Starting Kindergarten Question

[kristin]

OK-- I know this is a ways off, but because of Cole's IEP happening in January of each year, it is less than a year from now that we'll be looking at Kindergarten placement (possibly).

Cole is almost exactly one year older than my daughter, Campbell, so they will be 3 and 4 in April. My question is this... What would the pros/cons be if Cole did an extra year of preschool (or kindergarten) and then started kindergarten at the same time as Campbell? I don't necessarily want them in the same classroom, but just the same grade. Also, keep in mind that I teach school (4th grade) and will likely enroll them at the school where I teach. I work at a pretty big school; there are at least 4 different classes at each grade level. Age-wise they would probably both have age appropriate peers if they started in the same year. He'd be one of the older kids, and she, one of the younger.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!

[Connie]

Kristin,

Collin turned 6 on the 1st. Last year even though it was a battle, I kept him in preschool one more year. I didn't feel Collin was ready for kindergarten...maturity wise.

Now we just redid Collin's IEP on 1/31 and we will reconviene in May to determine placement for next year.

My personal oppinion is the extra year does them good!!! Collin has a sister that is 2 years younger than him so....I will have one in Kindergarten and one in 1st.

Connie

[kristin]

Thanks, Connie... that question was kind of embedded in my question. I am pretty sure that even without DS, I would have him do an extra year and start when he is 6. In my experience, especially boys with those late spring birthdays, tend to do really well with an extra year under their belts.

So let me rephrase my question:

If indeed, I keep him out an extra year (when he's 6), should I start his sister then too (when she's 5), or should I keep her out an extra year (start when she's also 6)?

Looking for pros/cons to having them in the same grade at the same time. Thanks!

[Connie]

Hummm....

I think that is up to you. My daughter who will be 4 in March is ready for kidergarden next year. She can write her name, knows her address, phone number ect...but she is not eligible for kindergarden (unless I pay for testing) because of her age. I do know that it would make my life a lot easier if they both went at the same time because our school system does not offer full day kindergarden and hasn't figured out how to ship both ways so I would have 2 years of figuring this stuff out instead of just one.

If they go together you know you will always have an extra pair of eyes to report things you may not hear about....both the good and bad.

Oh, I think girls also mature faster than boys so if it were me and my choice I would send her at 5.

Connie

[momofrussell]

If both are ready when one is 6 and one is 5.. send them both. I'd base the readiness for kindy on the child going and nothing else.. but that is just me. I think that if you didn't want them in the same class... then ask they be put in two different classes... but I wouldn't base one decision on the other.

We held Russell back a year in EC. So, he will be 8 in March but is only in 1st grade, although in a self contained k-2 class. If we still lived in CA, Reece would have been in kindy this year..... so even though they are two years apart.. they would have been a year apart in school.. which is ok. Reece is WAY more then ready and able for Kindy.. she is pretty sharp. But, her bday is in Oct and we now live in MO.. so we missed the cut off for kindy for her... so, she won't start until fall. I would have LOVED for them to have been in the same school and one grade apart!!!

Whatever you decide.. you will know what is best! Good luck! I'd watch this next year how they are developing and what the younger one can handle.. then go from there!

Hugs,

A.

[Alice]

Kristin,

An extra year in pre-school for kids with DS is very beneficial as I can see on my son's example. I would recommend to keep your son at pre-school one more year and then place both your kids in kindergarten.
I am sure it is very good idea. If I had another child - younger than Luke by one year, I would do that way.
Good luck with all your decisions.

[Monique]

Same here, we had to get a lawyer to keep Jameson in pre-school another year here! In fact they made him start Kindegarten and we fought for four months while he was in there to finally get him placed back into pre-school which we did in January.

For Jameson he definately needed another year of pre-school. I dont know if he will be ready in September for Kindy but we'll see. He will be 6 in October.

monique

[Emilysmom]

I would definitely recommend another year in preschool! In fact, we waited until 2 of our sons (non-Ds) had turned six before they started kindergarten (both had July bdays) because we wanted them to have extra time to mature. I'll always believe it was the very best thing we could have done for them.............and we did the same with Emily. She and her brother are 2 years apart, but only one year apart in school. In church classes, they have always been in the same class and that has worked very well.

Susan

[elenasmom]

I think it depends on the kids (as usual). Elena spent 2 whole years in pre-school and loved it, and did very well. She is a very young kindergartner, her birthday is 8/14 and the cut-off date here is 8/31, so she's the youngest in her class (as well as the smallest). We wouldn't have had a problem keeping her back, but she was really beyond preschool at that point, ready to move on, KWIM. So we sent her on to kindy with an aide in class with her to help her stay on task and do what she is supposed to be trying to do. That's working really well, but we're pretty sure that we'll keep her in kindy for another year, before she goes to first grade. We think it will help her fundamentals and maturity level.

So I think it depends on your child and whether he's ready to move on at the end of the year. It's really hard to tell at this stage, because you can't tell how much he'll mature between now and then. So I would definitely give it some time before making that decision. And as for his sister, I would do for whatever she's ready for. I doubt it would be a problem for her to be in the same grade as her brother. Just my thoughts. Gay