https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 11 May 2026 03:44:57 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-start-a-summer-baby-in-school#post-2787387 Sat, 18 Nov 2017 09:23:54 +0000 LemonJack 2787387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: Gotcha. In our area, the public 4K is integrated into many daycare centers. There may be a private option, but I'm not aware of it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-start-a-summer-baby-in-school#post-2787373 Sat, 18 Nov 2017 07:18:29 +0000 Foodnerd81 2787373@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LemonJack: oh mine is private, it’s in a daycare. We have limited public preK (that you still have to pay for) but you cannot do the public preK at 5. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-start-a-summer-baby-in-school#post-2787358 Fri, 17 Nov 2017 23:18:04 +0000 LemonJack 2787358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Panda: That's reassuring actually. We will sign her up for both options and wait as long as we can.</p> <p>Her actual report sheet had three categories; mastered, emerging, and not yet showing, and she was mostly in the emerging category with some skills mastered. There was only one thing she was marked as not yet showing, so maybe I'm freaking out for nothing. I just don't want her to be unnecessarily pressured at such a young age. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-start-a-summer-baby-in-school#post-2787356 Fri, 17 Nov 2017 23:14:42 +0000 LemonJack 2787356@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: There aren't any 5s specific programs in our district unfortunately. I'm not sure about surrounding areas, but I don't believe so.</p> <p>If she were to go to 3K again, she'd have the option to go more days per week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-start-a-summer-baby-in-school#post-2787334 Fri, 17 Nov 2017 21:47:08 +0000 Mrs Panda 2787334@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD has an end of July birthday and at 3, I would have never expected her to be ready for K right after she turned 5. But, we never had plans to hold her back and she grew so much between 4 and 5 in maturity, focus, academic-type skills. So I agree with others that it’s too early to tell at 3. If at all possible, I’d try to keep both options open at this point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-start-a-summer-baby-in-school#post-2787332 Fri, 17 Nov 2017 21:31:56 +0000 Foodnerd81 2787332@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LemonJack: are there any 5s specific programs in the area? I know nothing about your school or how it will go next year, but I am glad she is still moving forward next year, not just doing the same year again. So maybe you could ease your mind if you find something like that and have it in your back pocket if you decide later to hold her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-start-a-summer-baby-in-school#post-2787326 Fri, 17 Nov 2017 21:19:30 +0000 Anagram 2787326@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LemonJack: my daughter is in Pre-k4 in a public school program and this is her second year. She's a July kiddo in a district with September cutoff.</p> <p>She's thrived so far. Last year she was the 2nd youngest. This year she's the 3rd youngest in class and I think she's been fine/great socially and academically. At parent conferences, I always ask how she is doing compared to her older peers and her teachers always say she's doing great. </p> <p>My second daughter will start the same public Prek program this coming September, and she's an August birthday. I have no plans to keep her from starting on time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-start-a-summer-baby-in-school#post-2787320 Fri, 17 Nov 2017 21:11:15 +0000 LemonJack 2787320@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@misolee: It does seem like it's becoming more common to hold which is a part of my thought process. My suspicion is because of how different kindergarten is now. If it were like it was when I was a kid I would send her without hesitation.</p> <p>@Foodnerd81: Thanks for your insight. That's helpful! I hope when it comes to that point that her teachers will help steer us in the right direction.</p> <p>@lawbee11: I agree that it seems super early. They mentioned it because signup for 4K is in January, so they said we could always sign her up for both 3K and 4K so we have the slot, then just drop one in May or June. Still, at that point she'll just be turning 4. Still seems early!</p> <p>@looch: Thanks for that perspective. I do find that it's rare to find someone who regrets holding their child. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-start-a-summer-baby-in-school#post-2787316 Fri, 17 Nov 2017 21:02:26 +0000 looch 2787316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I held my son back, he's now in first grade and it was honestly the best thing I could have done for him. He is an intelligent kid, but he just wasn't mature enough socially and emotionally for what kindergarten required.</p> <p>I found a fives program for him, it was full of kids that had late birthdays, the cut off in my state is December and my son has a December birthday. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-start-a-summer-baby-in-school#post-2787294 Fri, 17 Nov 2017 18:11:47 +0000 lawbee11 2787294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If she’s only three I think it’s way too soon to be making this decision. She has almost two years before starting K, right? I get what they’re saying but still, considering they say it to all parents of summer birthdays I would take it with a grain of salt. </p> <p>My LO’s birthday is a month before the cutoff and we’re not planning to hold her back. One of her friends we hang out with most is a November birthday (so will be one of the older ones in the class) and when they’re together you wouldn’t know which is the November birthday and which is the August birthday (other than her friend maybe colors inside the lines better but I don’t see that as a reason to hold her back). I think it’s so kid-dependent and you know your child best. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-start-a-summer-baby-in-school#post-2787289 Fri, 17 Nov 2017 17:24:43 +0000 Foodnerd81 2787289@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m going through this now- my daughter turns five at the end of July with a 8/31 cut off. I had been planning to send her but her preschool teachers just recommended holding her. It really threw me for a loop but after thinking (obsessing) about it all weekend, I realized they are right. She’s very smart and advanced verbally, which is why I assumed I would start her, but she’s immature and behind in some social skills. My research tells me it’s the maturity that you hold back for more so than academics. I just found a transitional kindergarten in my town that she will do- it will be kids who are staying back or who just miss the cut off. After talking to the teacher there I feel very good about the decision to hold her. And believe me, I obsessed and contacted like, everyone who has ever taught her :silly: </p> <p>That said, it’s really hard to make that decision at 3. People keep telling ME so much can change between now and September, but I have to make a plan or she won’t get a spot. </p> <p>I can’t say how it will be aince she is still in preK but I feel like it’s right for her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-start-a-summer-baby-in-school#post-2787283 Fri, 17 Nov 2017 17:12:44 +0000 misolee 2787283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also adding, you know your child the best and go with your gut! Kindergartens tough on any age bc of the transition and typically longer instructional hours. However, kids are resilient and can learn to adjust too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-start-a-summer-baby-in-school#post-2787282 Fri, 17 Nov 2017 17:09:50 +0000 misolee 2787282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No personal experience bc my DD is an early fall birthday and will always be the oldest in her class. Her preschool has a young 5 class for students who has summer birthdays and are not quite ready for kindergarten. Even though she wasn't 5 when school started, I asked that she be put in that class to challenge her bc she's always been a little bit mature for her age.</p> <p>There's two of these classes (16 students each) and what surprised me was that I would expect late summer birthdays as the norm. Instead, there were many students whose birthdays are in late spring/early summer...even two students who had March birthdays! Additionally, I also expected there to be more boys (just bc I heard boys maturity level holds them back) but it was an even mixture of gender. My DD's teacher has been teaching this particular class for more than 15 years and she mentioned that she noticed that the kids are getting more "older" (earlier birthdays), it used to be predominantly boys but has evened out, and there's definitely an increase in number of students who choose to delay kindergarten in recent years. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-start-a-summer-baby-in-school#post-2787261 Fri, 17 Nov 2017 16:08:34 +0000 LemonJack 2787261@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had DD's first preschool conference this week, and although the teachers said they have no concerns because she's where she should be for her age, they did mention more than once that she's clearly a "young three". They also mentioned that she will have the option to repeat 3K if we choose to do so. They said they mention it to all parents of kids with summer birthdays, because apparently once they hit 4K it's virtually impossible to hold them back.</p> <p>Although I've always known we'll have to think about this, the conference made it feel real. DD is an early summer birthday, so I always assumed we'd send her at 5, but now I'm not so sure. My mind has been spinning lately anyway, because I'm concerned and frustrated with how rigorous and academic kindergarten has become. I worry a lot about DD entering as one of the youngest, and then struggling. I don't want her to feel frustrated and like a failure at a young age, and I do worry about that happening. </p> <p>DD has always hit her physical milestones first, and the skills that will help her best at school (such as her verbal ability), take her longer. I think that's one of the reasons I do worry about her more. </p> <p>I'm looking for your personal experiences with your own kids. Those who have kids on the younger end of their class, how are they doing? Do you wish you would have held them? Pros/cons? </p>