Need Opinions on Holding A Child Back in Preschool

DD is a December baby and does not make our district;s cut off.

Even though she doesn't make the cut off She started a preschool 3's program last year when she was 2 yr. 9 months. A lot of the kids in the 3' program were quite a few months and up to a year, older than her. At the time she started I felt that she was ready both socially and "academically' and was a pretty advanced child who was at a level equal to kids up to a year older then her so it seemed like a good idea.

As the year progressed though she seemed to hit a plateu and it was obvious that both socially and academically she was one of the younger kids (if not the youngest) kids in her class.

So now I am torn about what to do for her come September. At the end of the school year Her teacher's said that she is independent enough to move on to the 4's , however mid year they had mentioned that perhaps repeating the 3's would gain her more confidence.

Id really like to get other moms opinions on this esp if you have ever been in this situation or have any experience on this issue as an educator etc-- what do you think..

Should I have her repeat the 3's program (she would then do the 4's next year and then kindergardten the year after as scheduled)

OR

Should I have her move on to 4's in September, do the early 5;s class at her preschool which is meant for kids with late bdays who are held back or don't make the cut off and is more academic focused, and then move her to kindergarten as scheduled.


Either way she starts kindergardten in Sept 2017- I am just not sure which is the better approach to give her the best chance for social and academic confidence.

Message edited 7/30/2015 4:27:45 PM.

Need Opinions on Holding A Child Back in Preschool

My DS is the same. He started the 3yo class in sept and his bithday is dec 28th. He does great in it. We are putting him in the PreK (4s) in sept. Our plan as of now is to then send him to K in a catholic school. But that will be a game time decision and if he is not ready when the time comes he will repeat preK and the school has said they will make sure he is in a different room so it is going to feel different for him.

My DS always does better when he is with the older kids....I feel they push him more. So I'm thinking it might work but IMO we just need to keep open minds about it all.

Need Opinions on Holding A Child Back in Preschool

My dd was/is in the same boat. Her bday is dec. 9th. She started a nursery class when she was 2yrs 9 months. The next year we switched achools and they would only allow her into the 3 year old class because they follow the districts rules. So last year she was in a 3 year old class and one of the oldest. This sept she will be in the 4 year old pre k program and again will be one of the oldest. By the time she starts kindergarten she will have been in school for 3 years lol. It is what it is. I am a teacher and it all evens out anyway. I would pit her back in the 3yr old class so the following yr she can be with friends who could end up going to kindrtgarten with her.

Need Opinions on Holding A Child Back in Preschool

I would repeat 3's so she can continue school with the kids she will eventually go to kindergarten with. IMO there is more benefit to being the oldest in the class rather then the youngest.

Need Opinions on Holding A Child Back in Preschool

DS is 11/9... so he misses the cut-off, too. He'll be 5 this coming november.
he started a 3's class at 2 years, 10 months old (youngest in the class) he definitely had some issues socially- (although part of that,too is that he's an only child, only grandchild- so it was ALLL new to him dealing with other kids HAHA but he did fine.
Last year, he was in the 4's class and did well- a lot less of the social issues and the teacher said for being so young in the class, he was holding his own with the "academic" stuff.
This year, he'll be at the same school in the "Transitional Kindergarten" class- for the ones who miss the K cut-off. and then, kindergarten the following year.
SOOOO you can see that we kept him moving according to his age. i would say go with that it all evens out anyway--- and its preschool. its not like she'll be left in the dust bc she can't do long division or something she'll probably feel more comfortable being with a lot of the same kids, and moving up with them...

Re: Need Opinions on Holding A Child Back in Preschool

I'd go by what the school reccommends.
I think there is a big variety of levels socially & academically going into K & your DD will be fine either way. We are starting DD in preschool on the later side (she's a Jan baby), but have been teaching her academically ourselves. Socially, she is set for K (second child syndrome).

Re: Need Opinions on Holding A Child Back in Preschool

I'd keep her with her grade, so if she will enter K will children going in the 3's put her in the 3's. Those are the kids she will be learning along side of and socializing with once she enters K.

Re: Need Opinions on Holding A Child Back in Preschool

Re: Need Opinions on Holding A Child Back in Preschool

DD is going to repeat the 3's. It wasn't even an option to move ahead because they only go through the 4's one time at my center - it is the last step before kindergarten.

Re: Need Opinions on Holding A Child Back in Preschool

As a child who missed the cutoff and parents felt i wad ready for kindergarten anyway. I suggest repeating the 3s. I wasn't socially ready and i wish i hadn't been been the youngest in school. Let your child get to know the kids who will be in kindergarten together.

Need Opinions on Holding A Child Back in Preschool

I use to work in a preschool. For me I use to look more at their social and emotional development then the academics. Such as: will she be able to handle longer sitting activities, is she independent in the bathroom, sharing toys and taking turns. Also does your preschool have a lot of kids that will be in her district. If so then putting her in the 3 year old class will allow her to make friends she will continue to see. She will catch up in terms of academics since she is staying there for 3 years regardless.

Re: Need Opinions on Holding A Child Back in Preschool

We had similar but with my two boys who didn't miss the cutoff but I decided to he off an extra year for K. Both kids repeated the 4 year program over the 3. They were too mature to do the 3 year program again but benefited greatly from the second year of the 4 yr program

Re: Need Opinions on Holding A Child Back in Preschool

First, you aren't "holding your child back" - your child doesn't make the cut off so your DC is entering the school year he/she belongs. Given this, I would starting now keep your DC with their class year. That way, they are with the same group of kids all the way through, make the natural progression and there is no confusion. Now if you were truly holding your child back I would have different advice. I would say go all the way through so you can make the decision based on whether it was warranted at the actual time, as in pre-k next yr and so on.

My second DC is a Jan. birthday so a similar situation. I will say in the 3's it's a big gap and it might be a pain for a year in that respect. What we did was a Montessori program for the 3's so she was with 3,4's and 5's. That said, this past yr in pre-k we moved her to a regular program but, because of all the insanely ridiculous redshirting - she is smack in the middle of the class age wise!