https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 25 Apr 2026 21:51:31 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785815 Sun, 12 Nov 2017 07:12:03 +0000 Mrs D 2785815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is a 9/5 birthday and our cutoff is 9/1.</p> <p>I spoke to the director at her center and she will be assessed in November (this month) and May. She says at this point she imagines she will be recommending she is ready.</p> <p>She also suggested to sign her up for K, we can always change our minds and keep her in pre-K. Our district also allows repeating K, so worst case we'll repeat (assuming the assessments come back as we're expecting).</p> <p>From an intelligence perspective DD is fine, it's her maturity I sometimes worry about as well. So that's wher DH and I are focusing. Plus, it's still 9 months away...which is SUCH a long time and there is still so much development to happen!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785712 Sat, 11 Nov 2017 07:00:08 +0000 Foodnerd81 2785712@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: even on a smaller scale, having a cut off time frame rather than one date, for starting kindergarten, seems like it would be helpful. Like, any kids born within say, 2 months before or after the current cut off date have the option of some kind of evaluation recommending either starting k or an extra year of preK, or transitional kindergarten. Because right now it definitely feels like I’m “holding her back” if we don’t do k, but like I’d be pushing her forward if I do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785711 Sat, 11 Nov 2017 06:56:16 +0000 looch 2785711@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Autumnmama79: That is interesting. I first heard about redshirting when i was in college. I was wondering why there were all these older guys, and I learned it was because they did what was called a post grad year and then came to college as freshmen. It was done for sports, primarily.</p> <p>I don't know how the term got applied to kindergarten, but it's interesting to see how it evolved. I really think the answer lies in "rolling" academic years, where kids are grouped by according to their learning level. If you have 2 kids that are the reading at the same level but are different ages, I don't see why they can't be together, and then as they progress, move on to different groups. This concept of being in one class all year is outdated and not doing anyone any favors in the learning environment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785707 Sat, 11 Nov 2017 03:17:21 +0000 hellobeeboston 2785707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Autumnmama79: funny. The first time I heard about this was through Malcolm Gladwell talking about Canadian families &amp; hockey &amp; boys on the older end in their class:<br /> <a href="https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/401159/" rel="nofollow">https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/401159/</a></p> <p>Also, just saw this when looking for the other article:<br /> <a href="https://www.google.com/amp/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.3472802" rel="nofollow">https://www.google.com/amp/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.3472802</a></p> <p>I think it really depends on the area. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785686 Fri, 10 Nov 2017 19:45:33 +0000 ALV91711 2785686@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Autumnmama79: That is interesting to know. I'm from BC and didn't know that. </p> <p>@Foodnerd81: Hopefully when you volunteer in her class and observe it will help to give you a better idea if you think she's ready. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785650 Fri, 10 Nov 2017 15:40:24 +0000 Pollywog 2785650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My opinion as an Ed researcher is to picture the long game. Would she be 17 when she goes to college? That would concern me. I feel like it is better to give a gift of a year to play and enjoy being 5 than to rush it. FWIW, my sister was born 1 hour after the cutoff, could read entire books, and was in the 99th percentile on assessments. She didn't go early, but her friend who was a week early did start on time. When asked, she said it was really hard being good all day and even though she wanted to be with her friends, ahe wanted to stay at Montessori. My sister excelled when she went to school and continued to thrive in life. Her best friend really struggled through elementary school. It wasn't that she wasn't smart, she just was immature. My sister is so happy she stayed back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785595 Fri, 10 Nov 2017 12:00:56 +0000 bushelandapeck 2785595@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There is no readiness evaluation for our school district. We talked with my sons preschool teacher throughout the year and ultimately decided to hold him back this year (cutoff is 8/31 and he’s 8/8). He’s academically on target but socially and emotionally not. And he definitely would struggle with attention span at this point. I don’t have any regrets. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785590 Fri, 10 Nov 2017 11:50:43 +0000 Autumnmama79 2785590@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ALV91711: Here in BC, students are entitled to one extra year of schooling. They can either do two years of kindergarten or two years of grade 12. Typically, this option is utilized by parents of severely challenged students who really do benefit from an extra year in the school system. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785551 Fri, 10 Nov 2017 08:41:20 +0000 StrawberryBee 2785551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I hope you gain some clearer insight when you volunteer in a few weeks! I should have thought of that, Es classroom is kind of the same (getting invited to a lot of five year old birthday parties). But they do mix the classes at recess and special events and at the end of the day.</p> <p>@ShootingStar: DH and I are already talking about private k for DD2. She's only 7 weeks old so we have some time to decide ;). But it's so tempting if they're ready to move up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785547 Fri, 10 Nov 2017 08:23:28 +0000 Alba4 2785547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Red shirting is super common in the district I teach in (suburb of NYC), especially for boys close to the cutoff (Dec 1). I think it is a bit early to decide. She can grow and mature immensely in 10 months. Register her for K and reevaluate in the Spring. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785546 Fri, 10 Nov 2017 08:21:23 +0000 looch 2785546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: If they do kindergarten at those other daycares, do you feel they're academic enough that he could go right to first grade without repeating K in public school? In my state, K is actually optional and kids don't need to go to school until they're 7. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785542 Fri, 10 Nov 2017 08:08:10 +0000 ShootingStar 2785542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: There aren't many options. Our daycare only goes up to pre-k. The other daycares that go older do kindergarten. The other option is my employer is adding a Montessori site to my office. The problem with that is it would be a mixed age classroom and he'd probably be one of the oldest, just like he would be at our current daycare. Plus, it would be like $600 more per month. So it seems like a lot to spend to not get a ton more benefit from. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785540 Fri, 10 Nov 2017 08:02:11 +0000 looch 2785540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: Do you have any 5's programs around you? I thought my only option was to have my son repeat his 4's preschool class, but they offered a 5's program for late birthday kids and it was great for him in terms of development. He went on to kindergarten the following year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785539 Fri, 10 Nov 2017 08:00:13 +0000 ShootingStar 2785539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DS is just a few months younger than your DD and he misses the cutoff next year. So it'll be 2 years until he goes to kinder. On one hand I feel like it's kind of a gift to him - an extra year of getting to be a child. On the other hand I'm not thrilled with him spending such a long time in the same classroom, and of course next year he'll be surrounded by younger kids.</p> <p>We could send him to private kinder and have him go to first grade the following year. And I sometimes wonder if I'm doing him a disservice by not going that route. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785535 Fri, 10 Nov 2017 07:49:37 +0000 Foodnerd81 2785535@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@StrawberryBee: that’s one of the problems- her class is super small and randomly they are all much older- there is one other summer bday and the rest of the kids turned five by the end of October. So it’s hard to gage that. I haven’t spent much time with them all but am volunteering in the class in a few weeks and will observe closely. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785532 Fri, 10 Nov 2017 05:12:48 +0000 StrawberryBee 2785532@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No real help here, but I'm fully planning on putting E in kindergarten next year (she's three weeks from our district's cutoff). She wanted to start K this year lol. T's birthday is 5 weeks after hers, so there'll be an extra year in between them in grades. In 10-20 years I'll know the outcome of that 😂. </p> <p>I feel like they're going to change so much this year, it's so hard to make a decision now if you're on the fence. When you see her interacting in the classroom, does she gel more with the younger kids or the older ones? </p> <p>I'm really, really hoping our district goes to all day k next year. Going to have to make some choices about daycare/before/after care, since where she's currently at isn't in her district and can't transport her back and forth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785524 Fri, 10 Nov 2017 00:30:41 +0000 ALV91711 2785524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Autumnmama79: and then herein AB the cut off isn't calendar year... I'd never heard of red shirting but I have heard of kids repeating kinder. Do they still do that? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785513 Thu, 09 Nov 2017 21:36:42 +0000 MamaCate 2785513@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: since you have to think ahead, and I understand the need for planning, I would echo the idea of getting more information in what the school she would enter is expecting. We started K this year. Our public school had a very comprehensive list of what the expectations were for kids coming in to K. (I am going to go back and check if it had behavioral expectations.) </p> <p>While it is hard to think ahead, I would talk with the principal about your pros and cons so you can make an informed decision. I think if you are really torn it means you probably will be okay either way? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785507 Thu, 09 Nov 2017 20:49:41 +0000 Canoli 2785507@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son started Kindergarten this year. Our cutoff is 9/30 and his birthday is 10/24 so he is pretty “old” for Kindergarten. I am actually glad he had extra time before starting Kindergarten because he was very immature and I was extremely concerned about his behavior. Kindergarten by far has been the absolute best thing for him. The transformation we have seen in him is amazing. He has embraced K and learning like nothing I anticipated. And we are only half day K. I am amazed in 2.5 hours per day for 2 months now how much he has matured and grown. It really is a beautiful thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785495 Thu, 09 Nov 2017 19:23:59 +0000 lawbee11 2785495@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: So when you observe her with her peers there is a big difference in behavior/maturity? Are there any kids with summer birthdays they aren’t recommending be held back? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785487 Thu, 09 Nov 2017 17:56:17 +0000 Autumnmama79 2785487@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: The cutoff is December 31st. Students are registered and placed based on their birth year, not month. </p> <p>@Foodnerd81: Yes, I understand you are bound by the way things are done in your neck of the woods and you're just working within that. What I was meaning to emphasize is the importance of keeping kids with their same-age peers and that in my experience there are varying levels of readiness when entering K. Good luck in your decision making! Can you register now to secure the spot and then decide in the spring? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785480 Thu, 09 Nov 2017 17:37:26 +0000 Foodnerd81 2785480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaBear87: this is nice to read, as that’s basically where I’m leaning at this moment (and don’t we all like to read things that agree with what we are already thinking? :silly: ). </p> <p>Academically I have no doubt she would be fine. Socially and maturity levels are my, and the teachers, concerns. </p> <p>I know this has been talked about to death on here and on the internet. But it’s different now because it’s MY kid. :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785469 Thu, 09 Nov 2017 16:38:12 +0000 Mrs. D 2785469@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another Canadian Teacher.</p> <p>While no one I've met calls it "Red-Shirting," I do personally know two families that held their child back, and one of my daughters new best friends in Primary (Kindergarten to the rest of you) was held back. </p> <p>All for different but good reasons.</p> <p>Child one: He is developmentally behind and the mother along with the daycare teachers decided to give him an extra year of preschool to get him ready. He now receives EPA support during the school day.</p> <p>Child Two: Actually started Primary on Schedule, but was a LATE December baby, and was struggling in school. (Cut off in NS is Dec 31st) Very immature and not catching on. The parents had a meeting with the teacher or admin (not sure which) and the decision was made for him to return to preschool to continue getting ready.</p> <p>Child Three: I haven't had more than one short conversation with this mom, but my understanding was that since she was putting her daughter into the early french immersion program, she held her bac a year to make sure she had her basic skills already in English before throwing a second language at her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785466 Thu, 09 Nov 2017 16:34:38 +0000 MamaBear87 2785466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't read above comments but my mom was a k teacher for 20 years and in her opinion it's the maturity that is most important. You can always supplement the learning in another year of prek but if you put her into k and she's too immature it's always a game of catch up with the maturity level. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785463 Thu, 09 Nov 2017 16:28:13 +0000 Charm54 2785463@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What is the K environment like that she will be entering ? Most of the K rooms I work in allow for a lot of movement, have kinethstic activities, etc. The ability to fill out pages of worksheets wouldn't be a readiness expectation in our area (it's actually not best practices anyway so Id hope not to see that too often, haha). There is a very WIDE range of readiness at our school in the beginning of K and red shirting is really not a thing. Everyone starts the year they were born. </p> <p>My dd starts next Sept and has a fall Birthday so she will only be 4 when she starts. She has some pre-K testing next week, then again in the spring. Mostly just to identify which kids require extra supports (speech, OT, etc) and to get them as much early intervention as possible. </p> <p>If academically she would be fine then I personally would not hold her back - but you know your daughter best. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785461 Thu, 09 Nov 2017 16:22:19 +0000 Mama Bird 2785461@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't have testing. I think kids can opt out of K and start at first grade, or go to private K which is more day care-style. Public school K is such a bizarre experience so far. Academically, they're way behind the citywide pre-K program. I don't even understand how that's possible - the kids who were taught to count to 100 last year are now taught to count to ten, very slowly (it's November and they're on 9). Socially, they expect a bit too much of the kids - I've posted about this before and won't repeat myself.</p> <p>It's really frustrating and has me lying awake most nights wondering what I could do about it. No good ideas so far. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785439 Thu, 09 Nov 2017 15:25:55 +0000 Foodnerd81 2785439@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Autumnmama79: i think kindergarten and the whole way they do things here sucks. But it’s where we live so i have to make the best decision based on a set up i disagree with. :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785437 Thu, 09 Nov 2017 15:24:38 +0000 Foodnerd81 2785437@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: @TLL: if i waited until the end of the year, my hands would be tied. If we do hold her i would want to do the town public preK, which is in the elementary school and is more academic than her current play based preschool- which I️ love that it’s play based but if we are holding her to get more ready for K, I️ would want a little more learning. It’s a lottery that happens at the beginning of the year- like Jan- March. And where she is next year does affect where I️ send the younger one for preschool and one of the preschools in town already has a waiting list. So, it’s not crazy early unfortunately even though that’s totally ridiculous. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785429 Thu, 09 Nov 2017 14:55:01 +0000 TLL 2785429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: I have to agree. A child can change a lot from the fall to the spring of a school year.</p> <p>@Autumnmama79: I am guessing it varies a lot state to state, school district to school district. </p> <p>My now 2nd grader has an August birthday and is young for her grade. I worried when she started 4-year-old pre-k that she would be behind her peers but her teacher gave me a funny look when I asked if she'd be ready for kindergarten the following year. </p> <p>She's now very advanced academically and right on track socially/emotionally. In her school all of her teachers have had students separate out into smaller groups with other children at the same level so that the kids that are behind aren't being taught something they aren't ready for, and those that are ahead don't get bored reviewing something they've mastered. </p> <p>@FOODNERD81: If I were you I'd wait until closer to the end of the year and see what the teachers think then. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-readiness-2#post-2785427 Thu, 09 Nov 2017 14:49:58 +0000 Becky 2785427@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We decided to hold our 10/31 bday in a district with 12/1 cutoff back. She would be starting K next September, but now will be starting the following year. We made the decision after speaking with the kindergarten grade rep who was incredibly helpful. She launched our conversation by discussing how academic kindergarten now is, and talked about developmental milestones kids don't really hit until they're 5+. That being said we may still send her to kindergarten screening in March just in case over the next 10 months we begin to feel we can't meet her needs at home and at preschool. </p> <p>Our daughter is very smart, but you can tell when she is in settings with other kids that she is just a bit different (head in the clouds) and this is something that I think she will benefit from having time to sort of bask in. I want to be a let o give her the opportunity to play outside and explore and not be sucked into the structure of it all before she has to. Her preschool isn't on a typical "move up in September" schedule so she has friends in the 3 year old and in the 4 year old rooms. </p>