https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 01 May 2026 22:03:54 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-vs-young-5s#post-1364943 Tue, 21 Jan 2014 16:28:44 +0000 Mae 1364943@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd probably go based on where the kid was academically. This sort of happened to me, I was right on the cut-off and it was recommended to my parents to keep me back a year before starting kindergarten because they weren't sure how I'd fit in socially being younger. My parents did, but I was always bright academically and basically by the time I got to school I was so. bored. That caused some behavioral problems because I was always finished first and then wanting to talk to people or do other stuff. After struggling through kingergarden-2nd grade they finally admitted it wasn't working and moved me to 4th grade rather than 3rd so I'd be more academically on track. I finally started liking school because I wasn't so bored and thus getting in trouble all the time, and even though I was younger and the "new kid" and the "weird kid who skipped a grade" honestly it was fine. I found my friends quickly enough and it was never an issue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-vs-young-5s#post-1364896 Tue, 21 Jan 2014 16:12:28 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 1364896@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I was growing up we had a situation where we moved to an area with a different cut-off and because I was kept in the same grade I had been in, I ended up being much younger than all the other kids in the class. I think it was a little rough even though academically I was always fine. So when we moved again a few years later (I was 10), they gave me the choice whether to stay in the same grade or move "down" so to speak, and I chose to join the kids that were my age. I was definitely much happier socially when I was in the middle of the pack age-wise. So based on my experience I would probably keep him in the young 5s program. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-vs-young-5s#post-1364877 Tue, 21 Jan 2014 16:07:38 +0000 LovelyPlum 1364877@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>OK, I don't know where my answer went...</p> <p>I was sent to kindergarden early, just after I turned 5. I know my parents both feel strongly that it was the right decision-I was way too bored without the challenge. There were some things I did struggle with, though-it took me a few years to completely catch up with things like organization and memory. I always had a hard time remembering to bring things home and get things signed! But I truly think I would have been so bored a year behind that it would have been trouble for me to be held back.</p> <p>Everyone's different, though. I have a sister with a September birthday, and my parents waited to send her. She's super outgoing and social, but they didn't feel like it was the right decision to send her early. She did really well at school when she went. She may have done well before, too, but I guess it's hard to know that.</p> <p>I think you're right, there isn't really a bad option. But I don't think that being the youngest in a grade is necessarily a bad thing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-vs-young-5s#post-1364842 Tue, 21 Jan 2014 15:59:12 +0000 Cole 1364842@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@googly-eyes: Thanks! I agree, thankfully there is literally no bad option here! In fact, aside from the commonly touted benefits of giving them an extra year I am realizing that this child would far rather only go half days which kindergarten here doesn't offer. </p> <p>All I can really do for them is to point out different perspectives but I am really glad to be able to get a few more thoughts from you guys! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-vs-young-5s#post-1364812 Tue, 21 Jan 2014 15:50:25 +0000 doodlepoodle 1364812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: you're welcome! I was one of the older (turned 18 the week school started) in my class but never felt like I didn't belong or anything like that. I am struggling to see what we do with J as he will be close to the cutoff as well... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-vs-young-5s#post-1364805 Tue, 21 Jan 2014 15:47:45 +0000 googly-eyes 1364805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: I think that it's fine and actually a good idea for those things to be happening at home, but personally I agree with a play based curriculum up to pre-k. The child might like that stuf but like it more on their own schedule. Numbers qnd letters are fun but in K there is a ton of sit down and be quiet and stand in a straight line, etc. that comes with the numbers and letters. My guess, admittedly not knowing this child, is that he/she would be happier getting to mostly play at school and learn reading, etc at their own pace for now, while developing in other areas. I don't think you have I worry about letting them down, no matter what choice is picked...it sounds like he/she has all good options and a great support system and will be ok either way. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-vs-young-5s#post-1364781 Tue, 21 Jan 2014 15:38:40 +0000 Cole 1364781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Haha! Sports are certainly not the logic in this house! It is mostly family/friends who are all shocked by the idea of not redshirting since "everyone else" does.</p> <p>@babyjmama: Thanks, it is good to have that feedback, I was one of the youngest in my grade and I feel like it was a good thing so it is good to know you didn't have a strong preference.</p> <p>@googly-eyes: I think we are all mostly stuck on how things will go once the child is older and not so much right now like you pointed out and in that regard we are leaning towards slowing things down somehow. I don't think we are worried so much about challenging the child as meeting the curiosity. Right now the child is super interested in learning to read and working with numbers so when those things are only a tiny part of the young 5's program and it is mostly just play it sort of feel like we are letting them down? This child benefits from the social side of things otherwise it would perhaps make the most sense to just enroll them in a few other activities and "homeschool." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-vs-young-5s#post-1364751 Tue, 21 Jan 2014 15:23:28 +0000 googly-eyes 1364751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think because of the push down effect there is no harm in sticking with the young fives. Social growth is very important. Social and emotional growth serve a foundations for academics later on. Sure, the kid might do fine now, but a) that doesn't tell you how the child will do a few years from now, or being one of the younger/est college freshmen in about 13 years, and b) if they have the funds and are having second thoughts about kindergarten now it can't hurt.</p> <p>I think I will probably be in the minority, but I honestly don't get why parents seem in such a hurry for their children to be "challenged" in K. They will get years and years of challenges. If they aren't socially and emotionally ready I say wait.</p> <p>Edited for typos... iPhone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-vs-young-5s#post-1364746 Tue, 21 Jan 2014 15:22:22 +0000 looch 1364746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it is negatively recieved if the idea is to give a child an advantage in sports because they are older than their peers. Otherwise, I don't mind it. I believe is setting kids up to succeed, even if that means starting them a year later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-vs-young-5s#post-1364741 Tue, 21 Jan 2014 15:20:09 +0000 doodlepoodle 1364741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can't say what I would do, personally, but my parents did this with me. It wasn't called the same thing but same concept. I think I would have been fine, honestly it didn't seem to affect me one way or another...then or now! :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-vs-young-5s#post-1364662 Tue, 21 Jan 2014 14:53:32 +0000 Cole 1364662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work with a family who is trying to decide if they should redshirt their child. The child's birthday is two months from the cutoff but the cut off will be changing in two years to be before their birthday by a small margin. Academically and emotionally the child is ready, socially it is a bit of a toss up but there aren't behavioral issues mostly just shyness which is probably just a life long thing for this kid. In our town red shirting is crazy common which is a consideration too since it makes the age gap even bigger in some cases.</p> <p>The choices are--<br /> *Young 5's at the same place as preschool but the academics are minimal.<br /> *Very pricey young 5's, same place as kindergarten, academics are good; it gets crazy pricey when you throw siblings into the mix or you are driving to two different preschools basically.<br /> *Kindergarten with the intention of probably repeating the grade-- either in the target elementary school (public) or in the same school as current preschool (private)<br /> *Kindergarten and then carry on as usual.</p> <p>I don't want to give out too many details but I would love some feedback as what you might see as pros or cons to some of these to see if there is something we aren't considering. If they did two years of kindergarten they would tell the child in advance that just like some kids do 1 year or 2 years of preschool that some kids do 1 year or 2 years of kindergarten and then elaborate later. What would you pick? Is there an option we should just scratch? </p>