Kindergarten-send or hold???

[SgtMom]

Thank you to everyone who gave your input on kindergarten vs transitional. It's an extremely difficult decision and I appreciated reading all the different perspectives. I met with my son's teachers and have made my decision. After months of going back and forth on all the reasons to hold or send, I'm very confident that we've made the decision that is right for our son and I feel good about that decision.

Thanks again for all the well thought out opinions on this very difficult issue.

I'm glad you've made a decision and feel good about it. Are you keeping both options open? Thats what my friend with the dd is doing, just in case there is a great leap in development over the summer.

[momto3angels]

He is part way registered for Kindergarten so if August rolls around and I think he's ready, it won't be difficult to get him in. We saw his ped today for a follow up visit about something else and we started talking about T-K or Kindergarten and I feel really good about that. The last time I asked him, he was focused on the "May" issue but this time he focused on my son-his lack of social confidence as well as the changes that are happening in our district because of massive budget cuts and he said, "don't look back-you are giving him the gift of time and he's a child who will benefit significantly from that gift"

Not that I need the Ped's validation because I do believe it's the right thing to do, but it was nice to hear that I'm a glad I have his support.

[SgtMom]

Thats nice to hear. The program at our school for kids who qualify for K but are not ready is called PreK but they definitely highlight it as giving the kids the "gift of time." And they are June - Dec so you are right there on the bubble. Since we are March bday, we will be in the Jr K, which has the same curriculum, the kids are just slightly younger. I attended a talk by a set of OTs that have set up a private program for kids that are not in the system but still need extra help. They said that most kids are dev ready to write at the last half of the school year but are expected to come in knowing how to write and recognize all the letters. I talked to one of them on the break and said, I simply cannot imagine sending a 4 3/4yo kid to K knowing that they are expected to know so much BEFORE they enter, and that the teacher might be on his/her own (the assistants are often laid off during budget cuts) with 35 kids in their class. That is just crazy! Then your kid gets labeled as being delayed in writing or reading when its really the requirements that are the problem, not the kid. I think a kid's mom is almost always the best judge and I am glad you are happy with your decision, but also keeping your options open.

[Adrienne]

If he is doing fine academically then he might be bored in kindy if you wait a year.

[m(or)]

Due to the economy, many more schools are becoming title one eligible. If this happens to your school, kindergarten class sizes are limited to 15 students. You may want to check on this as it may impact your decision.

[SgtMom]

So my friend with the dd born in Aug that she is thinking of holding back toured her home school. She was told that if the concern is academic - doesnt know his/her letters or shapes - that most kids catch up and not a good reason to hold back. Further the principal said if the reason is social/emotional then the parents should consider holding the child back. Just another opinion to ponder...

[turtleMax]

I know this thread is a bit old but I just noticed it. My ds has and august b-day and we struggled a bit with out decision.

What we decided to do was send him to a private school Kindergarten, then have him repeat kindy at the public school. I have not for one minute regretted my decision and it was validated several times by the teachers. He simply was not ready, but the small class size was perfect for him to get ready. They knew he would repeat and just worked with him the best they could. He just finished 1st grade after 2 years of kindy and has just started to really catch on in reading.

Glad you have made the decision and I am sure it will work best for you

[SgtMom]

A law has been proposed in Calif that would, over 3 yrs, move the deadline back from Dec 1 to Sept 1. There is more info in this link: California Kindergarten Association

[DramaMama]

A law has been proposed in Calif that would, over 3 yrs, move the deadline back from Dec 1 to Sept 1. There is more info in this link: California Kindergarten Association

Interesting... I am in SoCal (ventura County) and my ds was born on November 8, 2009. Currently with the Dec. 2nd cut off date he would be 4 when he could enter Kindy. Would this law be statewide and mean that he would have to wait the year? I would be ok with that because I knew that sending him or holding him would be a big decision. If we had stayed in PA (where I was when I got pg with him), the cutoff would have been Sept 15th and he would have had to wait the year . I was prepared for that and even thinking that it was a good thing that my boys wouldn't be in college at the same time. (I figured not having to pay for 2 kids in college at the same time was a good thing!)

[DMS721]

DramaMama - yes the law is state wide. As a kindergarten teacher in California, I am very glad this law passed. While some 4 year olds are ready for kindergarten, most are not especially given how intense the kindergarten program is now. What I'm teaching in kidnergarten now, is what I used to teach in first grade.

Dawn