Debating academic redshirting my son

What do you think?? Do you ever go in to watch him in Pre-K? Do you see the other kids-- Is he keeping up? From how you explain he just isn't writing his name-- Can't they keep on working with him for the rest of the year and you guys throughout the summer? I think teachers push the kids too hard- too fast. Let him be a kid.. My gosh they are already pushing him and he really hasn't started school. I think that ultimatly this will be your and your husbands decision. Good luck!

Do not hold him back my daughter could not write very well at all and I still have problems reading her writing(lefty) she went through very small curved etc but please do not hold him back, work with him to draw in the sand write in work books at least 15 mins a day it will improve but if he is held back it might affect him later on. I took my child to Sylvan to help her. Try everything but holding him back please.

My oldest turned 5 the April before he started kindergarten and he was fine. We didn't have pre-k or anything like that, so he "learned" it all in kindergarten. If you feel he's going to be ok, put him in, if he's having problems then you know you can change it. Just remember, they will only strive for what you show them their max is. If you put the standards low, he will only acheive that far.

I would try getting a 2nd opinion on this. I would also really talk to the teacher and see if that's the reason why she would hold him back. Usually teachers have several reasons for holding a child back. My friend is a kidnergarten teacher and she sees kids all the time that should've been held back. They just aren't ready at all. She says though she's never had a child that should move ahead. I think that's interesting. Also, I would talk to your pediatrician and see if they have any recommendations.

Have you talked to your son about it? Maybe if he understands that it is a big deal he may try harder. My son is like that too. He is smart but gets burnt out by things. When we quit pushiing so hard he learned at his own pace and was actualy learning faster thatn when we were trying to teach him. Every child is different. You need to find out the best solution for your son and not let the school tell him what he needs.

Well, my son will be 5 in mid-June. We made the decision to hold him back another year in pre-school because of his birthday. We felt that, while it may not make that much of a difference in elementary school, it may cause problems in high school if he is late entering puberty. My husband says that it is awful to be the smallest boy in your high school. Your younger than most of your classmates, you are physically smaller, your voice may not have changed, and when most of your classmates are driving you might still be too young to even take driver's ed. I would rather my son be the biggest, strongest and oldest in his class than the smallest, weakest and youngest. Since your son is having so much trouble with the letters of his name, have you or the teacher considered having him tested for any learning challenges? I hate the term learning disability, because the child is not disabled, he is challenged. Anyways, dyslexia is very common in boys and most go undiagnosed until almost Jr. High, but when caught early you can help your child learn ways to cope and deal with it. It might be something you want to look into since it seems his only "issue" is with his letters and writing. It could be that he is having so much trouble that he just decides not to deal with it. Also, is your child left handed? Lefties have a harder time learnign their letters and writing.

I can remember a friend of mine who had a child in a daycare. A bunch of "altruistic" people from an educational service offered to test all the kids in an age group. Little things like identifying colors, writing and the like. She asked me if I thought she should allow her child to be tested...my answer was absolutely not. I think your best move right now is to tell the teacher to stop working the child so much. Her ideas about what is best for him and her attention might create some emotional issues that are undesireable, when it comes to learning. You can continue working with him at home but every child has the right to develope at their own rate. Remember, Albert Einstein had a few developmental issues himself. I didn't experience any formal education, meaning kindergarten, until I was 6 because of where my birthdate fell. My sons didn't start until they were 6, they are twins, because of where their birthdate fell. It might be best to let your son wait until he is 6 also, but not because of his writing issues. IF you decide to allow him to wait another year, then be sure to NOT leave him where he is attending now. The teacher's view of him is already tainted. His appearing to be above average now has little bearing on his success later. learning levels off after about 2nd or 3rd grade and you don't see big leaps and bounds because humans just aren't made that way. Don't be surprised if things settle down and he's an average kid.

Each child has its own individual differences. The teacher should respect that. Holding him back is not the solution. The teacher should identify why your son doesn't have the interest to write and why does he get bored. How would your son feel if all of his friends are in kindergarten and he is still in Pre-K program wouldn't that lower his self-esteem? You really have to sit down and talk to your son's teacher and discussed more about your son's behavior.