Kindergarten

hollyleigh · ‎07-03-2013

School wants to hold my little boy back in kindergarten. Any thoughts are experiences with this.

evelyner · ‎03-09-2010

I don't know what month his birthday is? But that's something to consider if he is on the younger side. He will probably mature and do much better. Good luck.

qualitygal · ‎10-04-2010

I was a Teacher Aide for 2 yrs., many years ago, which makes me NO specialist, only my observation when Teachers at that time talked of holding little ones back. It never had to do with brain power, it was more the social part, and some may be just "young" and this just gives them more time to adjust to school and others. It's usually for the better for the child and never anything personal. That's what I recall. (It was for Kindergarten children.)

gmkb · ‎07-29-2012

It is better to give your child a second year in kindergarten to allow more time to mature than spend the next 12 years struggling to catch up. My daughter kept both of her children in kindergarten an additional year and those children did well all thru school.

Her children are now at a major university earning top grades.

brbfromTX · ‎01-19-2015

I was a teacher for 32 years(15 yrs.as a first grade teacher). Although it can be a very hard decision-sometimes it may be best to give your child opportunity to grow & mature. I've seen too many children advance when "not quite ready" and they struggled (emotionally & academically). Children are like flowers-not all of them bloom at the same rate, but eventually they become a beautiful blossom!

Nataliesgramma · ‎03-28-2015

@evelyner wrote:
I don't know what month his birthday is? But that's something to consider if he is on the younger side. He will probably mature and do much better. Good luck.

If this is true, I agree.....

My hairdressers little girl was shy and they held her back. She was a whole head taller than the other kids this year and now hates school.

If it's just lack of social skills, my granddaughter's preschool has what they calll "Summer Camp" for kids to learn more social skills....

Best of luck to you with your painful decision...

jackthebear · ‎03-11-2010

@hollyleigh wrote:
School wants to hold my little boy back in kindergarten. Any thoughts are experiences with this.

Ask them why to begin with.

As a parent you must have some feelings about your child (we always do) If his birthday falls toward the cutoff it might be a good idea.

My son's BD is the first week of October, the cutoff here is end of September. In his case there was NO way he would have been ready of KDG at all.

FWIW much better to repeat at the level than 1st grade or to struggle in 1st grade next year.

If you have'nt had a a meeting with the teachers or a child study team, then you need to do so before the end of the year. Been there, done that. HTH

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

Been there, done this twice, with both my girls, and it was absolutely the right thing to do. One was held back in first grade, and one in kindergarten. Both excelled in the year they repeated, and moved forward much stronger. I have never once regretted the decisions to hold my girls back, and they had no problems with it. My girls graduated with honors, are now in their mid 30's; one is a Special Education teacher with a BS and two MA's, and the other drives a tractor trailer, making trips to the west coast each week, hauling food back to the east coast.

I wouldn't overthink this, or have concerns about age, etc., as none of that really matters. Repeating the year will make your son stronger academically and socially, and that is really what matters.

lafelinevrais · ‎08-05-2010

If the school is recommending that a child repeat kindergarten, then by all means, do so. When a child is having difficulty early, it is a "gift of time" that you can give him by letting him repeat the year. During that extra year he will not only be able to pick up on skills that he may have missed but will have another year of maturity under his belt to be better able to cope with learning. I speak from experience as a retired elementary and special education teacher. The earlier a needy child is held back the better.

Pandalady · ‎05-14-2011

@brbfromTX wrote:
I was a teacher for 32 years(15 yrs.as a first grade teacher). Although it can be a very hard decision-sometimes it may be best to give your child opportunity to grow & mature. I've seen too many children advance when "not quite ready" and they struggled (emotionally & academically). Children are like flowers-not all of them bloom at the same rate, but eventually they become a beautiful blossom!

@brbfromTX this is such a beautiful and truthful response. As a teacher of 23 years, I couldn't agree more!

I'm not short...I'm fun size!