Send the kids when their birthday says they should go so that the age range is 12 months instead of 16.

Anonymous wrote:Kids are different, families are different. What works for one family may not work for another. If you know your child and make the decision that you feel is right for your child, it will all work out for the best. The same situation that is positive and maturing for one child may be absolutely disastrous for another.

I'm thankful that our school system does not subscribe to a "one size fits all" way of doing things and that they are willing to work with families to do what is best for the children.

Exactly!

But emotionally, maturity - he is young compared to his peers

As a former first grade teacher of many years, that is the key. Please keep him back a year.

Kids are different, families are different. What works for one family may not work for another. If you know your child and make the decision that you feel is right for your child, it will all work out for the best. The same situation that is positive and maturing for one child may be absolutely disastrous for another.

I'm thankful that our school system does not subscribe to a "one size fits all" way of doing things and that they are willing to work with families to do what is best for the children.

Except in extreme cases, I think most kids would be just fine if they start a little early or if they start a little late. Kids are resilient and adaptable - starting one year or the next isn't going to have a profound impact on their outcome. No need to worry so much about it. Especially if it isn't even your own kid!

My September birthday 4 yr old boy is in PK at a private school. We also have a 1st grade boy (February birthday). We are on the fence. There's only one child younger in PK. He is the smallest boy. He is "smart", he follows directions, can write his name, knows most of his letters. But emotionally, maturity - he is young compared to his peers. His teacher and the principal and the admissions office are all aware that he may go to kindergarten, or he may repeat PK. It's not about sports. It's about being confident and not feeling like things are always a struggle. Everyone I've talked to leans toward repeating PK for these reasons.
As a private school, a lot is expected in kindergarten.

Because our kids started in a different educational system, they are "young" for the U.S. school system. It's weird because their friends are learning how to drive, etc. but they thrive academically. Of course, in terms of sports, it's a different story. I would hazard, given the American obsession with sports, that is a driving factor for holding children back. If you are pinning your child's college hopes on an athletic scholarship, it's a very rational choice to hold them back. But, given how many are being held back, one has to wonder if the advantage is now being lost.

It also boosts his self-esteem to be in a higher grade than his friends who are around the same age

Really? It usually works in reverse.

^ I agree. I'm a mother of a 19yr old college sophomore son, late summer birthday who I didn't hold back. I didn't regret it. I think the ordinary decision should be to send on time. If parents feel strongly, then fine, do something unique.

Anonymous wrote:I just wanted to chime in on this old thread because I was struggling with whether to hold back my mid-August birthday child. When I went to the parent-teacher conference in November I was told by the teacher who has taught for over 20 years that I absolutely made the right choice by holding him back. She said that academically he might have been fine had I sent him on time, but maturity wise he fits right in with the KG class. I have volunteered in his class a few times and I think he fits right in academically and socially with the KG class. Anyway, I just wanted to mention this in case it helps another parent.

I don't know, I put my late August boy in K on time, and I find that he grew more mature as a result. He's in a playgroup with kids who border the K and 1st grade age wise, and now that most those kids are in K (including 4 held back), the rest in 1st (4 went on-time), the difference between them is clear. My child had a whole extra year to practice sitting still and paying attention, and as a result, he is good at it. Many of the kids he went to school with in K could ride a 2 wheeler bike without training wheels, so he was motivated to do it. Many kids in K knew how to tie their shoes, so he was motivated to learn it (took many frustrated tears, but he mastered it and was so proud). It also boosts his self-esteem to be in a higher grade than his friends who are around the same age. Really, I think he would be fine if we held him back, too, but these are the positives we've noticed so far having put him on time.

I just wanted to chime in on this old thread because I was struggling with whether to hold back my mid-August birthday child. When I went to the parent-teacher conference in November I was told by the teacher who has taught for over 20 years that I absolutely made the right choice by holding him back. She said that academically he might have been fine had I sent him on time, but maturity wise he fits right in with the KG class. I have volunteered in his class a few times and I think he fits right in academically and socially with the KG class. Anyway, I just wanted to mention this in case it helps another parent.

Anonymous wrote:The problem with allowing kids to go early is that there are some parents who will send kids who are not yet ready but the parents want free child care. The level of the curriculum today is such that most 4 year olds will not be ready.

Ok....I am not saying let every four year old in, BUT just like there are some five year olds whom parents decide are not ready because they have not developed to that point, there are also someone four year olds who ARE ready, but FCPS doesn't give them a chance to go...

Listen,I a m not advocating for four year olds to head to kindergarten even though both of my children could have handled it hands down, but my point is that it is an unfair rule to say those on one end of the bell curve can go next year but those on the other end cannot go this year. And if it keeps going in this direction, the "haves" won't send their kids until they are 6 and change and those who depend on the schools for child care will send very young five year olds. The range of ages will continue to widen because mom doesn't want Johnny to be the youngest boy in the class. heavens!

The low level of physical activity and the lack of free play time are really what make it not a developmentally-appropriate environment for preschoolers (4 yos) IMO.

Anonymous wrote:The problem with allowing kids to go early is that there are some parents who will send kids who are not yet ready but the parents want free child care. The level of the curriculum today is such that most 4 year olds will not be ready.

I don't know where you are sending your kids that it is so challenging. In my kids FCPS (we have about 11% FARMS), the kindergarten curriculum starts at ground ZERO. They expect very little and they move them slowly forward from there. While many kids go to preschool, the kinder. curriculum in my opinion (experience with 2 kids going through it), is that they don't expect that kids have had preschool. It's very gentle, although they eventually are expected to write a sentence and to begin reading common/simple words by the end of kindergarten.

And yes, I do think Kinder is appropriate for kids who are almost 5 or who are already 5. My son was 5 and 1 mo. when he started. It was not overwhelming or overly challenging.

The problem with allowing kids to go early is that there are some parents who will send kids who are not yet ready but the parents want free child care. The level of the curriculum today is such that most 4 year olds will not be ready.