TA told Andrew that he needs to stop sucking his thumb!

He came home so upset yesterday And she did this in front of the other students.

He told me that the TA told him that all he does is suck his thumb and he takes it out and then puts it right back in. And he should stop.

I know he should but I feel so bad for him

I told him to just do it at home not at school but I don't know if he understands.

Re: TA told Andrew that he needs to stop sucking his thumb!

Flame me if I am wrong, but do they have the right to say that to him???

I mean not for nothing, I would do anything to get Ali to stop sucking her thumb, but to embarass him
Poor Andrew

Re: TA told Andrew that he needs to stop sucking his thumb!

why should he??? cole does and it soothes him... i know it's not good for their teeth, but they will eventually grow out of it. he's not harming anyone else! maybe you could talk to the TA?

Re: TA told Andrew that he needs to stop sucking his thumb!

seems kind of rude of the TA....your poor DS!


i sucked my thumb until I was 5 when i was bribed with earrings to quit....i never needed braces and have very straight teeth!

Re: TA told Andrew that he needs to stop sucking his thumb!

I'm kind of surprised she didn't discuss it with you privately first. I would think that she would want to know your feelings about it.

Re: TA told Andrew that he needs to stop sucking his thumb!

I would just mention to her how hurt Andrew was about her comment and ask that she refrain from even talking about it with him. I bet she'll feel really bad when you tell her, as I'm sure it was not her intentions to hurt his feelings.

Re: TA told Andrew that he needs to stop sucking his thumb!

I would be talking to the director so fast the TA's head would spin!! No one who publicly humiliates a 2/3 year old( I'm sorry I forgot exactly how old Andrew is) should be working with small children. Plus she should take into account that you have a new baby at home and Andrew may be regressing a little bit which is completely normal!! I am so angry for you right now!!!

Re: TA told Andrew that he needs to stop sucking his thumb!

Re: TA told Andrew that he needs to stop sucking his thumb!

I'd be so mad!! My DD is almost 3 and still sucks her thumb, and there is no stopping her. It's my choice to do something about it and when, so yes, I'd be peeved if someone else said something.

Re: TA told Andrew that he needs to stop sucking his thumb!

Aww, poor Andrew!!

Re: TA told Andrew that he needs to stop sucking his thumb!

Re: TA told Andrew that he needs to stop sucking his thumb!

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Posted by Marcie

Flame me if I am wrong, but do they have the right to say that to him???

I mean not for nothing, I would do anything to get Ali to stop sucking her thumb, but to embarass him
Poor Andrew

Re: TA told Andrew that he needs to stop sucking his thumb!

That's so wrong of her to scold him!!! My DS and I attend a Mommy and Me class at our preschool.... all the kids are between 2 and 3. I see one kid suck him thumb a lot, another little girl still wants her pacifier when she's there. Big deal. These little habits have no impact on the kids' experience at school (in other words, it's not like he's hitting/biting/etc), so why should the TA feel it's her place to say something?

ETA-- even if it were an issue that really was a concern, she should speak to YOU privately, not embarrass a little kid!!!!

Message edited 3/11/2009 2:47:08 PM.

Re: TA told Andrew that he needs to stop sucking his thumb!

This pizzed me off so I have to add - my nephew sucks his thumb and he's 6 1/2. I have no idea if he does it at school but if he did, the teacher should say something to him? And that's way older that Andrew. Because telling ay child to just "stop" doing something that brings they comfort is completely ineffective. She had no right to say that to him and I agree with the PP who said if they said anything, it should be said to you. And honestly, unless it's an issue that he needs help for (ie, they notice what could be sensory issues....or whatever) it should not be told to a 2 1/2 yr old to "stop doing it", she (or better yet the actual teacher) should discuss with you only if it's an effort to help him. Otherwise, she is out of line completely.

Re: TA told Andrew that he needs to stop sucking his thumb!

Re: TA told Andrew that he needs to stop sucking his thumb!

Aww,I feel so bad for him too. I agree with the others, speak with the director.

Re: TA told Andrew that he needs to stop sucking his thumb!

I feel so sad for him...I'd be furious if my son came home from the daycare and told me this. But honestly, I wouldn't make a big deal out of it, but rather talk to the TA and let her know that his feelings were hurt and to please not do that to him EVER, especially in front of other children. Smile and walk away.

Re: TA told Andrew that he needs to stop sucking his thumb!

Thanks everyone I felt soo bad for him when he told me this in the car I had to pull over and I kept asking him if he was ok

He only does it when he is tired or feeling shy or not feeling well but who cares when he does it. I also sucked my thumb and I was 12 when I quit.

I felt sad for him and then so embarrassed thinking maybe I should be doing something about this now.

Maybe I will call up and ask for her to give me a call. I don't want to say something to her in the morning or when I pick him up in front of everyone.

They are closed now so I will call them in the morning.

Re: TA told Andrew that he needs to stop sucking his thumb!

Non mommy here, but since I sucked my thumb until about 12 and still sleep with my baby blankie at 28, I feel safe to say that woman needs a good hard slap. What a way to give a child a complex!

That TA owes your son an apology-and you too. And you can tell him that I sucked my thumb until I was in junior high school and I am proud to admit it.

People seriously need to think before they say-that is how we give children complexes!

ETA-poor grammar!

Message edited 3/11/2009 4:56:00 PM.

Re: TA told Andrew that he needs to stop sucking his thumb!

I would say something to the TA. Who are they to tell him what he can and can't do. If it is something that was hurting him or someone else then ok. But who every got hurt by a little thumb sucking.

Re: TA told Andrew that he needs to stop sucking his thumb!

I don't know...I'm not convinced that what the TA said was totally out of line. Granted, your DS is still young enough that thumb-sucking is pretty common, but it doesn't sound like she yelled at him, or told him that he HAS to stop sucking his thumb or else he'd be punished.

I guess as a teacher, I'm thinking of the reasons that she WOULDN'T want him sucking his thumb. If he's in a school setting, obviously there's a greater potential for spreading germs because he's touching things after his finger has just been in his mouth.

I'm sorry your DS was upset, but I don't see a reason to get angry over it. It IS a pretty bad habit--my SIL actually had to have braces when she was 7 because her top front teeth grew outward due to her thumb-sucking.

Re: TA told Andrew that he needs to stop sucking his thumb!

Posted by MrsRivera

I don't know...I'm not convinced that what the TA said was totally out of line. Granted, your DS is still young enough that thumb-sucking is pretty common, but it doesn't sound like she yelled at him, or told him that he HAS to stop sucking his thumb or else he'd be punished.

I guess as a teacher, I'm thinking of the reasons that she WOULDN'T want him sucking his thumb. If he's in a school setting, obviously there's a greater potential for spreading germs because he's touching things after his finger has just been in his mouth.

I'm sorry your DS was upset, but I don't see a reason to get angry over it. It IS a pretty bad habit--my SIL actually had to have braces when she was 7 because her top front teeth grew outward due to her thumb-sucking.

Re: TA told Andrew that he needs to stop sucking his thumb!

Posted by krissy888

Posted by Stacey1403

I would be talking to the director so fast the TA's head would spin!! No one who publicly humiliates a 2/3 year old( I'm sorry I forgot exactly how old Andrew is) should be working with small children. Plus she should take into account that you have a new baby at home and Andrew may be regressing a little bit which is completely normal!! I am so angry for you right now!!!

me too, I would rip that TA a new one!

Message edited 3/11/2009 6:27:04 PM.

Re: TA told Andrew that he needs to stop sucking his thumb!

Posted by MrsRivera

I don't know...I'm not convinced that what the TA said was totally out of line. Granted, your DS is still young enough that thumb-sucking is pretty common, but it doesn't sound like she yelled at him, or told him that he HAS to stop sucking his thumb or else he'd be punished.

I guess as a teacher, I'm thinking of the reasons that she WOULDN'T want him sucking his thumb. If he's in a school setting, obviously there's a greater potential for spreading germs because he's touching things after his finger has just been in his mouth.

I'm sorry your DS was upset, but I don't see a reason to get angry over it. It IS a pretty bad habit--my SIL actually had to have braces when she was 7 because her top front teeth grew outward due to her thumb-sucking.


I agree and I am a teacher too!

I have had to tell children to wash their hands after picking their nose..I never said,"stop picking your nose" but I did see them and tell them right after that so I would assume he/she would know why i said it...

Message edited 3/11/2009 7:16:26 PM.

Re: TA told Andrew that he needs to stop sucking his thumb!