Two years of preschool or two years of pre-k

[Anonymous]

My son attends a preschool that is ages 2-5. My son has a late September birthday and his preschool teachers last year suggested having him do another year with the twos but I thought he would be fine and we sent him on to the 3 year old class. His teachers this year are amazing and are so good with him but they also agree that he would have benefited from another year in the 2s. My son is emotionally immature for his age, has severe tantrums, has trouble communicating due to his poor speech(we have started speech therapy) and others ability to understand him. I absolutely agree now and can see the drastic difference between my son and the other kids on his classroom.

His teacher suggested waiting till further in the year and see how he does with the speech before we decide to send him on to pre-k next year. Which do you think would be most beneficial, another year with the 3s or two years of pre-k?

[Anonymous]

Two years of K. Do a junior K program or a K program (many daycares have them) and then go to public K on time. We are in the same boat as you and planning to use a program specifically tailored to kids who miss the cut-off that is located in his ES zone so he will be making social connections at the same time. However all that advice is for my typical kid.

My kid with SN took a K waiver year and did an extra year at a private SN preschool. Are you already getting county intervention? Most offer preschool if his needs are substantial enough. It's probably too early to make this decision now in terms of typical preschool. Instead you should be focusing on interventions now.

[Anonymous]

Unless there are huge problems, I would keep him with his age group. In the 3s class at 3, in the 4s class at 4. At 5, you can decide about a junior or transitional K or private K or public K.

[Anonymous]

I would do a second year with the 3s. There has been researching showing that boys in particular have more positive outcomes when it comes to redshirting.

[Anonymous]

What's the prek program like? How academic vs. play? Take the advice of his teachers and do whatever they suggest.

My daughter barely missed the cut off for kindergarten and spent two years in her last year at prek. Academically she was fine, but there was a much heavier focus on reading and writing in the prek room. Find out the curriculum and if he's not as mature as others his age it may be better to stay for another year where he is. It seems like this would make more sense combined with speech and behavior intervention. Maybe he needs more time before moving on.

[Anonymous]

Definitely do threes again. Why struggle to keep up with Pre k kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two years of K. Do a junior K program or a K program (many daycares have them) and then go to public K on time. We are in the same boat as you and planning to use a program specifically tailored to kids who miss the cut-off that is located in his ES zone so he will be making social connections at the same time. However all that advice is for my typical kid.

My kid with SN took a K waiver year and did an extra year at a private SN preschool. Are you already getting county intervention? Most offer preschool if his needs are substantial enough. It's probably too early to make this decision now in terms of typical preschool. Instead you should be focusing on interventions now.

Agree with this. You should also see a developmental pediatrician if you haven't already.

[Anonymous]

I have a kind of similar son, minus speech issues. We didn't technically hold him back for his 4 year old PK year, but we did find a very nurturing, very small environment where they could give him a lot of attention. If keeping him in the 3s class next year will do that, go for it.

That said, I agree with others that you shouldn't just let this slide all year. Get him into OT for emotional regulation in addition to speech. Also consider whether the present classroom is really working for him. Is the ratio good? Our experience is that 3 was a really tough year because the staffing ratio goes up and the teachers really expect much more self regulation. We switched to a very low key environment and it was a good choice.

[Anonymous]

What county are you in?
Im asking because in Fairfax your kid would be a young K with a Sept birthday because the cut off is end of Sept. If you are in Moco he won't start until the following year because the cut off is Sept 1st.