Tattling is an issue that most kindergarten and primary teachers confront on a daily basis. The topic is very touchy because of the very thin line separating when a child should tattle and when a child should not tattle. At the beginning of each school year, I have to discuss with my students that tattling is not allowed unless someone is hurt or in danger.
Tattling occurs among different children for different reasons. Some children, especially brothers and sisters, tattle to try to get other children in trouble. This is usually done for revenge or spite. The two children may not or may not be friends. Even the best of playmates will tattle on one another. If one child has been in trouble, he may tattle on another child to get him into trouble also. As they say, “misery loves company”.
Other children tattle because they like order and structure. They have now realized that there are rules and rules are not to be broken. The teacher stated the rule and a child broke it. Some children feel that it is their duty to make things right by telling the teacher. These children usually have no malicious motive in mind. They see someone doing something wrong and they simply feel that the rules should be enforced.
Finally, there is the child that tattles to try to make him/her self gain more recognition for doing the ‘right thing’. In every classroom, there is one child that is a good student and continuously feels the need to gain reassurance from the teacher. She continuously asks questions such as, “Am I being good?” or “Do you like how I am sitting?” When positive comments are made about another student, she asks if the comment applies to her also. This child tattles on others to make herself look better. She tattles as if to say,” They are doing wrong and I am doing right.” Unlike the tattling student that tries to get others in trouble, this student is more concerned about bringing attention to the fact that she was not breaking the rules.
No matter why a child tattles, tattling can be a problem. Besides consuming much of a teacher’s time and patience, other children often do not like to associate with a child that continuously tattles.
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