O/T-- Concerned about DS5-- Learning Disability?

[princessmom29]

First, starting a child late, is NOT holding a child back. If a child does two years of kindergarten, that is holding them back. I have 4 kids, all have been held (or will be), a year because of when their birthdays fall. Most children that are held a year have birthdays when the school year first starts, or late summer...how is that so much of a difference for the other kids in the class. NOT ONCE has a child ever said anything to my child, because first and foremost WE DID NOT HOLD THEM BACK. We started them in kindergarten at almost 6, huge difference. I can find you plently of studys that show how much better a child does when starting kindergarten as an older child, rather than the youngest. I supposed we could find studys proveing anything though..

To the OP, if he has an IEP, get him tested, bring it up to the school see what they say. Sounds like he is fine to me, but just not intrested in those things (and that means a lot when you are 5) The best thing you could of done is give him another year to grow, and learn before starting kindergarten. I would just keep learning fun, don't push him, but make everything into a fun game, if he doesn't catch up, immediatly say something to his kindergarten teacher next year too!

Holding a child who is eligible to start K out an extra year is holding the m back, according to the langurage of the literature I was reading. So we would be talking about a child who is entering K at 6, and turning seven at some point during the year, unless there b'day falls in between the start of school and the cutoff. No need to get mad or defensive, I was just sharing information, not making a value judgement. I presonally don't think holding a child out when they are eligible to start does them any favors, but that is a decision a parent has to make for their own child. I just wanted to point out that there is research out there to support this viewpoint. I am notr saying my opinion holds any more weight than anyone else's just sharing an alternate viewpoint. MY dd is 5 turning 6 in oct and really should have started K last year, but all of the schools public and private in our area refuse to make exceptions to the age cutoff for a younger child. She is really, really bored in K b/c she can already read, add, subtract, and has seen all of the science and social studies lessons before in K4. I whish I had been allowed to start her when I knew she was ready. I teach high school, and I have personally heard things said to children who are a year older than their peers on a pretty regular basis. They are driving before anyone else in their class, ect, and comments are made and can be hurtful.

 

[Alesia]

Holding a child who is eligible to start K out an extra year is holding the m back, according to the langurage of the literature I was reading. So we would be talking about a child who is entering K at 6, and turning seven at some point during the year, unless there b'day falls in between the start of school and the cutoff. No need to get mad or defensive, I was just sharing information, not making a value judgement. I presonally don't think holding a child out when they are eligible to start does them any favors, but that is a decision a parent has to make for their own child. I just wanted to point out that there is research out there to support this viewpoint. I am notr saying my opinion holds any more weight than anyone else's just sharing an alternate viewpoint. MY dd is 5 turning 6 in oct and really should have started K last year, but all of the schools public and private in our area refuse to make exceptions to the age cutoff for a younger child. She is really, really bored in K b/c she can already read, add, subtract, and has seen all of the science and social studies lessons before in K4. I whish I had been allowed to start her when I knew she was ready. I teach high school, and I have personally heard things said to children who are a year older than their peers on a pretty regular basis. They are driving before anyone else in their class, ect, and comments are made and can be hurtful.

As someone who didn't start kindergarten until she was 6, I agree with this. I was always very, very self-conscious about being the oldest kid in my class.

 

[ekatiel]

Wow, I didn't mean for this to turn into a debate about starting your kid late in kinder or not. I mentioned it just to let others know our situation. I have already made the decision to keep DS out of kinder this year, and I did not make my decision lightly. I read a lot of research-- some that supported holding them out a year and some that was against it-- and made my decision based on my particular child. I feel that I have made the correct decision.

To those of you who helped answer my questions about DS's development-- thank you for your answers. It is comforting to know that other children have the same weaknesses and strengths as my DS. I will watch him closely until the end of the semester. If I'm still concerned then, then I will request more testing from the school district. --Katie