I have decided to not start my trio in Kinder...this year. They will turn 5 on Aug. 30th and our cut off here is Sept. 1st. So they will be old enough to go, but I don't think that they are ready to go. We have done 2 years of "pre school" though the school district and early interventions, and are going to be doing a pre- kindergarten preschool class next year. I was just wondering if anyone else has or is holding thier kids back an extra year before starting? I feel alone on this as everyone seems to think I should just start them and let them struggle though. I think I don't want to "set them up for failure". So, please tell me your thoughts and stories on this one! Thanks!!!

Zayn 3/6/04
Pari 8/30/06
Trevor 8/30/06
Larkin 8/30/06

Live for today, dream of tomarrow, remember all your yesterdays

Our girls have a summer birthday like your kids and we were really torn, too.

They were in a pre-school/Kindergarten setting, so it made it easier when we decided to stay on in that classroom for one more year since it was multi-aged. To us, it was "the gift of time" and to the girls, it was just moving on to Kindergarten when really they stayed put for another year, but the teachers were kind enough to do some first grade lessons with them to keep them progressing.

I struggled with it because I wanted them to move on with their friends, but everyone who moved on to First Grade was about 6 to 8 months older than my girls and it truly made a difference; academically and socially. I didn't want them quiet, "shy", unsure of themselves and frustrated.

They needed an extra year to come out of their shells, gain some confidence and strengthen their basic skills.

I'm thrilled we made this decision. Could they have moved on? Yes. But, I think they're better prepared and subsequently, they like school, KWIM?

I totally understand your dilemma. Practically all of my friends encouraged me to send them on and that Kindergarten is for 5 year olds, etc. But, I think as parents, we know what's best, right?

Good luck. You'll make the right decision.

Lisa

I held my oldest back for one year. His birthday is late August as well. Academically, he was absolutely ready but emotionally he was not. His preschool teacher said 'you can send him now and he will be a follower or you can hold him back and he can be a leader'. My biggest concern was that he was already taller than all the other kids starting K, so the following year he would definitely dwarf everybody. His pedi put that in perspective - 'he'll be the tallest kid no matter what year you start him'. I absolutely believe we made the right choice for him. We have never had a single issue with school because he had that one extra year to mature.
Best of luck
Petra
DS 08/02
DD 05/04
BBG 05/09 32.1 weeks

I am struggling with this issue right now. I just received word that both Pre K teachers are recommending that my boys stay another year. I am against it, but DH thinks we should listen to the recommendations. I am truly torn. I know that academically they are ready but a little behind socially. I worry that keeping them in Pre K for a third year that they will become bored and disruptive. Then we would have another problem. One of their teachers is retiring at the end of this year and the other teacher isnt in the same league as her. I would prefer that my boys not have her. So I really dont know what to do and doing as much research on this subject as possible. The IEP meeting is on March 31.

BTW, I am new here. My name is Christine and I am Mom to Ian, Spencer, & Oliver. 4/8/06

Obviously we haven't faced this decision yet, but in our country kids can start school at 3 years of age.

What really got me to thinking about your post and your difficult decision, is how much your choice today can affect the future. (Starting kindergarten this year could means they leave home for college a year earlier.)

But in this day and age, some kids start college while still attending high school, so who knows?

Rick

BBG - 2 years and counting

(sorry, post repeated)

Rick

BBG - 2 years and counting

Hi,
My children turned 6 at the end of July and are currently in Kindergarten. Best decision we ever made! They are so happy and well-adjusted and have really blossomed socially. Their teacher recently told me that they are exactly where they need to be. In speaking with folks last year while trying to decide our path, I kept hearing a recurring theme of how being on the slighter older side can only benefit them (especially the boys). I also thought that if they weren't born early, they wouldn't have made the cut off anyway! Hope this helps.

Sarah

Mom to Max, Ryan and Sadie 7/26/04 31 weeks

Thank you all. Iam feeling better about not starting them untill they are 6yrs. I think it is the best decision, and Iam in no hurry to send them off to college, so this gives me an extra year with them in the long run....Wait a minute...did I just say that??? LOL I feel better knowing that Iam not alone and that it is OK to have 6 year olds in Kinder.. Thank you all so much!!

Zayn 3/6/04
Pari 8/30/06
Trevor 8/30/06
Larkin 8/30/06

Live for today, dream of tomarrow, remember all your yesterdays

I'm also in the process of making this difficult decision. Our issue is a little different in that the preschool is recommending our boys wait one more year before entering kindergarten, but they say that our girl is OK to go to kindergarten next year. They were born Feb. 8, 2006 (33W, 5d).
Boys are showing emotional, behavioral, social issues. DH thinks we should hold all 3 back, but I'm worried that this decision may not be in the best interest of our daughter. I know the boys aren't ready, but she is definitely ready and willing to go. I think my DH is worried about the stigma for the boys.
Has anyone else faced this same situation and, if so, what did you decide to do? Is it really better to keep all three together? I'm of the belief that we should treat them as individuals -- that being the case, I'm more inclined to let me daughter proceed and keep my boys back in pre-k for one more year.

I appreciate any similar stories/thoughts on this issue.

Gloria Komrosky
3X Blessed with Matthew, Rachel and Jordan

Actually ONE of my three could go and be fine, emotional and mentaly. But, I am holding all 3 back. I don't want them in different grades at this point. If it happens later than fine, but right now It's gonna be easier for me to keep them together in the same school for another year. I have another son who is in yet a different school, so my thought is that he struggles starting kind. at 5, and the trio as I explained just aren't ready (except for one), and to keep my life simpler I will start the trio all at once. I don't want to even think about how I would get everyone to school or home from school if I had 4 kids in 3 different schools. We can't afford before or after school care, and I would be driving around like a crazy mama trying to get kids there on time and picked up on time. I don't have a big support group of help, I've done this on my own, so no one to enlist for helping witht he drop off or pick ups. It will NEVER hurt to hold a kid back, but I think it can do huge damage if they are sent to soon. It's a hard decision, but you have to do what is right for you.

Zayn 3/6/04
Pari 8/30/06
Trevor 8/30/06
Larkin 8/30/06

Live for today, dream of tomarrow, remember all your yesterdays

My trio were born in July 2006 and they're starting K in Sept. This thread haw now got me worried. Are we making a mistake? I have GBG and one of the girls doesn't seem ready. She's not focused and acts lazy about the work that the other two are doing. My other girl started to read and write.. and the boy is also starting to attempt to read and write. Ugh.. I hope my little girl can pick up on what will go on in K. We're worried about her.

Hi,

With much going back and forth on the issue with the Pre K teachers we decided to send our boys on to K. One doesnt seem as ready as the other two but I believe that he will adjust and excel. He is the one who is the smartest of the bunch but the least mature. I dont think another year of Pre K would have benefited my boys because the class is only 2.5 hours a day.

Try not to second guess yourself. Its hard when two are ready and the other is not. I totally understand as I am sure many on this board do. If you can set up a meeting with the teacher before school starts and tell her your concerns. We have IEP in place for all the boys. I to worry that Ollie wont be ready but I am holding my breath and saying a prayer. The way I see it is I dont know what he is capable of until he is in K. I cant predict how things are going to turn out but I know in my heart that I made the right decision to send all of them on to K.


Christine

Ian, Spencer, & Oliver 4/8/06

>My trio were born in July 2006 and they're starting K in
>Sept. This thread haw now got me worried. Are we making a
>mistake? I have GBG and one of the girls doesn't seem ready.
>She's not focused and acts lazy about the work that the other
>two are doing. My other girl started to read and write.. and
>the boy is also starting to attempt to read and write. Ugh..
>I hope my little girl can pick up on what will go on in K.
>We're worried about her.

Remember too, that she will mature quite a bit between June and September.

Mom to 4
Nate6/5/2006
GBG Triplets 6/8/2010
Madeleine
Denis
Elizabeth

I haven't faced this yet and probably won't, as my trio are Feb babies, but I think you should tell everyone else to piss off and just trust your gut. There's a reason you feel this way, and you should go with it.

Mandie
No Siggy Pic Here
My Triplets May Be Fake

My oldest is 5 in June. We applied to our local catholic school but they don't feel he is ready. We really didn't get a choice because they fear he would have a hard time keeping up. So we're keeping him in preschool doing the pre-k transitional program. The principal of the catholic school told us not to look at it as holding him back but rather giving him the gift of a year. Best decision we've made. Made us think about our triplets because they were born in June but their full term due date was July 31. We're already saying if there is any question we're keeping them back a year too.

Mom to 4
Nate6/5/2006
GBG Triplets 6/8/2010
Madeleine
Denis
Elizabeth