My sister decided to put my nephew in pre-school this year instead of kindergarten b/c he won't be 5 until after school has started. I have asked a lot of people about this and have received answers both ways. He is used to being around other kids, he has cousins in literally every grade in one of the local Elementary schools, and his baby-sitter always had a lot of kids at her house. My sister is worried about him not having the social skills, but I just don't agree. Kindergarten is for getting used to raising your hand before speaking, learning the basics, and getting used to school. I'm afraid he will be bored in pre-school and not do well b/c of that. He already knows the alphabet, can write, can count to 100, knows his shapes(even pentagon, octagon, trapazoid, etc). Any input?
2006-09-02 10:43:25 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Preschool
I am going by my experience as a kindergarten teachers aide and I have also been a pre-school teacher
2006-09-02 10:52:06 · update #1
I pretty much raised him until recently when she moved out of my house. I realize that it is her decision and I am not "judging" her. For the past few yrs she has gotten upset anytime it was mentioned to her that he would be going to kindergarten "soon". I think it's that she's not ready more than him not being ready.
2006-09-02 11:01:00 · update #2
As a preschool teacher, I would probably say that if he is that smart and has been around children all his life he doesnt have a social issue and sounds to be sharp as a tack . He needs to go to kindergarten. Like you said preschool will be boring for him. He might become a behavior issue and that will follow him through out his schooling.
2006-09-02 17:05:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have taught first grade for 19 years. Kindergarten is not just for getting used to things any more. By the time students leave kinder in my state, they pretty much need to be able to read.
I have to say that I think that your sister is doing the right thing. I would rather my boys be the oldest in a grade than the youngest. My boys have been identified as gifted as a young age, and I didn't rush their instruction. We had wonderful teachers that saw their giftedness and helped extend their learning. My boys still loved all the kinder activities and having friends their own age.
I can't tell you how many summer birthday boys have had problems in first grade even if they were smart.
Those age limits are there for good reason.
This may not be what you want to hear, but I really hate to see little guys pushed into scholastics too early.
2006-09-02 22:52:16 · answer #2 · answered by queenbee 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wow! He totally sounds ready for kindergarten. Maybe ther is some other reason your sister has for not enrolling him. Be careful of how you handle this you don't want to upset your sister. If your nephews social skills are her only concern, then you could offer to volunteer as the school to help keep an eye in him. Sound like he has already had alot of social interaction. Do you see any problems? Does he share? Has he hit or bit anyone? Does he interact with both boys and girls? Maybe your sister is over protective. He sounds really smart....If your really concerned speak to the Prek teacher and see what they think. Maybe your sister is right.!?
2006-09-02 17:55:27 · answer #3 · answered by LAUSDDISTRICT8MOMOFTHREE 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He probably is ready for kindergarten but it won't hurt for him to spend another year at pre-school if this is what your sister has decided. At least this way, he is spending an extra year of socialising and focusing on play before starting a more formal means of education, which he might not be ready for were he to start now. And when he does start next year, he has the advantage of being one of the older ones in his year, being more social and very ready to get going.
If he does get bored, maybe your sister could enrol him in a few classes such as music, a martial art or learning a foreign language (never too early!) so that his brain isn't left languishing.
2006-09-02 18:42:30 · answer #4 · answered by starchilde5 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Boys can often use the extra time before "real" school in kindergarten to hone their skills, especially social ones. Boys tend to have much more energy and difficulty with the structure and expectations of a classroom environment than girls of the same age, and as a veteran preschool teacher, I have often suggested to parents that they wait another year. 4 is young for a boy to be in kindergarten.... I'm actually surprised that the school district would allow him entry (unless it is a private kindergarten). Kindergarten has a lot tougher standards than they used to, and now, with all the No Child Left Behind requirements, kindergarten is more like 1st grade used to be. It is probably wise of your sister to keep him out one more year. That will help him work on his social skills further.
2006-09-02 17:54:32 · answer #5 · answered by dolphin mama 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
IT depends upon the matturity of the student, his ability to focus for an entire day a opposed to a portion of this day, to follow the serious rules of school as opposed to a more playful environment.
Now kindergarten, is not just getting used to school, that is pre-k. It is school.Most children are expected to read by the end of the kindergarten year. There is a great deal of curriculum expectation as opposed to more social skills training in a pre-k environment. I held my duaghter out of kindergarten for a year, and placed her in a full dayMontessori program instead. The following year she entered kindergarten. She has done well ever since. She is now in her second ear of college and is goloing to be a vet. She has never struggled in school and being one of the eldest as opposed to teh youngest is a good thing.
2006-09-02 17:50:24 · answer #6 · answered by rachel l 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thats exactly what happened to me in Kindergarden! It can be good and bad! I would say put him in and see what happens! if he's bored he might just be put in Kindergarden now! i've seen it first hand and have been in the situation myself! He might end up helping the other kids out then the teacher might not like that very well! I was in trouble alot because of helping the other kids out! It looks like he already has good social skills but it can't hurt for him to get to know other kids besides the ones that he knows now! i been in school since i was about 4 years old so it does help to know first hand how he may feel about it!
2006-09-02 17:53:38 · answer #7 · answered by crystal8345 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Kindergarten USED to be all about that. Now they have to be reading before Christmas. My son won't be 5 until December and I am very glad he is going to wait until next year to go to kindergarten.
Kids do better in school when they are the older ones in the class (esp. boys - not being sexist... it has been tested).
My boy that is in kindergarten now is actually 6. He can read, write, do math, the whole nine yards but he loves going to kindergarten so I am glad we held him back. He is very shy and really needed the time to "grow up".
2006-09-02 17:49:41 · answer #8 · answered by mommato4boys 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, I did alot of research on this a few years ago. My oldest' birthday is Sept 11, yes Sept 11. I was wanting to put her in early and was highly advised not to. Though they may seem smart in the long run it will work out better. These days the schools are demanding so much from out youngest and if she waits a year he devopmentally be ready and likely do alot better than his younger classmates. Studies do show this. Google it!
2006-09-02 17:51:10 · answer #9 · answered by Beth 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your sister must have her reasons, and he will be fine either way.
It isn't your place to judge your sisters decisions though. It is hard enough to be a parent and when family members are challenging your every move with your own kid that could cause more problems then you realize.... Give your sister some breathing room and give her some credit for the job she is doing.
2006-09-02 17:57:21 · answer #10 · answered by Couple of Cents 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋