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delaying kindergarten: our experience as parents and educators

home / Best Of Teach Mama / delaying kindergarten: our experience as parents and educators
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Should I send myย 5-year-old to Kindergarten, or should I wait a year?

What are the benefits of ‘redshirting’ my child for Kindergarten?ย 

Does another year of preschool really make that much of a difference?

What’s the big deal?! It’s KINDERGARTEN!

It’s so funny how often I’ve referenced a piece about our reflections on sending Owen to Kindergarten that I wrote for the DC Moms over five years ago.

Probably a dozen times each and every summer, readers email me with the million-dollar question: Should we send our 5-year-old to Kindergarten or should we wait a year?ย 

delaying kindergarten | our experience as parents and educators | teachmama.com

I send them a link to my article and say, It’s totally your decision, but here’s what I think. . .

So I’m just going to run the piece here, and honestly, I’d love to hear what you think and what your experience has been. ย If your child has a fall or winter birthday, it’s usually not a big deal; it’s a no-brainer. You send your child to school when she’s 6.

But if your child is a late spring or summer birthday, the question sometimes arises: send the child as a young, newly-turned 5-year-old or wait a year until your child is 6?

Here’s what we did:

Delaying Kindergarten: Our Experience As Parents and Educators:

** Originally posted on August 5th, 2011 by amy mascott on the DC Momsย **

Our son turned five last August, and he was slated to start Kindergarten here in Montgomery County three weeks after his fifth birthday.

But we decided to wait a year to send him to Kindergarten.

He didnโ€™t go.ย  We redshirted him, and we couldnโ€™t be happier.

Neighborhood kids who hit the big numero-cinco last summer walked up the street and to the school on August 30, brand new backpacks filled with super-cool supplies, packed lunches, and bellies full of butterflies.

But my son did not join them.

Kids all over the county just days or weeks older than my sonโ€”some even younger than heโ€”sat through five hours of lessons, five days a week, for nine months of this year, but not my son.

Instead, my son scooted to and from the elementary school each day to drop off and pick up his first-grade sister, and he went to three days of pre-Kโ€”one half day and two full days where he stayed for โ€˜lunch bunchโ€™ with his buddies.

Instead of going to Kindergarten, my son, my youngest daughter, and I hit parks, hit libraries, hit nature centers, and hung out during the times they werenโ€™t in preschool.ย  We read books, did puzzles, went grocery shopping, had playdates.ย  We took the Metro into the city, we went to the zoo, we took our dog to the dog park. ย I watched as mathematics and numbers opened up to my son, as his curiosity about the world around him grew and he became a reader.

Instead of beginning his public school career at the ripe old age of five, my son played a little longer.ย  His Matchbox cars, dinosaurs, and Legos saw a lot of action, ran a lot of races, fought a ton of battles.ย  He kicked around at indoor soccer. He helped me try new recipes.ย  We played games.ย  He played with his sister. Some days they were best friends; other days they fought like strange bulldogs.

Sure, waiting a year to start public school meant that we ended up paying a pretty penny for another year of pre-K, but we did it, and we are glad.ย  Though it was a decision that we labored over, talked about for months, and really questioned long after plans were firm, it is a decision we felt was necessary and right for our son.

Both my husband and I are professional educators; he is an administrator who taught both elementary and high school, and I am a Reading Specialist and former high school English teacher.ย  We understand the game, but it doesnโ€™t make a decision like this any easier. It does, however, give us a little more insight as to the demands of school today and what our son will be faced with down the roadโ€”not only in Kindergarten but in grade three, six, nine, twelve.

delaying kindergarten | our experience as parents and educators | teachmama.com

Just because I could quite often discern my โ€˜youngโ€™ ninth grade boys from the others because they were a few steps behind socially doesnโ€™t mean itโ€™s the case for every younger student. Thereโ€™s no scientific proof or compelling data that will demonstrate to us that the decision to redshirt our son was correct. ย Maybe there will be down the road, but thereโ€™s nothing now. We looked. We researched. We had to go with what we felt would be right.

We might say we understand the public school game in our area because we have experience in this arena; we are, however new at this parenting gig for which thereโ€™s no manual, no degree, and no certification.ย  All we know for sure, as we walk this journey is that everyone we leaned on for adviceโ€”every seasoned parent who had to make this same decisionโ€”suggested we wait. They advised us to wait a year on Kindergarten because they did the same for their close-to-the-cutoff birthday child, and they felt it was the best decision they could have madeโ€”for their child, for them as parents, for their whole family.

I will be sad beyond belief come August when my son, newly six and sporting his own brand new backpack, super-cool supplies, packed lunch, and belly full of butterflies, joins the neighborhood kids on their walk to school.ย  I will miss him terribly for the long day heโ€™s in that building just steps away from our home. But he will enter that school more ready for Kindergarten than he was last summer.ย  He will be a more eager learner, a more patient friend, and a more capable student.ย  And it is our simple wish that our decision to wait on Kindergarten will set him up for a more successfulโ€”worthwhile, meaningful, pleasant, and funโ€“thirteen years and then some.

*********

delaying kindergarten | what we did and why teachmama.com update

And now, as parents of a rising 5th grader, did we make the right decision?:

Owen is entering 5th grade this year. Fifth grade. I cannot even believe it.

Though he is not even halfway through his school career, I thinkย it’s worth stepping back again. If we would have sent Owen to Kindergarten as a 5-year-old,ย this yearย our O-Man wouldย be entering the wilds of middle school. Middle school.

And that, my friends, we cannot even imagine.

‘Redshirting’ is a personal decision, made only by totally and completely assessing each individual child and family’s situation. What was right for one kiddo may not be right for another. We all know that. But looking back thus far, was it the best decision for our son?

Absolutely. 110%, yes and yes.

Here’s why:

  • Owen is a bright boy, andย he went to Kindergarten feeling confident in himself and in his abilities. He could write his name, read some words, and play with numbers. He grew tremendously in his last year of pre-K.
  • Because Owen excelled in Kindergarten, he immediately became a confident student and boy.
  • Owen was able to help other students which made him a leader in the class and admired by his peers.
  • Teachersย challenged him and pushed him to go beyond what he believed he could do.
  • Initially, Owen was a bit onย the smaller side, and he has grown into a strong and physically-able young boy, managing P.E. and recess games with no problem.
  • He scored high enough to be put in an accelerated math class which will get him on track to be continually challenged through middle and high school.
  • He has worked through some initial speech issues but has totally become able to communicate effectively with administrators, teachers, and peers.

Now, were thereย times when we had to meet with the teacher to make sure he wasn’t getting lax in his work or over-confident in his abilities? You bet.

Were there times when we had to talk to him about all of the normal kid-things like acting in respectful ways to peers and adults? Yes.

Were there times when he struggled with homework or assignments and needed support? Absolutely.

Were there times when we had to helpย him to workย through playground challenges with peers? Yepper.

delaying kindergarten what we did and why teachmama.com update fb

Always, no matter who the child is,ย the openย line of communication between the teacher, the student, and the parent is super-important and absolutely necessary no matter how the child performs in school. That’s the key, friends. The key.

Overall, we feel as though our decision–this huge decision–set him up for a solid school career. At least we’re hoping. We’ll check back again in a few years and let you know how things are going.

Until then, we’ll keep knocking wood and hoping–no,ย praying–that we’re doing the right things. Because goodness knows, this parenting gig is the toughest yet.

Want a little recent research that supports our decision?

Check out a recent study by Standford University. Interesting stuff.

*********

 

What do you think, friends? What has been your experience with delaying Kindergarten?

I’d love to hear it!

 

how to get your child ready for kindergarten: summertime prep

Want a few cool alphabet activities? Check out:

  • backyard alphabet hunt
  • homemade alphabet book
  • leafy letter learning
  • ABC hunt
  • on the road ABC hunt
  • lowercase ABC hunt
  • build your own bingo: uppercase and lowercase match
  • ABC cards and clothespin match
  • alphabet letter splash
  • alphabingo (play with lowercase letters)
  • alphabet letter lids
  • leafy outdoor alphabet hunt
  • build your own board game
  • clothespin letter match
  • 10 fun ways to learn theย alphabet

And don’t miss our #raiseareader series on YouTube!

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About amy mascott

teacher, mother, dreamer. lover of literacy, fun learning, good food, and three crazy-cool kids. finder of four-leaf clovers | dc metro ยท http://about.me/amymascott
tweet with me: @teachmama

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Oh HEEEEEYYY, @luvvie โ€” did you see that @littletroublemaker made our hallway bulletin board? ๐Ÿ˜‰โ™ฅ๏ธ

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Find it at your favorite bookstore or order here: https://amzn.to/3Pu3tWs

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So if youโ€™re in Maryland, and you happen upon a lonely, little 4-leafer with very little grass, weeds, or leaves around it, I donโ€™t know WHO tried to set you up for success.

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Okayโ€”how do we know if someone has dyslexia? 

Which professionas are able to make that important determination? 

โ–ถ๏ธ Watch to find out. 

Hit me with the questions you still have about dyslexiaโ€”and know we have a few more posts to go!

#demystifyingdyslexia #raiseareader #teachreading #readingteachersofig
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#demystifyingdyslexia #readingteacher #raiseareader #teachreading #dyslexia
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True โœ… or false โŒ?

#demystifyingdyslexia #dyslexiaeducation #readingteacher #raiseareader #teachreading
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What do you know about dyslexia? 

What questions do you have about dyslexia? 

For the next few weeks leading up to my own start to the school year I am sharing a new series called โ€œDe-Mystifying Dyslexiaโ€ and I would love for you to join me! 

Follow in my stories or on the highlight above!

#dyslexia #teading  #readingteacher #raiseareader #demystifyingdyslexia
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(Part 2) 

The series will be shared on IG stories, on tiktok, on the teachmama facebook page, and in the Take 5 newsletter. 

Look for the logo on social, and if you want to receive the whole thing via email, then sign up for Take5 on the link below. 

Iโ€™m really excited about this. Itโ€™s taken a long, long time to create, and the only thing I ask is that you, once viewing it all, could take 2 minutes to give me some feedback. There will be a google form on the last of the slides, at the end of the series. I thank you, I appreciate you, and I look forward to learning along with you.

Join the Take 5 list if you want this series to land in your inbox: 
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#raiseareader #demystifyingdyslexia #readingteacher teachersofIG dyslexia teachreading
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Hi and thank you for your interest in watching my โ€˜de-mystifying dyslexiaโ€™ series. 

My name is Amy Mascott, and Iโ€™m a reading specialist and former high school English teacher. Iโ€™m also the creator of teachmama.com  where since 2008, Iโ€™ve helped families make meaningful connections with their kids and build bridges between home and school. 

As an educator, Iโ€™m always trying to share important informationโ€”bc I really think that when we know better, we do better. This series is part of my final project for a course Iโ€™m taking through Advancement Courses called โ€˜understanding dyslexiaโ€™. 

And as a reading teacher, I need to know all I can about this condition. What I realized is that I had a lot to learnโ€”maybe you, as a parent or teacher yourself, can also stand to learn a little bit. 

Maybe, like me, youโ€™ve grown up thinking that dyslexia was a condition where people read letters backwardsโ€”b for d or p for g? Maybe you thought, like I did, that if a person was dyslexic, they saw all of the letters jumbled together on the page? Iโ€™m here to tell you that both of those things are untrue. 

So if you would like to learn a little about dyslexiaโ€”if you would like for me to โ€˜de-mystify dyslexiaโ€™ for you, then follow along! 

(Continued on next VIDEO)

#readingteacher #teachersofIG #demystifyingdyslexia

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Oh HEEEEEYYY, @luvvie โ€” did you see that @littletroublemaker made our hallway bulletin board? ๐Ÿ˜‰โ™ฅ๏ธ

(Itโ€™s what Rusty the ๐ŸฆŠ is currently reading.) 

Find it at your favorite bookstore or order here: https://amzn.to/3Pu3tWs

(This is my affiliate link, so when you use it, I will earn a small percentage of the sale, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for using my link and supporting my small business!)

#readingteacher #raiseareader #kidlit #bestbooks #linkinbio
View
Open
How can people with dyslexia learn to read? ๐Ÿค”

Here are the 3๏ธโƒฃ elements that reading instruction should contain in order to be most effective for students with dyslexiaโ€”

#demystifyingdyslexia #raiseareader #readingteacher #teachreading #dyslexiaawareness
View
Open
Lately when I find four leaf clovers, Iโ€™ve been leaving them. ๐Ÿ€๐Ÿคท๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ

So if youโ€™re in Maryland, and you happen upon a lonely, little 4-leafer with very little grass, weeds, or leaves around it, I donโ€™t know WHO tried to set you up for success.

#yougotthis #keepyoureyesopen #itsthelittlethings #kilpattyluck
View
Open
Okayโ€”how do we know if someone has dyslexia? 

Which professionas are able to make that important determination? 

โ–ถ๏ธ Watch to find out. 

Hit me with the questions you still have about dyslexiaโ€”and know we have a few more posts to go!

#demystifyingdyslexia #raiseareader #teachreading #readingteachersofig
View
Open
What are some of the common signs of dyslexia?

Watch to learn and find out!

#demystifyingdyslexia #readingteacher #raiseareader #teachreading #dyslexia
View
Open
True โœ… or false โŒ?

#demystifyingdyslexia #dyslexiaeducation #readingteacher #raiseareader #teachreading
View
Open
What do you know about dyslexia? 

What questions do you have about dyslexia? 

For the next few weeks leading up to my own start to the school year I am sharing a new series called โ€œDe-Mystifying Dyslexiaโ€ and I would love for you to join me! 

Follow in my stories or on the highlight above!

#dyslexia #teading  #readingteacher #raiseareader #demystifyingdyslexia
View
Open
(Part 2) 

The series will be shared on IG stories, on tiktok, on the teachmama facebook page, and in the Take 5 newsletter. 

Look for the logo on social, and if you want to receive the whole thing via email, then sign up for Take5 on the link below. 

Iโ€™m really excited about this. Itโ€™s taken a long, long time to create, and the only thing I ask is that you, once viewing it all, could take 2 minutes to give me some feedback. There will be a google form on the last of the slides, at the end of the series. I thank you, I appreciate you, and I look forward to learning along with you.

Join the Take 5 list if you want this series to land in your inbox: 
https://take5.teachmama.com/

#raiseareader #demystifyingdyslexia #readingteacher teachersofIG dyslexia teachreading
View
Open
Hi and thank you for your interest in watching my โ€˜de-mystifying dyslexiaโ€™ series. 

My name is Amy Mascott, and Iโ€™m a reading specialist and former high school English teacher. Iโ€™m also the creator of teachmama.com  where since 2008, Iโ€™ve helped families make meaningful connections with their kids and build bridges between home and school. 

As an educator, Iโ€™m always trying to share important informationโ€”bc I really think that when we know better, we do better. This series is part of my final project for a course Iโ€™m taking through Advancement Courses called โ€˜understanding dyslexiaโ€™. 

And as a reading teacher, I need to know all I can about this condition. What I realized is that I had a lot to learnโ€”maybe you, as a parent or teacher yourself, can also stand to learn a little bit. 

Maybe, like me, youโ€™ve grown up thinking that dyslexia was a condition where people read letters backwardsโ€”b for d or p for g? Maybe you thought, like I did, that if a person was dyslexic, they saw all of the letters jumbled together on the page? Iโ€™m here to tell you that both of those things are untrue. 

So if you would like to learn a little about dyslexiaโ€”if you would like for me to โ€˜de-mystify dyslexiaโ€™ for you, then follow along! 

(Continued on next VIDEO)

#readingteacher #teachersofIG #demystifyingdyslexia

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