I appreciated a call from my son’s preschool director today. She explained that talking with his teacher, they think Thomas is ready academically for kindergarten in the fall–but since he is younger, another year of preschool may be best. Dave and I agree. Thomas won’t turn 5 until July 31, which means if he started later this year some of the boys in his class would be a year-and-a-half older. I know this because while volunteering in Charlotte’s kindergarten class I observed boys turning 7 well before spring. From the moment we had him, that was our plan. But talking it over with my longtime elementary prinicipal mom and so many other moms with summer birthday boys, it’s been great to always hear the following: You’ll never regret waiting to send him, but you may wish you had waited when he’s older. So here’s to another year of preschool! And, sadly, one Thomas welcomes now that big sister told him he’s not ready for kindergarten since he doesn’t know how to read or spell.
My friends at Family & Children’s Council of Black Hawk County Inc. have a unique need: gently used onesies, pants and shirts in sizes 0-9 months. The agency’s Baby Safety Project is helping local families in need and preventing child abuse. You can, too, by volunteering or donating to 500 East 4th Street, Suite 414 (4th Floor, KWWL Building) in downtown Waterloo. Call 319-234-7600 for more info.
Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 55
This post was written by Tara on January 23, 2013
You absolutely will not regret it!
Our son’s birthday is in late May. He was the oldest child in his class thru high school, other than a boy who was held back in second grade. He actually ended up with a better behaved and more academically minded class of students than he would have been in had he started when he was five. They challenged each other constantly.
Like you, I had my mind made up to keep him in pre-school an extra year, the day he was born. He was tested prior to kindergarten and the tester thought he was ready.
Our daughter had a late October birthday so she was one of the older students too, worked out well for both of them.
You will not regret doing what is best for Thomas!
I totally agree. My son is a September 6th b-day and we also started him in kindergarten just turning 6. I am a September 16th b-day and was also started this way. I loved being older than most in my class and I was one of the first kids to start driving
My son also likes to brag how he is older than most!
Way to go, Charlotte! ha! You will not regret holding Thomas out another year. We sent our son at 5 with an early June birthday. He did o.k., but we have often wished we had held him out another year. Good luck to Thomas, and hope he learns to spell and read soon.
You will never regret having Thomas do another year of preschool. This will help him make mature choices which will allow him to have success as he goes through the grades. Kudos to you for listening to the advice that was given.
I’m also struggling with this issue. My son turns 5 on July 21 and people are telling me both ways. Before any final decisions are made, I’m going to talk to his teacher and then also send him to kindergarten round-up and see how it goes. Academically my son is ready, but socially, I wonder.
This was comforting. My son is at that age where we’ve debated later sending him earlier or later as well and this has confirmed it for us as well! Thanks for posting your thoughts and views so honestly.
Also, thanks for posting the donation need! I’ve been giving away baby things as my youngest outgrows them and always looking for places to donate and help out! THANKS!
Awesome decision! As a preschool teacher, I feel it’s probably the best decision, and one I would recommend. Sometimes it’s hard to convince parents to keep them back another year of preschool because there is a negative connotation with not progressing to the next grade level. But honestly, most of the kids I recommend for another year of preschool don’t stay because of academics, but because of social issues/maturity. I wish all parents would make the same decision as you!
I agree with your decision to wait. We didn’t wait and they are many times that I regretted not waiting. My son is one of the youngest in his class and he has a April birthday. He might be socially where a sixteen year old should be but when you put him in his class of 17 and even soon to be eighteen year olds – we can see the difference. The gap is getting smaller but we might have avoided this if we held him back and did another year of preschool. Thanks for sharing!
I think the most important thing is to listen to the professionals and consider their advice especially if they suggest another year of preschool. My first born son was an October birthday and much more advanced than many of his classmates so he got bored and acted out. My youngest son who had a June birthday went at 5 and was fine but didn’t have the patience level he might have had if he had been a year older. All in all, they both turned out to be good students and have made their way in the world. Each child is different and even with all the advice and previous experiences that are shared, what it comes down to is what is best for Thomas. I don’t think you will regret this at all.
You will not regret holding him for another year. No option to hold back with either of my kids, but I think there should be some change in the law stating 9/15(?)as the birthday cut-off for turning 5 and entering kindergarten. Since numerous parents seem to be holding their kids, especially boys, back for another year, wouldn’t it make more sense to have the date be July 1 with teacher recommendation being the only reason for exception?
Believe it or not, my son has a very late March birthday (the 28th), he was one of the youngest kids in his class (fewer than 10 kids out of 100+ students were younger) because the parents of the May-summer kids held them for the next year. Seems a bit convoluted to me.
My son is 31 years old. His birthday is August 4 and I sent him to school when he was just 5. Although academically he did very well (graduated from highschool with a 4.0 and college with a degree in mathematices) we both agree that socially it would been better to wait until he was 6. Good decision.
We are in the same situation as Sue and Alyce. My son (now 15) has an April birthday and has always been one of the youngest in his class since so many of the late spring/early summer birthday kids were held back.It’s always irritated me. His pre-school teachers never suggested holding him back for another year of pre-school because he was very mature at that age. Still, had I known that waiting a year was the big new trend, I would have waited as well so that the playing field of grades, athletic abilities, etc. were a little more even. He has always seemed at a disadvantage since so many of the boys in his class are nearly a year older than him. I can see holding back kids with a late summer/early fall birthday, but it seems the age for making it acceptable to hold them back is getting earlier and earlier and some sort of guidelines need to be established.
My 3 sons all had summer birthdays and I’ve never regretted waiting until they were 6 to start kindergarten.
As a teacher, I always agree with the decision to wait! Smart!
As a former teacher and parent of two kids with birthdays in late June and late August, I have a slightly different viewpoint. Both of my kids were sent to school shortly after they turned 5 during the summer. Both were in the younger group of kids in their class. However, I felt they were emotionally and academically ready for school and sent them. My son graduated in top 10 of his class last year after taking challenging AP courses throughout high school, and my daughter follows in her brother’s footsteps this spring. My opinion is that if your child is not ready for school either academically or emotionally, then by all means hold him back another year. But don’t let his younger age be the sole reason for holding him back.
Although there are other circumstances for my son, I agree about another year. I always wonder when they are older and things are tough would moving them ahead really benefit them. They mature at such different rates. I want to hold mine back a year but it has been frowned upon. Good Luck!!
I have a son with an early June birthday and sent him to school when he was 5. I never had a question on whether to send him or not. He was 5. I had many ask me if I was going to send him. I had no reason not to, he was the age to begin kindergarten. I have no regrets and he is fine with being one of the youngest in class. He is in 5th grade now and every year of school I’ve always been told how well behaved he is and a joy to have in class. Holding a child back a year should have it’s reasons, not just because they are a young 5 year old.