

 

[Kteacher]

I've never heard of this I've had great relationships with families and love forming connections with siblings. Transitioning into kindergarten is so much easier when the child already knows the teacher.

 

[tvguy]

I've never heard of this I've had great relationships with families and love forming connections with siblings. Transitioning into kindergarten is so much easier when the child already knows the teacher.

I've never heard of it either. My kids were in private school, and siblings being there was encouraged. Frankly, it was great marketing for the school because younger siblings were then comfortable at the school and would want to go there. Parents were encouraged to stop in unannounced anytime. Nothing like showing up unannounced and having lunch with your child, they just beam the entire time.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

I take extra kids with me to all the school events. The kids are usually not even mine, they are toddlers or babies that I babysit during the day. I have never been told I couldn't bring them. I bring them to parties, field trips, field day, special person day.... I usually have 1 or 2 little ones with me. I do bring a stroller if I have an infant at the time.

The only time we have had no siblings is on a field trip with limited space, like the symphony field trip.

I brought a 1 1/2 year old with me to the spelling bee last week. I just sat by the door so if he made noise, we would leave so as not to distract the kids.

Siblings aren't allowed to ride buses to field trips, and I never bring kids when volunteering in the classroom.

 

[aprilgail2]

siblings here can't even go to the others graduations unless the mom or dad wants to give up their ticket! Two tickets per child- which usually means no kids and no step parents, grandparents etc

 

[rie'smom]

There have been no sibling rules since my 35 yo started school. At first it was because the staff felt that the special day or performance belong to the child in school. Later on it was because the school grew and could not accommodate the larger number of people.

 

[Mkrop]

I've never heard of this I've had great relationships with families and love forming connections with siblings. Transitioning into kindergarten is so much easier when the child already knows the teacher.

That is how our school is, very community and family oriented. All the teachers knew my youngest before he even started there! I mean some things they do specifcally ask for no siblings but most things siblings are included and they would never be excluded from a performance.

Our school does a play in K and all the older siblings from the other grades are invited to performance so that everyone can watch the Ker as a family, younger siblings and older siblings.

Today we had our Book Fair and since it was a two hour delay all the preschools cancelled morning programs so our Book Fair had a bunch of little siblings because the moms were there to help. The kids were good and the mom probably spent more getting their kids some more books.

 

[Hannathy]

I think it is a great policy. I can't tell you how many things I have been at that loud unruly siblings have distracted and disturbed the event. Possibly if parents would insist they behave or at the very least take them out if they are disruptive it might be OK. And on field trips you are to be watching and interacting with the children in the class not entertaining you own kids, it is a field trip not a family trip.

 

[aprilgail2]

.

I 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.

.

Ours are like that now- back to school night is for parents- not even the child that you are going to meet their teacher is invited. It is much nicer to be able to listen to what the teacher has to say without having the distraction of kids there!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Our elementary/middle school is strongly parent participation oriented. Parents are encouraged (but not required) to work at the school for 2 hours per week, per child. To keep siblings out of the classrooms and free up parents who otherwise couldn't volunteer, they created a babysitting room. You can drop your younger children for up to two hours at a time during your volunteer hours (no dropping your kids and going to Starbucks!). Also, parents can fulfill their volunteer time by working in the babysitting room. We have many parents with limited English skills who don't feel comfortable working with kids in the classrooms, but are comfortable working in the babysitting room. They tend to work their hours babysitting. If your school has a strong no-sibling policy, perhaps it can create some kind of co-op babysitting program where people can take turns working in classrooms and babysitting the younger kids.

 

[LuLuO]

.

Ours are like that now- back to school night is for parents- not even the child that you are going to meet their teacher is invited. It is much nicer to be able to listen to what the teacher has to say without having the distraction of kids there!

This is how our school is too.

 

[Mkrop]

Our teacher's aides babysit in a classroom on Back to School Night and for Home and School Meetings, although I think the kids need to be potty trained, I am not sure, they just started and I never used it.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Schoolwide, there is no "no-sibling" rule, but teachers will individually request no siblings depending on the function. Siblings are always invited to performances, but sometimes not classroom parties, due to space, and only the very quiet, well-behaved sibling is allowed to come hang out while mom volunteers.

 

[mariolatry]

They've had that policy at DD5's school for a long time, thank heavens. I have a 3-year-old DD so I understand the difficulties of arranging for child care but it really irritates me to go to (for example) the curriculum night and be unable to hear what the teachers are saying because their are several random kids horsing around in the classroom.

I pay for child care every Tuesday so I can volunteer in DD's classroom. I would never dream of dragging my other kid with me.

 

[DizBelle]

My snarky side says to tell them that she is not her little sister but her cousin.

 

[mhsjax]

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!

We live in St Johns county, only inland. They don't have that rule for programs. I see people all the time with their child's younger siblings.