I’m a teacher in Australia and this is what I wish all parents knew – but I’ll NEVER say out loud

Behind Australia’s colourful classrooms lies an education system one weary teacher recently described as held together by ‘bubble-gum, duct tape, and a single office secretary who is really good at their job’.

And he wasn’t alone in his opinion, with a group of fed-up Australian primary educators offering their true thoughts to parents this week in a brutally honest Q&A forum.

For most parents, raising a five-year-old is a first-time experience. For teachers, it’s their entire life.

Educators see the same age group year after year, giving them a deep understanding of what’s developmentally normal, what’s a red flag, and what will likely resolve with time.

That’s why these teachers hope parents will trust their perspective – especially when concerns arise about behaviour, learning, or emotional development.

Your child lies to you all the time

One of the hardest truths for families to hear is that their children lie – and that it doesn’t automatically mean they’re dishonest or badly behaved.

Teachers say there are developmental stages where experimenting with lying is completely normal, particularly in early primary school, where children are still learning boundaries, storytelling, and social consequences.

‘If your child comes home with an outrageous story about school, take it with a pinch of salt,’ one advised.

They shared examples of students insisting they had never lied, even when caught copying another child’s work word-for-word – or claiming they failed an assignment due to absences that never happened.

Educators stress that young children are not always reliable narrators. Sometimes they exaggerate, misunderstand events, or tell stories they think sound more exciting – rather than intentionally deceiving.

Their advice to parents is not to dismiss children’s feelings, but to understand that teachers often have a clearer picture of what actually occurred in the classroom.

Teachers also reminded parents that children sometimes say shocking or misleading things without understanding the impact.

One adult recalled joking as a child that their mother ‘locked them in a closet’, unintentionally alarming a stranger.

Another remembered telling a teacher their father ‘beat’ their mother – meaning at cards – which resulted in a serious welfare check from the school’s principal.

Kids are imaginative, impulsive and still learning how language, humour and consequences work. That said, if it’s a ‘serious’ statement, always follow-up instead of dismissing them.

Step-up hygiene and bathroom education… and fast 

Another issue teachers say parents often underestimate is hygiene and bathroom independence – especially in kindergarten and early primary years.

‘Go over proper bathroom behaviour. Reinforce handwashing. I cannot stress this enough,’ one teacher urged.

He recalled chaotic and sometimes alarming bathroom incidents, including children removing all their clothes to use a urinal, getting limbs stuck in toilets, or panicking classmates due to misunderstandings about how to use facilities.

Teachers also asked for understanding when they need to intervene in bathroom situations.

‘If we ever have to step into a bathroom, it’s because someone is screaming, stuck, or unsafe. Not because we want to be there,’ he explained.

For educators, basic hygiene – washing hands, using the toilet appropriately, managing clothing – makes a meaningful difference to a child’s comfort, confidence and safety at school.

Independence is everything – stop buying kids shoes they can’t tie 

Perhaps the strongest message from teachers is this: children benefit enormously from being independent – even when it’s slower, messier, or less convenient at home.

‘If I could say one thing to incoming kindergarten parents, it would be: make your child as independent as possible,’ one teacher wrote.

That means being able to dress themselves, manage backpacks, follow two- or three-step instructions, pack folders, zip jackets, and handle basic personal care.

While it’s often quicker for parents to step in, teachers say doing everything for a child can leave them struggling in a classroom where one adult is responsible for many students.

‘Parents do so much because it’s faster, easier or cleaner. But it can be a huge disservice when kids can’t put on shoes, manage their clothes or look after themselves.’

Their advice is practical: choose clothes children can manage alone, label belongings, practice routines at home, and allow kids to build confidence through trial and error.

Just trust us to do our job 

Educators say the best outcomes happen when families trust professional experience, encourage independence, reinforce routines like hygiene, and approach concerns without defensiveness.

In a school system balancing packed classrooms, limited resources, and increasing demands, teachers are struggling to do their best for every child.

And sometimes, the most supportive thing parents can do is step back and let kids learn and stumble for them to adapt and grow.