How old is this kid? Permanent front teeth and big.

[Anonymous]

OP, I'd be right there with you if this boy was in my class. I'd wonder, and then I'd take to an anonymous message board for opinions.

And to the endless losers who can't imagine why anyone cares about anything that doesn't directly impact them the way a cancer diagnosis does ... STFU, you whiny hypocrites. You're on DCUM too, and you're not reading The Economist or brokering peace today between Kenya and Somalia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recently spent some time volunteering with my 5 year old son's kindergarten class, and there is one boy who looks to me to be not your average kindergartner. My kid is on the younger/smaller side anyway so I admit my perception may be off, but this boy looks like he belongs in a different grade - and, as it turns out, he's quite a handful from a behavioral perspective.

So - how old is a kid who has permanent front teeth (that have come all the way in) and is 6-8 inches taller than his average peers? I would have just assumed he's big for his age, but the permanent front teeth in a room full of kids with baby teeth struck me as odd.

I fully expect to get flamed for this question, but I'm really curious and asking here is not going to have any impact of the kid.

My kid, although not tall for his age, had already lost two teeth before beginning K, and has lost 8 teeth so far and he's just beginning 1st grade. He also got teeth when he was just turning 4 months old. Teeth are extremely variable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP back again. In the interest of full disclosure, the teeth made me initially wonder, but I'm more of a "huh, when do kids get perm teeth?" sort of way - but the kid's behavior, paired with what seem like clear physical signs that he's older than the average kindergarten bear, made me REALLY wonder - was this a child "given the gift of time" to allow him to become more mature? If so, was maturity really the issue, or does this child flat out have behavioral challenges?

To be clear, I don't think he's a bad kid - he's very welcoming and nice to my kid in particular, and my kid enjoys playing with him. But the boy clearly struggles a lot with paying attention and staying on task, or reigning in his energy in general. It made me wonder if the notion that young boys are inherently more immature - but will be more "ready" a year later - really just masked something that could have gotten attention earlier.

I am now preparing myself to REALLY get flamed.

That's between the boy's parents and the school. It's none of your business.

Ask your kid's dentist about when kids get permanent teeth or try your friend google.

[Anonymous]

I was an AP for a big kid and people like the OP made our lives HELL!

At the playground people were always questioning why he was not in school in a very nasty way, at Gymboree parents complained they were not comfortable with an older child in the group with their fragile little snow flakes, at school people were always asking stupid questions (including about his teeth) at sports practice he was big enough to play with the big kids but not mature yet so it was very frustrating.

OP, isn't your child worry enough in your life? Don't waste your time worrying about someone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kindergartener who is 28 lbs and 37 inches tall. When we registered people assumed I had brought my toddler with me. I would hate like hell if OP were posting about her like this. ("Not your average kindergartner" OMIGOD!!!)

Really, if you're going to get all riled up about anonymous postings that in no way identify a specific kid, you're going to have a tough road. You have a tiny child. Expect people to wonder about something (or someone) that falls outside the range of normal. The alternative is parents whispering to one another about your child - whereas here, no one knows this is about Bobby Jones in Miss Smith's class.

FYI, my DD is tiny for her age and no one believes how old she is either. Look on the bright side: everyone will assume your child is advanced.

Thank you for letting me know I have a tiny child. I would never have clued in without your guidance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is tall for his age (95th percentile) and lost his two front teeth in the fall of his kindergarten year.

But how old was your kid the fall of his K year?

He turned 6 in October of his K year. We are in Fairfax County, so the K cutoff is 9/30.

[Anonymous]

OP, your second post really isn't helping your cause. You seem a little overly interested in this other child - why is that, since you say he has been nice to your child. Maybe he was redshirted, maybe he wasn't (since as everyone here has already said, lots of K students lose their baby teeth). Maybe redshirting didn't help and he's still immature; maybe he has other challenges/SN; or maybe you just caught him on a bad day. Maybe you don't pick up on all the ways your own child might not be perfect. No one here can say, and neither can you.

I'm the PP with the big (and young) second grader; I'm sure there are parents like you who assume wrongly that he was redshirted and are snarky when he behaves like a goofball (which is sadly too often.) Here's a thought: Let kids be kids, let teachers decide how to manage their classrooms, and try to rememer that you aren't in charge of everyone else's kid.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I knew my post would touch a nerve with some people, but a few responses are a bit over the top.

I don't assume the child has been redshirted - but I do wonder. I don't think it is my business, or I would have asked his parents directly (but I still wonder how old he is). I do not think I'm in charge of anyone else's child - not sure why a PP would think that, but anyway.

I challenge the idea that none of the PPs registering offense have EVER wondered about another child in their kid's classroom. Really? You haven't? You've never commented to your spouse about your thoughts about another person's child? Your "worry about your own child" philosophy extends only to the physical person of your own child and you never give thought to his/her surroundings, interactions or influences?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I knew my post would touch a nerve with some people, but a few responses are a bit over the top.

I don't assume the child has been redshirted - but I do wonder. I don't think it is my business, or I would have asked his parents directly (but I still wonder how old he is). I do not think I'm in charge of anyone else's child - not sure why a PP would think that, but anyway.

I challenge the idea that none of the PPs registering offense have EVER wondered about another child in their kid's classroom. Really? You haven't? You've never commented to your spouse about your thoughts about another person's child? Your "worry about your own child" philosophy extends only to the physical person of your own child and you never give thought to his/her surroundings, interactions or influences?

Is your comment really that innocent, OP? C'mon.

[Anonymous]

How the hell do you know his teeth are permanent??

I have a 95% height/weight 6-year old that hasn't lost a single baby tooth yet. He is dying to lose a tooth! His baby teeth are perfectly straight and look like permanent, but they are not.

I have a 16% 3.5 year old that everyone thinks is a 2-year old too. He is way shorter than his peers.

Stop being so judgemental.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How the hell do you know his teeth are permanent??

I have a 95% height/weight 6-year old that hasn't lost a single baby tooth yet. He is dying to lose a tooth! His baby teeth are perfectly straight and look like permanent, but they are not.

I have a 16% 3.5 year old that everyone thinks is a 2-year old too. He is way shorter than his peers.

Stop being so judgemental.

F*ck you, OP!! The more I think about the more pissed off you make me because you seem the type to be spreading rumors without knowing the facts. It is extremely detrimental to an innocent child. What a b*tch!

Having two kids on opposite ends of the height/weight spectrum...that teethed late and will, as a result, lose their baby teeth on the late side...you will judge whether they have a 'right' to be in their current grade. My oldest is excellent in soccer too...oh must be because he's really 8. No--he's a tall kid. But- you can't be talking about my son because like his growth stats his behavior and intelligence are also off the charts.

You should be ashamed of yourself. ARe you also wondering why that kid has two mommies or how come his skin isn't the same color as his mom's?

[Anonymous]

OP: I wonder what insight you hope to gain from this.

I have a friend whose son could be the child you are describing (except that he's now much older). He has always been really, really big for his age, his teeth came in early, he has some special needs, etc.

and???

[Anonymous]

OP, obviously we all wonder about lots of things. Very few of us come to DCUMs to speculate on the age, educational decisions, behavioral challenges etc. of a child who has committed no other offense than to have been placed in the same classroom as our own child and happen to have lost some teeth. Get over yourself, please - have you noticed that none of the responses you've received are terribly sympathetic?

[Anonymous]

Congrats, OP! Your child is perfectly average. What a wonderful accomplishment!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Congrats, OP! Your child is perfectly average. What a wonderful accomplishment!

OP here. Funny, I don't remember writing anything to that effect. As it turns out, my child is not perfectly average - he's small and likely always will be, he completely lacks a reasonable degree of hand-eye coordination, and he persistently asks to many questions in just about any setting unless specifically informed not to do so. He is below average in motor skills, probably above average in language skills, and likely middle of the pack on social skills.

And maybe I'm less stressed than some PPs about the fact that some other parent may notice, or even comment on (gasp!), these attributes. He is who he is, and I'm fine with that; but I don't assume that there is sme sort of impermeable wall around him that will prevent others from observing any of this. Would I be bothered if a parent posted about an unathletic kid who asked too many questions, maybe wondering whether the kid was old enough to be on the same team, or whether he should have been held back? Maybe, but I really don't think so.

Oh, and for the dramatic poster suggesting I'm both homophobic and racist - that's a bit out of left field, no? And sorry to blow your theory, but you're wrong on both counts.