verse Posted February 28, 2012 Report Share Posted February 28, 2012 Was anyone kept out of kindergarten as a kid an extra year? My son turns 5 next month and his doctor suggested that we not enroll him in kindergarten this year because of his size. He's in the lower 20% of kids his age for his size and weight. He hasn't developed physically as quickly as other kids. Dr. said if he is interested in sports (which he is) it would be better to keep him out another year so he'll be more physically advanced when he's older. He's currently playing baseball in the summer, just finished up basketball, and takes hockey classes next month. These are 3-5 year old activities and he's 6" shorter than almost everyone in his classes. He's basically a bit bigger than the 3 year olds. I haven't pushed him into any of them, he asks me to sign him up for them. It had nothing do with mentally b/c he said he's very smart for his age, but it'll help him when he's older. Every adult male in my family is over 6' tall and a few of them reaching 6'6"+. With that kind of size it'll only help him with extra curricular activities and give him a great shot of playing for a college with a scholarship of some sort. I'm still torn on what to do, either put him in head start/preschool this year or enroll him in kindergarten. My ex-wife's mother-in-law is a teacher in Gahanna and she suggested that we keep him out another year. Her other teacher friend said the same thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinner Posted February 28, 2012 Report Share Posted February 28, 2012 we held back our boys a extra year and it has helped them out greatly ( they go to Preschool at the same school they will go for kindergarten). Our primary reason for holding our back was speech and maturity level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evan9381 Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 O/t, whos the gahanna teacher? I went to gahanna schools k-12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
POS VETT Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 According to my wife (she has been an intervention specialist for 12 years, teaching at both the elementary and junior high levels) physical size should not play a huge factor in deciding whether or not to send your son to Kindergarten at age 5. Kindergarten has really nothing to do with sports or being physically bigger, it has everything to do with being mentally ready. If you look into any kindergarten classroom you would see kids in various sizes but there was one constant, they were mentally ready. With your son turning 5 next month, he will be one of the oldest in the class, and that does come with some advantages further down the road. You also need to look at his friends being in the same grade or if he doesn't go to kindergarten this year, will they always be one grade ahead ? That does affect them later on in junior high/high school. Ask your school district for a paper that contains things he should know for kindergarten and if he knows all of that I suggest sending him. He might catch up some day in size or he may never be 6' or taller, so what then ? Will you look back and say, "Should we have sent him anyway ?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evan9381 Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 5 in march is younger of the class if he starts fall 2012. I have a june birthday and there were kids grade below me (never failed/repeated a grade) who were 6 months older than me...fuck graduating that far past 18...i graduated 10-11 days before i turned 18. And i love that the OP is worried about sports scolarships for a 5 year old...its like a real life version of the commercial where the kid is like 3 and dunks and the parents are saying they taught him how because college is too expensive to save for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patterson Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 I would wait. My son' birthday is in May. I wish we had held him back an extra year. He was an extremely young 5 when he started (2nd grade now). He has worked very hard, but is still a little behind. The flip side is my daughter who is a year and three weeks younger went at 5 as well had a little bit of a rough start, but has adjusted fine. When you go in for your assesment you'll get a good idea from the teachers what to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2highpsi Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 My oldest boy's birthday is in July. I started him in Kindergarten at age 5 the same as me (also have a July bday) I graduated at 17, so will he. He started out a little behind, but after six months was caught right up. He is now in 2nd grade and scoring in the top 10% of his class. I believe the other key is being involved with their homework etc. and helping teach them at home. What my decision boiled down to was this : Pros of starting at a young 5 : All the research I could find proved it beneficial to teach as much as possible, as young as possible. Cons of starting at a young 5 : Smaller in sports, than the potentially 19 year old seniors when you are 17. Pretty easy decision, even though I love sports Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bam Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 My daughter is smaller than most, she was/is in the 5th percentile for kids her age but she is very smart and we had no reservations about starting her in Kindergarten a few months after she turned 5. She's been doing great and size is only what you/your kid make it IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigOxley Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 I was held back in 1st grade by my teacher. The only thing I remember about not liking it was all my friends were moving on without me. Other than that, it was great. Older/bigger than most in the class. Drove my freshman year of high school. Extra year of maturing. If your son hasn't started school yet, I would suggest holding him back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerrodh Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 My parents both my brother and I back an extra year or there about before kindergarten it it worked out well for us for sure. Both graduated Highschool with high honors, good remarks all around, now both college graduates too. Just my personal experience. Not saying its the normal, or people don't do just fine the other way, but the higher sense of maturity couldn't hurt anyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossle Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 I was held back a year mainly because my birthday typically fell on the first week of school each year. Which then made me the oldest, or close to it my school career. Can't comment on how I was at that age vs. other kids, nor do I have kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farkas Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 And i love that the OP is worried about sports scolarships for a 5 year old...its like a real life version of the commercial where the kid is like 3 and dunks and the parents are saying they taught him how because college is too expensive to save for. ...The kid loves sports. Jon isn't making him play a single one, so why wouldn't he love it if his child took it upon himself to earn a scholarship growing up? If he can support his child to do what he pleases and enjoys, and it's going to benefit him greatly by possibly earning free schooling, exactly what is so funny about that? I'll be real honest with you, I wish I had more interest in sports back in high school because now that I'm looking back, I would've loved a scholarship if I knew I had a shot at one, to help with schooling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirks5oh Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 According to my wife (she has been an intervention specialist for 12 years, teaching at both the elementary and junior high levels) physical size should not play a huge factor in deciding whether or not to send your son to Kindergarten at age 5. Kindergarten has really nothing to do with sports or being physically bigger, it has everything to do with being mentally ready. If you look into any kindergarten classroom you would see kids in various sizes but there was one constant, they were mentally ready. With your son turning 5 next month, he will be one of the oldest in the class, and that does come with some advantages further down the road. You also need to look at his friends being in the same grade or if he doesn't go to kindergarten this year, will they always be one grade ahead ? That does affect them later on in junior high/high school. Ask your school district for a paper that contains things he should know for kindergarten and if he knows all of that I suggest sending him. He might catch up some day in size or he may never be 6' or taller, so what then ? Will you look back and say, "Should we have sent him anyway ?" +1 if he turns 5 in a month, he should definitely go to kindergarten the next school year. exceptions to this would be any deficits in cognitive development--not physical development. my twin girls turn 5 in mid-september. they will be doing preschool this coming year, and then kindergarten the next year. in wisconsin, they use september 1st as the cut-off for kindergarten. if we wanted to put the girls in kindergarten this year they would have to get tested. we're in no huge hurry to put them in on the younger side of things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stangsn95gt Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 my twin girls turn 5 in mid-september. they will be doing preschool this coming year, and then kindergarten the next year. in wisconsin, they use september 1st as the cut-off for kindergarten. if we wanted to put the girls in kindergarten this year they would have to get tested. we're in no huge hurry to put them in on the younger side of things. This is how I was sept 16 bday started K at 4 but was 5 a few weeks into school ended up doing 2 yrs in K due to a speech impediment (Damn "r" sounds). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurkvinny Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 My son turns 5 March 17th. Physical size would never play into our decision - which is to send him to K this Fall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaplay1647545503 Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 My son is 16 and he was held back in kindergarten when it was recommended by his teacher. It was our choice and I never would have done it again. I know another set of parents that did the same and now looking back, wouldnt have done it either. As a young parent I thought the school was clearly more knowledgeable on the subject and what was best. Now at his age he is in a grade with kids who dont yet have the same responsibilities as him and I think its messing with him maturing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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