Among Friends

[Chrystaltree2]

What's the problem?  If the school feels he isn't ready for first grade and that he needs another year in Kindergarten.....let him have that year.  Some kids aren't socially ready for first grade, especially the kids who entered kindergarten on the young side of 5.  

[meem120]

Better to hold him back now then have him struggle in 4th 5th 6 th grade.  Also, hes young and there would be no social stigma attatched to him now. The little ones arent as much aware, then they would be in later grades.

[missy1]

OP is your child in 1/2 day kindergarten or full day?

 Here it's full day, and makes a lot of difference.

[ECBG]

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@Pandalady wrote:

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@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!  

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

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@Pandalady, Love your response.  I taught juniors and seniors thirty-six years.  Bless them, students can struggle a long time.

[SaRina]

OP, although you didn't state the reason why, I would assume it's due to your son's age/maturity.

It is far, far easier and much less traumatic for a child to be held back in kindergarten as opposed to in a grade level.

[Pandalady]

@ECBG Nice to find so many caring teachers on these boards!  Thank you for your reply!

[Hooty]

I think this happens a lot when a child does not socialize with other children before Kindergarten, as in pre-school.  I was not a teacher, but a substitute teacher for many years, and I subbed mostly K and 1st grade, so many children are ready, but many lack the social skills, and that may be a reason they want to hold your son back, I would do what the school suggests!

[Pandalady]

@Hooty  Wonderful advice!  Thank you for your service in the educational field!

[Mominohio]

As a very involved parent in education but not a teacher myself, I was very hands on and involved with my son's education. Here is what I have to offer, for what it is worth.

First, I chose to have my son start Pre K the year he was old enough to start Kindergarten. I firmly believe that most boys benefit from being 'older' in their class than being younger. That extra year of maturity can't be ignored.

Next, I'd never make any decision about this without a reason as to why they wanted him held back. It could be social/maturity issues, or academic issues, or both. 

You will have the entire summer to start to address these issues and while not a bad thing to be held back at this age, I think it important you know why and begin immediately to address the reasons. There is much you can do with social situations, and academic help, to get him started off better in his second year of kindergarten. I wouldn't just leave it to the school, and not get highly involved in the process right away.

[ROMARY]

Better to hold back a year at a young age than to struggle each and every year.   I've heard of a mother 'skipping' her son in order to keep the child in a particular school, (or something vaguely similar), and that child seems to be struggling each and every year since that time.  I remember, in my childhood, when my mom told me that the school wanted me to 'skip' a year, and my answer/question to her was: "How am I going to learn all of the things that I should have learned in my 'skipped' class?"  So, thankfully, she listened to my thoughts, and I wasn't 'skipped'.   Thank you, dear Mom..........