Too Slow

Why would a four year old be so disappointed in himself and say he's "too slow" because he doesn't get a chance to play after he finishes his work at school?  He told me all he got to do was "clean up" because he's "too slow" and bowed his head down, sulking on my lap.

I asked him if anyone told him he's too slow, and he said no. But, for some reason I'm thinking that is not the truth. Why would he feel so deeply that he's "too slow" unless someone else told him so? Maybe I'm overreacting, but I need to have a talk with his teacher. Yes, Richie takes his time doing things. He likes to get it just right. Some kids need more time than others, and that is perfectly fine and normal.

I swear, if some teacher or kid is telling my son he is "too slow" some heads are going to roll.

So I asked what he was doing when he felt like he was too slow. He said they were practicing shapes. So I did the only thing I could and suggested we practice our shapes at home, so next time he can do it a little faster.  He insisted that he would still be too slow. I insisted that practice is what makes us able to do things faster, and in our 10 minute experience of shape tracing and drawing, he was not slow at all.  Again, making me feel like someone else put this in his head.

I'll be having a chat at the preschool today.