Late November Babies

My DS was born in late November and he will be 4 yrs old this year and possibly starting Kindergarten next Sep. I am torn on whether to send him to Kindergarten as the youngest in his grade or hold off another year.

Does anyone have any experience with this? I know I have another year, but with the Common Core program now in schools it's really keeping me up at night. Thank you for any comments.

Message edited 10/16/2013 4:32:30 PM.

Late November Babies

I think if you are concerned that it wouldn't harm to keep him back a year. It is an individual decision and parents decide it for different reasons. I have twins who are Nov babies and are in kindergarten this year. I felt they were ready and I didn't want to pay for child care anymore. If you feel it is the right thing to do and can afford it, then do it. Kindergarten is tough. They have to be reading a D now to be considered on level for he end of the year. The standards are ridiculous now. Our kids are still the same from 3 years ago but somehow they are expecting more from them.

Late November Babies

My DS born on 11/22. He wss too young for K but I placed him anyway..he ended up doing 2nd grade over. Maturity is a big factor. Trust the school & your gut. I would wait if not ready.

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I held my son out.... Was the best choice I ever made. If you're unsure, my advice as a teacher and parent, is hold him out

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Late November Babies

My son birthday is Oct. 18. He missed the public school cut off in NJ by 18 days. I dont agree with holding back just because of age requirements. So I enrolled him in catholic school.

There were some behavior issues in the beginning but now that he has adjusted to the routine, I do believe it was largely due to his daycare basically ruining him. I knew enrolling him there would be adjustment issues to to the structure but I was confident that he was mature enough to learn the content that was going to be taught. I felt preschool work wouldnt have been challenging for him.

After 3 weeks, he full adjusted to the structure and is not having any tantrums. The majority of his test grades are E's and S's, with a B and D in just writing his letters and numbers.

Like others have said, YOU know your child and what he can handle. If you believe he can keep up with the work next year then I would enroll him in K. Is he going to Pre-K this year? I think a structured program will also help since he will be on the younger end.

Late November Babies

Also wanted to add on the other end, my SS who also is being raised in NJ met the cut off years ago for kindergarten by a week. He wasnt mature at all and had to do Kindergarten again. My DH tells me his first kindergarten year was horrible for his parents but the second time around he breezed right through it and did awesome. He is now 16,I believe it all depends on the child.

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My ds has a late November birthday and I let him start on time. I did it because he was going to lose services if I kept him back. He ended up not having them anyway so I'm not sure I made the right choice. Looking back he really wasn't ready. He struggled through first grade and now in second he still needs small group reading and a tutor. He did benefit going to school though. He had a good teacher and that was important. I really don't know if I made the right choice. My ds also has adhd so that plays a part in it as well.

I say it really depends on your child and you as well. It's difficult as a parent to watch your child struggle. At the same time you want to push them to be the best they can be and not underestimate their abilities. I'm no help at all. Lol. Do what you feel is right.

Re: Late November Babies

Thank you all for the comments. I know at the end of the day it's mine and DH decision, but we will have to wait and see as the Pre-K year progresses.

My DS is in a Pre-K/ Daycare setting. He is struggling with writing some letters and numbers but he just started consistent weekly homework in Sep. So I think it's too soon to tell. My gut right now tells me to hold him back or putting him in a Catholic School next year for Kindergarten.

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You can't decide now, too soon. See how the year plays out, K enrollment in the spring is a LONG time away.

My DD is late Nov and after seeing how well she did in preschool, it was a no brainer that she should go to K.

Put it out of your mind and see how your DS does by next April or so. And your DS sounds on par with what you describe re his knowledge of letters, etc.

Message edited 10/17/2013 2:26:34 PM.

Re: Late November Babies

My son is mid-Nov and currently in pre-K with the intention of putting him in K next fall.
We feel he will be ready for K because he's bright, knows his numbers/alphabet and can read a little bit now but we are seeing the homework coming home with our kindergartener and I'm starting to worry. We're going to keep a close communication with the preschool teachers and even the kindergarten teacher at school to help us decide. Our gut feeling is to send him when he's 4/almost 5yrs.

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Re: Late November Babies

DS is born in mid-December. We sent him to full day K this year. He's the youngest in his class by far. He was more than academically ready though and his preschool teachers felt he was definitely ready for K. He was reading books, writing and doing simple math. If I held him back, I worried that he would be bored. At the same time, I worried that kids would be more mature than DS. I really struggled with the decision. So far, he loves it and seems to be doing well.

You have plenty of time to decide. It's amazing how much they'll grow this year. Talk to his preschool teachers in the spring and see what they think. Watch how he interacts with other kids. See what he can do in the next 6-9 months. Good luck!

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My DD is 11/12 and in 1st grade and I wish I did. Childcare cost was a factor. She is more than holding her own academically but she seems very immature to me compared to girls in her class.

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I really think it is much too soon for you to decide. My DD is also 4, but she is a May baby. She has special needs, but I just asked her teacher if she would be ready for K in Sept. Even for a self-contained K class, I don't think she'll be ready. The teacher said it is much too early to say. She said kids have an educational growth "spurt" around January, and again in the summer. She said the decision should really be made as close as possible to the start of school, to see where the kids are at that time.

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I would talk to two people 1. Current teacher and 2. Principal of the school where your DC will be starting K.

For the first - I would see what the teacher thinks - I think they would be the best judge of whether or child is K ready. For the second - I would find out in your district and for your DC's school year, what is the average age of the children starting K. The reason why I say this is that I have gathered from LIF that not all districts are the same. In my district, holding back (i.e. redshirting) is rampant. Sad to say that almost all boys with an October or later birthday and many girls are immediately held back. July-Sept is iffy but, even then, MANY hold back. If I had a late November son in my school district - knowing what I know now - unless my child was academically ahead and would be very bored being held back - I would seriously consider it.

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I'm a elementary teacher and I sent my DD (11/22) to kindergarten this year. I think you really need to look at the child, not at the birthday. I have had students who have June birthdays who are very immature and fall birthdays who are very mature. My dd has been in school since 3 and last year I met with her teacher and looked at her screening scores and decided there was no way she should be held back. If at the end of the year we decide she needs more time, I will send her to private kindergarten and then back to public school for 1st grade. I wouldn't base it on the implementation of the Common Core...good teachers are figuring out how to meet those standards in developmentally appropriate ways!

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DD is Nov 22 and I let her go. But I think it depends on the kid. She is quick to pick things up. My DS, if he were in the same boat, I would hold him back. But he's June.

Late November Babies

My son is a early December birthday, December 4th our cutoff is December 1st. I kept my son back..

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My DS is 12/20 our cut off is 12/1 but we knew he was ready so so sent him to private school last year. Our thought was if he didnt do well and needed to do K again we would then just move him to K in hte public school and he wouldnt even know the difference.

However he did great, is in first grade and is doing wonderful as well. He is very tall for his age, so looking at his class you would never know he is a year younger than some of the kids. He is doing wonderful academically, I do see some areas where his age makes his skills or personality a little less mature. But overall I know we did the right thing. He was bored. Even in K he felt like he wasnt learning many new things. And forget Preschool, he didnt even want to go because he said he knew everything they "taught" him and it was just plain boring.

A friend did the same with her DS, ironically he is also a 12/20 birthday and in the same SD as us. Her son is now in 10th grade and doing wonderful. So it really is an every kid is unique type of situation.

ETA: he is now in first grade in our public school.

Message edited 10/29/2013 5:23:08 PM.

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Re: Late November Babies

DS was born on 11/29- made the cutoff by one day. We went back and forth about it but decided to send him to kindergarten. I thought he was ready academically but was worried about size/socialization.

He is now in second grade and is doing great! He is on the smaller size and it weird that some children are a full year older than him- but so far I am happy with our decision.

Go with your gut. In my gut I felt that by holding him back would leave him bored and that could increase any behavior problems.

Re: Late November Babies

Thank you. This is great advise to talk to the principal of the school. I had not thought of that.

Message edited 10/31/2013 2:17:40 PM.

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I'm in NJ where almost all the cut offs are oft 1st. My dd is out 22 but my town is12/1. We decided to hold her. She did kindergarten twice. I spoke to her teacher and she felt she could benefit from another year. I still feel weird when she is a full year older Ghana few but it was the best choice for her,academically and socially. She isn't struggling as she did when she first did kindergarten and it completely boosted her confidence that she wasn't the baby of the class anymore. And she's actually not the oldest - thereare2 boys who are older than herin her class.

You know your child. I don't feel it could really hurt them if you help but talk to his/her current teacher. They are probably your best resource bc they see your child in a school atmosphere. Good luck - it's such a hard decision. I agonized over it for months.