Fall Moms: Did anyone have any hesitations about sending DC to kindergarten at 4? (long)

DS was born in mid December. The cutoff for K is 12/31. He's small for his age (8-10th percentile). K is a full day in my town. He spends 10 hours per day in daycare so he should be able to handle the long day. He's more than academically ready for K and I have no doubts about that.

It's very common for parents in my town to hold their fall (and even summer) babies back, especially the boys. DS would likely be in the same class as kids who are at least 1 year older than him.

His current and former preschool teachers all feel that he's ready for K. He's very bright and they feel that he would be bored with another year of preschool. Daycare has private K, which I was strongly considering, until one of his former teachers told me in confidence that the K teacher doesn't have control of the class and doesn't really teach them anything. If he's really ready for K, I'd rather send him to public school.

I worry about him being one of the youngest and smallest. I worry that being so much younger than some of the kids may lead to issues later on with not maturing as quickly, etc. I worry that he may struggle with certain things that are easier for the older kids simply because they have had more time to practice certain fine motor skills or learn certain things. I know that I would doubt and constantly question whatever decision I made.

How did you decide whether to send DC to K at 4 or 5? Do you have any regrets about your decision?

Message edited 4/8/2013 8:30:58 AM.

Re: Fall Moms: Did anyone have any hesitations about sending DC to kindergarten at 4? (long)

Does that mean he would be 4 in Sept, when school started, then turn 5 in December? I wouldn't think that was such a difference. I woulnd't want my son to be the smallest kid, or a year younger either though. Being that he is academically ready, he will still be ready when the following year. My answer would be to have him go the following year, when he is 5 turning 6.

Re: Fall Moms: Did anyone have any hesitations about sending DC to kindergarten at 4? (long)

My son is born at the end of Sept and will be going to kindergarten in the fall. He is socially, physically and academically ready, so I don't see any reason to hold him back. If your son seems ready, I wouldn't hesitate in sending him. Growing up, there were several people in my grade that were born in Dec. and they all did just fine.

Fall Moms: Did anyone have any hesitations about sending DC to kindergarten at 4? (long)

If he is socially and academically ready I would send him. From what you wrote, he sounds like he is.

Re: Fall Moms: Did anyone have any hesitations about sending DC to kindergarten at 4? (long)

I'd send him unless you think he's going to be a football player :)

Seriously, it will give him an extra year of life in terms of schooling and allow him to easily take a year off in college, when he can travel and see the world.

If he's ready, he's ready. The whole red shirting thing is a fad... Just like skipping a grade was when I was young!

Re: Fall Moms: Did anyone have any hesitations about sending DC to kindergarten at 4? (long)

I agree about the sports thing. My brother went to school early and he was always small for his age. He matured late and struggled in school and sports in high school and my mother always regretted not keeping him home another year.

Re: Fall Moms: Did anyone have any hesitations about sending DC to kindergarten at 4? (long)

DS is a September baby and will be going to K in the fall. If they are ready, then send them. Honestly, I am a high school teacher. I can never pick out who is born in January compared to who is born in December. If they have athletic talent, then they will succeed.

And, as an aside, I was born mid-December and my mother pushed me ahead. I NEVER noticed it!

Re: Fall Moms: Did anyone have any hesitations about sending DC to kindergarten at 4? (long)

Yes ,I will send my fall boy to K. If he doesn't do well, I will keep him back in K. I think repeating pre k is a waste of time and money honestly

Re: Fall Moms: Did anyone have any hesitations about sending DC to kindergarten at 4? (long)

My son's birthday is late November so he started in September at 4 years old. He was one of the youngest in the class but I sent him because he had already been in preschool and was getting bored and I felt he was ready. He did awesome and seeing him now reading and doing math in 1st grade, I cannot imagine him being in K right now. That being said, there are kids in his class who are still a little immature behavior-wise and who aren't the best readers/writers/etc. so I think it really depends on the child.

Re: Fall Moms: Did anyone have any hesitations about sending DC to kindergarten at 4? (long)

We did just tat. DS is in k now and turned 5 Dec 20th.
He is the youngest in his class but height wise he is one of the tallest, so that isn't an issue.

We agnoized over what to do. We decided to put him in catholic school for k. First we felt the smaller class size would be a good transition (he has 16 kids with a teacher and a pt aide) also we felt it would allow us a buffer if he didn't progress the way we thought and needed to do k again. We figured if the teacher felt he wasn't ready for 1st grade, we would move him to public school and have him repeat k there.

There are kids in his class who are more than a year older than him, and alot have just turned 6 in the last few months. But DS is doing well. I volunteer in his school so I see his teacher weekly and pop in to see how he is progressing. There are some areas, especially in the beginning of the year, where his age showed, mainly fine motor skills. But at his last conference his teacher was very hapy with his progress. Also he shows signs of immaturity, but so do lots of kids and boys, and at this point it isn't creating any issues so we will just see how he continues to mature. Accademically, he is excelling and he is so happy to be learning and growing.

For us I have no regrets. Next year DS will go to public school and enter 1st grade. I will say I do know of kids with Dec birthdays who went to school and did need that extra year so the repeated k.

God luck and feel free to FM me with any questions. I know how difficult the decision can be.