How do you develop a self-motivated child? A kindergartener who can work independently?

[Anonymous]

Is this really an issue of maturity, though? My son is the youngest in his K class, and somewhat immature relative to the other students - more likely to cry etc. But he generally attempts to work on the assignments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Repeating a grade does not help learning problems--however, time usually takes care of a lack of maturity.

And OP will not know whether the problem is maturity or something else unless she gets her kid evaluated.

[Anonymous]

Is this really an issue of maturity, though? My son is the youngest in his K class, and somewhat immature relative to the other students - more likely to cry etc. But he generally attempts to work on the assignments

It can be an issue of maturity. Your son may be the youngest--that does not necessarily mean he is the most immature-although it tends to run that way.

[Anonymous]

Is this really an issue of maturity, though? My son is the youngest in his K class, and somewhat immature relative to the other students - more likely to cry etc. But he generally attempts to work on the assignments


It can be an issue of maturity. Your son may be the youngest--that does not necessarily mean he is the most immature-although it tends to run that way.

Hmm. I don't think he is the most immature, but on the immature side. But I guess thinking about it more, there are all different types of maturity - emotional, social, academic, and a kid could be doing fine in one but not the others.

[Anonymous]

Yes, and a smart kid may be academically ready--but not socially or emotionally. That's why we place kids by ages for the most part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this really an issue of maturity, though? My son is the youngest in his K class, and somewhat immature relative to the other students - more likely to cry etc. But he generally attempts to work on the assignments.

Agree. Refusing to participate and not doing work when the child is capable of doing it is not a maturity issue. Op mentioned that she does not want her child "labeled", well, it sounds like he has already been labeled as having behavioral issues.

[Anonymous]

Agree. Refusing to participate and not doing work when the child is capable of doing it is not a maturity issue. Op mentioned that she does not want her child "labeled", well, it sounds like he has already been labeled as having behavioral issues.

Strongly disagree. Of course, I do not know this child, but he sounds like a classic example of needing another year. signed: Teacher of Kindergarten and First grade (taught hundreds of kids over the years)

[Anonymous]

Agree. Refusing to participate and not doing work when the child is capable of doing it is not a maturity issue. Op mentioned that she does not want her child "labeled", well, it sounds like he has already been labeled as having behavioral issues.

He's just turned five in September and is expected to produce stacks of worksheets. That's not the right place for a child like this. It's really not the right place for any five year old all day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Agree. Refusing to participate and not doing work when the child is capable of doing it is not a maturity issue. Op mentioned that she does not want her child "labeled", well, it sounds like he has already been labeled as having behavioral issues.

He's just turned five in September and is expected to produce stacks of worksheets. That's not the right place for a child like this. It's really not the right place for any five year old all day.

This is why preschools need to do more with kids than supervised play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

He is the youngest in his class, but so is my daughter and she is an absolute rock star. She demonstrates a maturity that her brother does not.


OP, When is his birthday?

First week of September. Both of them, almost exactly two years apart to the day.

Bingo! Classic example of a child who is smart but not developmentally "ready"........signed K teacher

Or, maybe we need more skilled teachers who have teaching skills. My five year old is at a small private. He initially did not do his work but he has delays. Now, he does it the majority of the time and his true academics are equal and in some cases much higher. If my sons teachers can do it with delays, I question the teaching skills and a dual language program. Holding back is not the anwser. Working with kids and providing the supports is. The child could have language or other issues that someone is not recognizing too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Agree. Refusing to participate and not doing work when the child is capable of doing it is not a maturity issue. Op mentioned that she does not want her child "labeled", well, it sounds like he has already been labeled as having behavioral issues.

He's just turned five in September and is expected to produce stacks of worksheets. That's not the right place for a child like this. It's really not the right place for any five year old all day

This is why preschools need to do more with kids than supervised play.

Or why K should go back to being K instead of being the old 1st.

[Anonymous]

Or why K should go back to being K instead of being the old 1st.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have to try different things to figure out what works. My smart daughter never put in effort from K-5. Then she hit sixth grade and all of a sudden was a perfectionist hitting high honor roll and crying if she got an A-. Something in her brain just shifted.

OMG you just gave me hope. Fingers crossed for next year!

[Anonymous]

He's just turned five in September and is expected to produce stacks of worksheets.

I don't feel as though we know enough about what the "in class work" that OP referenced consists of to say that. In m son's K class, they have assignments where they are asked to write words, or if possible, sentences about a topic, sounding out the words as best they can, spelling doesn't matter, and present it to the class. It is on pre-xeroxed sheets, but really, it seems like my son has fun with it and has written some pretty interesting things. it is fun to have him read them back to me (I can only make out what he meant about 30 percent of the time). Afterwards, I can tell why he thought some of the words were spelled that way, though I never would have thought so initially.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Agree. Refusing to participate and not doing work when the child is capable of doing it is not a maturity issue. Op mentioned that she does not want her child "labeled", well, it sounds like he has already been labeled as having behavioral issues.

He's just turned five in September and is expected to produce stacks of worksheets. That's not the right place for a child like this. It's really not the right place for any five year old all day

This is why preschools need to do more with kids than supervised play.

Or why K should go back to being K instead of being the old 1st.

K is about learning to read, write and do basic math. Kids should be going in with the basics of knowing numbers, letters, etc. I do not send my kid to play. He can play at home. School is about learning.