Send late August birthday boy to school?

[Anonymous]

DS is turning 5 at the end of summer. He is average height, socially ready, compliant boy, but I think he may be lagging academically (in comparison to his older brothers, who started school at 5.5). He has a hard time remembering letters and numbers, while his brothers were reading before they were 5. I am wondering if I should hold him back for another year. He is the baby of the family, and is still babied in many ways. Any great success stories with sending late summer boys to K?

[Anonymous]

Is he in preschool now? If so, I'd ask his teachers. Most kinds enter K knowing letters and numbers but not reading. I would def. ask someone who knows kids their suggestions. If he does have a delay of any sort, he may be better off in K so he has access to learning experts - or maybe not if he's in preschool where they're assessing abilities. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is turning 5 at the end of summer. He is average height, socially ready, compliant boy, but I think he may be lagging academically (in comparison to his older brothers, who started school at 5.5). He has a hard time remembering letters and numbers, while his brothers were reading before they were 5. I am wondering if I should hold him back for another year. He is the baby of the family, and is still babied in many ways. Any great success stories with sending late summer boys to K?

As a former K and First teacher, if he is socially ready, I would send him. As for reading, kids blossom at different times. Don't compare him to his older brothers. In the past, it was very common for five year olds to struggle with remembering letters and numbers. And, your son is still four.

Don't drill letters and numbers. Just read and play games with him. Don't make him hate learning.

In my opinion, the only reason I would keep him back is for social issues. If he gets along socially, there should be no problem.

[Anonymous]

Mom of 2 July boys. My $.02 is to hold them back if you are able.

[Anonymous]

OP, what's your alternative? Another year of private preschool? Can you afford it?

[Anonymous]

My oldest son has an August birthday and I sent him on time. There are a handful of kids (mostly boys) who are more than a year older than him. He is somewhat of an introvert, though sweet and friendly, and small in size and not very athletically coordinated. Now he's in FCPS AAP, and now that he is older, I think the maturity levels are leveling out and I no longer really have concerns about him being young-for-the-grade. He is who he is, and his birthday happened to fall close to the cut off and that's just the way it is.

In comparison, my middle guy just started K at 5.5, and I do see that he's objectively "doing better" in Kindergarten than DS1 - which is not to say DS1 did poorly - he did fine/well in K but he wasn't in the highest reading group, etc. and I would say DS1 started reading fluently in 1st, whereas DS2 is reading fluently in K (though I know from DS1 that it's ok not to read fluently in K!).

I suppose I feel "lucky" that my older one is the young for the grade one, because if it was reversed, I could see that I might have thought DS1 wasn't ready for K if I was comparing him to DS2 in K now, if that makes sense.

I like play before K, so didn't teach either to read before K - though DS2 was reading some VCV on his own before K.

[Anonymous]

We are keeping by our late August girl in private preschool. As some of the PPs said, I would not hold home back for academics at this age, but for social issues yes. My DD knows all her letters and numbers, but socially I think she will benefit being the oldest instead of the youngest. That’s how you should look at it. Do you want him to be the youngest or he oldest? I will my DD could be in the middle, but since no matter what I do she will never be able to be in the middle, I think she will be better off being the oldest.
Also, all of her teachers seem to think this is the best decision for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are keeping by our late August girl in private preschool. As some of the PPs said, I would not hold home back for academics at this age, but for social issues yes. My DD knows all her letters and numbers, but socially I think she will benefit being the oldest instead of the youngest. That’s how you should look at it. Do you want him to be the youngest or he oldest? I will my DD could be in the middle, but since no matter what I do she will never be able to be in the middle, I think she will be better off being the oldest.
Also, all of her teachers seem to think this is the best decision for us.

So many typos! Sorry... using my phone. I hope you can still understand my point!

[Anonymous]

I’m letting my August boy start on time.

[Anonymous]

Send him on time. We held back based on all the comments and suggestions and it was a huge mistake. We had to have him skip a grade to make up for it. In the end it was no big deal but send them on time. It makes no sense in less there is a good reason, really good reason to hold them back. They will be a year older than the other kids and stand out more being the oldest than the youngest.

[Anonymous]

I think it all depends on the child. I am keeping my late August birthday DD1 in Preschool, but I would send my DD2 (late October birthday) early if possible. DD1 is more sensitive and needs friends, gets sad/upset easily in social situations and efiniteky does not stand up for herself. DD2 is tough (maybe because has an older sisster?), happy to play alone if needed and can stand up for herself.
So in my opinion, it depends on the child. I would not hold him back because at 4 he does not know his letters

[Anonymous]

Totally depends on the child. Trust your gut and talk to the preschool teachers.

My September boy started "on time". There are a few kids in his class more than a year older than him. But, he was reading in pre-K, knew all his numbers and basic math, and was socially fine. He's now in AAP and doing great, has a good group of friends.

My October boy is one of the oldest in his class. He didn't start reading until 1st grade, and now fits right in with his class. He's also doing great, but I'm glad he had a little more time before starting K. If he had been born 2 weeks early instead of 1 week late ... I don't know how it would have turned out, but I may very well have decided to hold off a year.

[Anonymous]

I sent my late August and late July boys to school on time. DS1 is doing really well academically and socially and most of his friends are almost a year older.
After our great experience with DS1 we also sent DS2 on time and it was a big mistake. He was socially fine, and on grade level or above academically but it was impossible for him to sit still and to get any work done. The teacher saw him as a "problem" and treated him as such. The 180 degree turnaround for a child who was so happy in pre-K was horrible. His self-esteem sunk and he began to hate school and still does.

[Anonymous]

I have two children in college now and I have only heard parents lament not holding back their child. I have not heard any regret holding their child back. I am sure there are some out there. It is one anecdotal data point.

[Anonymous]

OP--don't agonize over this. I am a proponent of redshirting for kids who are socially immature. (I posted earlier, I'm the former K teacher.) But, all kids do not need to be redshirted. Talk to his teacher in late April or May and see what the teacher says. If he fits in socially, I'd send him.