Is it ok to keep my son out of school until he is 6 years old instead of 5?

Question

He is very smart but emotionally immature.

Answer 1

Here in California it's legal to opt out of Kindergarten, where most kids start at 5 years old. So, if you want to wait until he is 6 and send him to right into first grade and it's legal where you live, go ahead. However, my son is the same way, "He is very smart but emotionally immature," and I put him in preschool about eight months prior to Kindergarten and this seems to have helped him adjust to school. I recommend preschool, especially if you decide to skip Kindergarten.

Answer 2

Sure, totally up to you. My youngest son will just be turning 5 when kindergarten starts. He's only 3 now but I'm already wondering if he'll be ready or not. My oldest son turned 6 in October and didn't start kindergarten until the next September. He is on the older end of his peers but he has always been an amazing student. No discipline problems and his academic growth has been wonderful. Our school district has an option of a transition grade between kindergarten and first grade for kids who need a little extra time. You should ask your school district what your options are. Just do what you think is best for your child. Good luck :)

Answer 3

I really wish I had waited.
I sent my son to 3 year old kinder then onto 4 year old kinder.
He turned 3 in the Dec and started in January, then onto four year old kinder just after he turned 4.
he is now in prep, and unfortunatly now, he is approx 6 months behind (which would have been the wait period) and I now have to decide to start prep again or try and get through grade 1.

If I had the choice again, I would have waited. There is no worse feeling as a mother and for the child, when it becomes an issue. My little fellow is excited about going into grade 1, when there may not be a choice. My next boy I will be waiting and not pushing so quickly. It really is making a difference.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

I would. If you think that he is not ready emotionally, then keep him out one more year. If your school offers it, have him tested for a preschool program. Our school district has a preschool program that is wonderful. Instead of sending my daughter to K I signed her up for preK. It gave her an extra year to prepare emotionally. She started K a little over a month before she turned six. Her birthday is in two weeks and she will be turning 7 while in the 1st grade.
I do not agree with putting them into school and then holding them back. They form friendships through the year and holding them back, they see all of their friends in the next grade and it is hard for them to understand why they are still a grade behind.

Good luck, remember you are the parent and only you know whats best, not a bunch of strangers on the Internet.

Answer 5

Absolutely! You know your son better than anybody else, and if you feel he is not emotionally ready for school, that will be the best decision for him. My daughter missed the cutoff date for Kindergarten. I could have tested her early like all the rest of my friends whose kids fell into that age bracket, but I did not feel she was emotionally ready, even though she was super smart and reading by then. I'll forever be grateful for the extra year I had with her. And, she grew more independent during that year and was successful in Kindergarten.

Every teacher I discussed this with say they are thankful of those parents who held their kids back because they weren't emotionally ready for school. Your son has years to go to school, let him have one more year to grow a little more independent and mature, and give you a little more time with him!

Answer 6

Most people assume you have to send your child at age 5 when actually you can wait until 6. I had a daughter who had a late august birthday and so I kept her home alother year. She could have gone, but I thought she could use the added year later in life and be the older one with more maturity rather than the youngest one. She has done quite well and is a junior in High school now. It is really your decision alone. Whatever you decide on will be fine. trust your own instincts. No one knows your child better than you do!

Answer 7

The thing is, if he's smart now, and smarter than the kids who are a year younger then him, he's going to be bored and/or getting into trouble when he's older. If for any reason he gets held back a year (I would've been held back for attendance one year that I was out two weeks due to illness and another two weeks due to an out-of-state emergency funeral had I had to adhere to the attendance guidelines that were in place when my brother went through high school) he'll be 20 years old by the time he graduates high school. There were many things I was wanting to do at age 20, and attending high school wasn't on the list. Everyone that I know who was held back for a year before starting kindergarten was bored later in school. He'll gain maturity by attending school with kids his age.

Answer 8

Especially if he seems "immature". That's what they told me about my son because he started when he was 5. I've been told this just about every single year because he is one of the youngest in his class. Could just be an excuse they use for his behavior; however if I had a choice I would probably wait another year. He's such a bright child that I felt it would be great for him. I'm sure he wishes I'd have waited. It's truly a personal choice I think. OR it depends on where his birthday falls.

G'luck.

Answer 9

Yes for sure. If he is immature, he will probably be a disruption to the class and find himself unable to keep still and will in some cases be branded a problem child.
Sadly not his fault. I do not put brands on any of my students, but I know many members of the staff that do. This year, I have three 11 yr olds in my classroom. You are the one that knows your child the best and what is best for him.
( Mom of 4 and Connie 5th. grade teacher )

Answer 10

How would he mature at home? Would you take him to more playgroups and social settings?

I have to agree with the first answerer -- let him try it, and hold him back if necessary. Also, get him involved in more social things -- a sport, or some sort of craft club, or something he likes to do.

Then again, waiting until he is six isn't that big of a deal, really. He'll be stronger than the other kids, but if he isn't intellectually challenged, he may be more inclined to make trouble.

I'd really talk to the school. They must have a counsellor or someone who can help you with this decision.