I am a Ma of 5, so you would think I should know by now but... I am looking for some more thoughts and opinions about 5yr old little boys being ready for kindergarten. My little guy turned 5 in June. He is a happy, fairly social little boy who goes on and on about nascar, draw pictures of race tracks and sort of write his name. I am not too worried about him academically, though I don't kkknow if he'll have tons of patience if the teacher can't stay with him while he is trying to write or draw something. The 2 big things that make me question his readiness are that he cannot wipe his own butt, (he does a decent job, but doesn't think he can. He is also very very concerned about ca-ca germs. He's a good handwasher)and the fact that he nearly always cries when we take him to Sunday School, which is about 1hr 45 minutes long. If he doesn't cry, then he gets, very very sad, fat lip and all. All he really says is "I'l miss my daddy!". I have made the mistake with another of my children and made him go to kinder. when he HATED it. He was worse off socially and academically by the end of the year. I absolutely should have waited till the next year for him. This 5yr old is not as bad (not bad, you know what I mean), but I wonder if I am doing him good, or holding him back. Thanks in advance for the advice! :)
We came to the conclusion that there just weren't any significant drawbacks to keeping him home another year. Ah, and I have to tell you what he said when we sat him down to explain it to him- One big "YES!" and a fist pump. Thanks everyone for your input. This really IS a great site.
With boys, if in doubt wait a year. Boys mature more slowly than girls anyway. It will really help when he gets to the upper grades. (I am a high school teacher.)
I've been dealing with this as my son turns 5 next week. We've decided to wait until next year, and in the process I've talked to A LOT of people. I've yet to meet someone who held their son back and regretted it, but many (like you) wish that they had held them back. So...I think giving them an extra year to mature and be ready can ONLY help and will not hurt them. Go with your gut!
I have a son who will be 4 in Aug. and we decided after talking to the principle of an elementary school and with his Kindergarten teacher that we will wait until he is six. From everything I have heard there are virtually no drawbacks to holding them back while pushing them if they are not ready could affect their entire school career. His teacher put it best when she told me that boys just don't have all the tools they need and by pushing them could label them a trouble maker if they can't behave as well as kids a year older. I'm looking at it as giving my son an advantage when he starts at six. Hope this helps.
Hello. As a former kindergarten teacher, I was asked this question by many parents. I feel that if you think your little boy isn't emotionally or socailly ready for kindergarten, by all means hold him back a year. Being born in June would make him one of the youngest students in his class anyway, so holding him back would probably give him the best advantage. However, if you do decide to go ahead and send him, my best advice is: If/When he starts to cry in the classroom when you drop him off, give him a quick kiss, tell him you love him and then leave. It makes it so much more difficult if you stay around. Also, I always tell parents the best two things you can do to prepare your child for kindergarten is to teach them how to tie their shoes:) and to teach them patience or how to wait. That's that hardest things for kiddos to get used to when they get into a class with one teacher who is trying to work with 20 students! Hope everything works out for you!
