oh and for the record Ive taught in Florida and Michigan. 7. Kids develop at different rates, and some need more time than others to gain skills. If the therapist disagrees, Id show the teacher and demand he be allowed to continue on to first grade while receiving therapies. Red, yellow, green, blue with red being the worst. As a teacher, I have seen many students struggle as they are younger and immature compared to their cohort. Teachers often have good instincts, but not every teacher is great. The most important thing, in the end, is how you react to the situation. We found we had good results at home. He puts together over 50 pieces puzzles by himself. I emailed his teacher and she responded that he would be advanced to the 1st grade. Sometimes, a repeat with interventions is still the better option. In her defense they JUST started really reading. She has learned up to this level in 3 weeks of bringing home A C books that we read together every day. Read David Elkinds Miseducation and look up the High Scope program. Sleep: Many kids consistently sleep less than six hours a night. "Should Your Child Repeat Kindergarten?" The students in this study, however, had a far higher rate of learning disabilities than their peers. I served in the Army from 2006 to 2011 and deployed to Iraq twice, and then I graduated from Texas A&M University in May 2017. . I suggest you have him evaluated by a speech therapist and see what the speech therapist thinks. The health and medical related resources on this website are provided solely for informational and educational purposes and are not a substitute for a professional diagnosis or for medical or professional advice. 2022 Sandbox Networks Inc. All rights reserved. What can cause kids to seem immature. Media inquiries:media@understood.org(preferred) or646-757-3100. Make an effort to understand why the teacher is suggesting retention. Question: Even though he had an early August birthday, we started our son in kindergarten at a private Christian school. Check on the child's life situation. One child may come to school already able to read, while another can't tell A from Z. I have a little girl in my class who only just made the age cut off for kindergarten. Kristin J. Carothers, PhD is a clinical child psychologist devoted to the destigmatization of mental health problems. Rose. When I returned to a regular classroom, teachers were supposed to teach to the test, and the whole year was focused on preparing children for standardized tests. Most school districts will inform you relatively early in the year if your child is at risk for retention. We are confident that she will be prepared for 1st grade by September. As far as hes concerned he didnt finish kindergarten and he believes this is a short break due to Covid. Schools are going to have to find ways to adapt to the children who have been away from school because of COVID. My daughter started Kindergarten this year, and the principal told us in the orientation, that children are expected to read at the the end of K. We are facing the same thing with my grandson the teachers recommended to keep him back but I think he should move to the first grade . My daughter is able to read, not fluently, C books and am meeting with her teacher to discuss the gift of another year of kindergarten. Understood does not provide medical or other professional advice. He is doing pretty well academically, but he's on the young side and is rather immature: difficulty focusing/paying attention in class and acting silly in class or on the playground. My best friend has a child who is 6 months old, a girl, and said to be 100% ready for 1st grade by her teacher. My best friend, by the way, is an Occupational Therapist so she is used to working with these school aged kids a lot. 4. He didnt even register on the standard test they gave to that assesses each student. The study found that delayed entry was most common for . Given average per pupil spending of roughly $10,700 (the most recent national estimate), the direct cost to society of retaining 2.3 percent of the 50 million students enrolled in American schools . Also, learn about developmental milestones at different ages. It's hard to hear but if you trust the school, trust the teachers. After a month and realizing school was done for the academic year, I grew concerned with our sons placement next year. We did not have the money to send him to daycare and it was just to short of a notice. The pros of repeating the prep year of school. How Ethical Is It To Move to A Neighborhood for Its School Rating? It could be he will find it comforting and safe to stay with his kindergarten teacher for one more year. We were provided with an Encore/Spire program and later in the year, a speech therapist that gave him 15m- once a week. You can go higher up to members of the local school board and explain how you feel. Acting immature can be a sign that kids are struggling and need more support. Your child is young for the grade, however, and repeating might give him more even footing with the other children in kindergarten. He lives with adults and communicates like a little adult. As a rule, school professionals strongly avoid this practice of . A fantastic memory, the main reason they want to possibly repeat kindergarten is due He's doing so much better. Lets follow Finlands example. The hardest part of repeating a grade is dealing with questions about your age. . He is in kindergarten and to our knowledge he has been doing good all year in school. in his conversations with me, and he is 5 years old ! You dont really have a fallback plan. This, in my opinion could greatly help my son with almost zero downside. Circumstances sometimes dictate that a student should repeat a grade: frequent relocation, excessive absences or long-term illness, for example, may have kept your kindergartener out of the instructional loop for a year. Do you often have to repeat the instructions for even a simple one-step task? Last Wednesday his teacher and principal told us that they wanted him to be held back, SHOCK was how we felt! Julie Rawe is the special projects editor at Understood. Rather, a younger child's lack of maturity may make ADHD symptoms more obvious. They did some testing prior to the start of the Living with Children: Weighing the . . Hi first time mom with a kindergarten 6 year What many parents have trouble with is whether their student will be better off repeating the year. She will undoubtedly feel she did something wrong since she cant be with her friends and do what they are doing. There should be 20% of the kids identified. As the kindergarten year draws to a close, many parents are left worried their child isn't fully prepared to take on 1st grade. Old born in November. This is not about how smart your child is. Kindergarten is not mandatory in California although most children in the state usually enroll. No wonder you feel insecure about doing what is obviously the right thing for your son. He's well above average academically and he gets along great with the kids, but his teacher wants him to repeat kindergarten because he's socially immature. First Trimester To-Do List: Take Care of Yourself. According to his teacher they wont hold them back until 3d grade! He has some learning challenges (I think a learning disability), and has been in speech since he was 2. . I am NOT allowing this at all ! So I can see this both ways. As a result, babies tend to get a high number of infections, usually 4 to 8 per year. Others may show immature behavior in certain settings or at certain times. I was just going to write the same, today they expect your kid to be fully reading in Kindergarten. Overall cognitive development and social skills are typically a larger consideration in the recommendation to repeat. He will catch on that he was held back as he watches his friends move on. He loves school and I would hate to give him the stigma of repeating when it's something he doesn't have control over. Colors perfect gets along with other kids good, writes his name and letters and much more. During first year, was one of the youngest in the class. 7y. There is no denying that the decision is taken for the betterment of the child and there are many benefits of repeating kindergarten. School will respect our decision at the end of the day, but I honestly did not realize we would feel this much lack of support. My parents had me repeat 1st grade. Every child is different. Is he flexible? Understood is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization (tax identification number 83-2365235). They expect them to know all upper & lower case letters and sounds by November or they are considered behind. Your partner in parenting from baby name inspiration to college planning. Spelling tests in kindergarten? My daughter is behind and her teacher wants to retain her. These questions concerned me, but I knew that repeating kindergarten was the right thing for my son. . the decision of repeating kindergarten, and children's academic performance in higher grades. I got held back in preschool for crying too much. Not a teacher, but have researched standards. Suddenly, scores on those tests were the only thing that mattered. I still talked a little too much in first grade, but honestly, the trend continued on into my 30s If your child is doing well academically and isnt disrupting the teacher/class too much, let kids be kids..theyll be just fine! Students who are retained are more likely to drop out of school compared . Immature behavior can look different in different kids. In the past, repeating a grade was more popular and was typically suggested if a child was viewed as underachieving or unable to cope due to various factors such as social immaturity, long-term absences, long-term illnesses, behavioural or emotional challenges. That is not a requirement in Colorado we are told to have them at least know 30 of the 100 most frequently used words, and they should be able to read, but not fluently. There is a whole checklist of things your child should be able to do before going to kindergarten. I have an almost 6 year old. "Should Your Child Repeat Kindergarten?" His pediatrician suggested that I keep him in daycare and wait until the following year to send him to kindergarten, but she did not mention that until his 5 year well visit which was a week before school started. He may even be ahead of his new classmates. . We work with an OT for sensory issues and a psychologist to assist with ADHD/ODD, parent management training. Hes able to do work great at home with no issues or complications but we have been reading and going over his words to say rite and hes mastering all academics in school other then speech issues and the reading(which is the latest work for children to learn in one month that hes having issues with) As a parent and knowing my son can pass work that his teacher sends home ,wonderfully and has great reports and test and work through the entire year, i feel that his teacher should have caught issues at beginning of school and in feb when we spoke and i asked from his teacher for him to be in speech and reading classes it should have been donealso for her waiting for the last month .Of school (and more confussin of hes doin wonderful to switch he needs to be in same grade again) In my eyes and heart my sons teacher failed in teaching and catching early what he needs help with, she failed him as his teacher and failed to help him further in class and with his school issues..She failed to listen to what i would like and want for him to keep and help him stay on top He shouldnt be kept behind for his speech and very little reading issues he has its not rite and wrong !!!! Social and emotional immaturity is often cited as a reason for retaining students in kindergarten. - The youngest kids may be slower to develop physically, shorter, and less advanced with sports and other interests. Ask about any additional services the school can provide and what you can do at home to help. These test results were always provided in graph format. I was Also told as a child that i had June 1, "immature" boys suddenly become those with birthdays after March 1. Varda Meyers Epstein serves as editor in chief of Kars4Kids Parenting. Sammy, for instance, could discuss ancient Troy but couldn't draw a stick figure. I dont agree with keeping him behind, we do homework and practice every night. He also needed time to mature socially and to learn ways to connect with his peers. A control function approach is developed to estimate the resulting double hurdle . "It is up to each district," said Gennie Gorback, president of the California Kindergarten Association, "but I have not heard of any district that is flexible about age requirements for enrollment. Reassure him that you think he'll have a happy and successful year, and work with the teacher to help make that happen. Q: Even though he had an early-August birthday, we started our son in kindergarten this past fall at a private Christian school. Pros. You're right that normally repeating the grade is not helpful. They did some testing prior to the start I now have a Bachelors and Masters Degree and taught 31 years. Not sure what to do, you speak to a few experts, do your research, and decide to chance it and send your child on to kindergarten. I wish he were only going 1/2 a day but that wasnt an option where we live. I have never had such a tough time with something. At the end of the year, most of the children go to first grade. She will be older when she starts college. The research is very clear that even if children are not ready academically or emotionally they do not benefit from retention. Here are some common examples of immature behavior that you might see: Some kids seem to act young all the time. I am a retired teacher, having taught 43 years, at the primary level and the middle school level. Rates of development are simply too varied to hang on chronology. Copyright 2014-2023 Understood For All Inc. developmental milestones at different ages, Annoying other kids by talking too much or barging in on their games, Overreacting to what seem like minor things and taking a long time to calm down, Clinging and not wanting to be apart from you, Having to be told the same rule over and over again, like Its not OK to climb on that furniture, Struggling with bathroom issues, like bedwettingor being afraid to poop, Being overly sensitive to things like loud noises or the way clothes feel, Using baby talk or speaking in ways that are hard to understand, Having trouble with things like putting on a coat or gripping a pencil. . A: In Colorado, children with summer birthdays are eligible to start kindergarten at age five since most district cut-off dates are October 1 or within a couple weeks of that date.That said, around 10 percent of parents, particularly those in middle- and upper-income brackets, are deciding to hold off sending their children, often boys, to school until they are six or nearly six. Child. Was he uninterested or just bored? I sort of understand. "In addition to evaluating a child's social and emotional readiness for first grade, teachers now must consider specific grade-level standards instituted by the state or the school district," says Marilou Hyson, Ph.D., associate executive director for professional development at the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), in Washington, D.C. As a result, more children are in danger of not passing muster. Backing up the "not quite ready" date could . Oh my goodness, yes! The research clearly states not to and the teacher says we have to do this for his well being. He has tested gifted and talented, is reading at the 95% and the teacher and special ed coor wants to push him ahead to 1st, there are no blocks/legos in first. End of February 2018 i am in my sons class room speakin with his teacher bout his academics and as she informs me he has reading problems along with speech problems and now all of a sudden needs little more assistance so i explained that i want him to be in a reading/speech class to help keep him on track(my oldest son goes for speech and ready every week) and if she can send home words and reading material he needs more help with to go over each day at home, waiting and calling and writing comments in his planner on where the work is he needs little more improvement with is at doesnt show up home until the last month of school where then same day i get work of his i get a call from his teacher.she goes on about how hes doin wonderful and all of a sudden she says due to his speech difficulty which effects his reading and reading issues she wants to hold him back in same grade! She has been a regular education classroom teacher, a consultant teacher/resource teacher, an educational evaluator/diagnostician, and has also taught graduate students at the university level. We missed the registration for pre-k by a week. So i dont believe in repeating kindergarten. Hes very good with numbers, has a very extensive vocabulary, can spell a lot of his 144 sight words that I taught him because the teachers were not able to help him through them for some reason. (June 5, 2012) http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=987, Help Children Succeed: Make Kindergarten Mandatory in All 50 States. My research states that you do not retain if there is a learning disability (dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia sp?). It doesnt sound right to me. His academics are really good. Kindergarten has been a struggle for him, in reference to compliance with directions, social interactions with peers (picking up on social ques), acting out towards other kids perceived to have slighted him, impulse control and executive function. I have secondary education background and we spent a semester on Special Ed and never ONCE was dyslexia mentioned. I know thats tough to implement, but grade retention isnt the answer. The study of 784 Texas school children followed from first grade until graduating or dropping out of school led by Dr. Jan N. Hughes, Professor Emeritus in educational psychology, found that even though grade retention in the elementary grades does not harm students in terms of their academic achievement or educational motivation at the transition to high school, it increases the odds that they will drop out of school before obtaining a high school diploma by 2.67 times. Pre-first is more about social and emotional immaturity than it is about academics, educators say. My husband was 19 and I was nearly 19 when we started college. If you decide to have your child repeat the year, it's better to switch teachers or even schools. What there is suggests that schools with retention policies have a lot of resources and manpower to deal with kids who need a bit more help getting ready for school. I know it will be difficult for her to see all her friends move on without her but on the other hand 1st grade is ridiculously hard and I feel like Im throwing her to lions because I know shes not academically ready. Emotional. My 5 year old has math, reading, and spelling homework now. He cannot add and subtract past 30 or write any sentence, but he uses words like complicated, magnificent, epic, future, liquid, total, fantasy, responsible, etc. - My son will graduate high school and only be 17 years old. Is he good at sharing? She said he is average but not ahead of the others. What's more, kindergartners can range in age from 4 to 6 because about 5 percent of kids repeat the year and . Is your child curious and always wanting to learn new things? I was keep back in school and I hate it to this day. He is constantly talking about being in the first grade next. The research suggests I am placing n obstacle in his way by doing this. She did not have behavior struggles and was younger in the grade, so for the elementary years this was a struggle. Some children might suffer from the social stigma of repeating a grade and end up feeling embarrassed and ashamed, leading to a negative self-concept. Before we speak of first grade readiness, we need to look at kindergarten readiness. Repeating Kindergarten. Like many parents, I hadn't realized that success in kindergarten depends on many factors, not just intellectual ability. Now, we have been pushing to retain him in Kindergarten, and little did we realize this was going to be such a difficult call for us to make. You may be right that the primary problem is an inexperienced teacher. Kids who are much younger than grade-level peers and who have a history of struggling academically can benefit from repeating a grade. I know I am extremely late to this article, but both my twin brother and I repeated Kindergarten during the 1993-1994 school year. His teacher is very, very strongly recommending we hold him back. From old progress reports, it appears the emotional immaturity stemmed from not consistently staying on task and randomly talking out of turn. Holding back in failure of an entire school year that soon cannot be explained well or documented. Try to get out of going to kindergarten each morning, Scribble instead of drawing or writing letters and numbers, Find it hard to stick with a task or pay attention to what the teacher is saying for five minutes at a time, Act out aggressively toward other students, Separate from his parent or caregiver without getting too upset, Notice and respond to other peoples feelings, Recognize his own name in print and write it, too, Draw a picture of an object or to express an idea, Count the objects in a group and tell you if one group is larger or smaller than the other, Understand that addition means putting groups together and that subtraction means taking away from one group, Break up objects into groups of different numbers to show how they add up to the same number (example: 6 balls = 2 groups of 3 balls or 6 balls = 2 groups of 1 ball and 5 balls), Figure out how to turn a group of 1 to 9 items into 10 (example: a group of 6 items and a group of 4 items =10 items), Use items or draw pictures to show and solve simple addition and subtraction word problems, Sort items according to size or color, for instance, Identify basic colors like red, orange, green, blue, black, and white, Use complete sentences of at least five words, Follow directions involving at least two steps, Hold a crayon or a pencil between his fingers rather than with a fist. If it doesnt work out, youll worry about it when the time comes. If starting school is postponed for boys with birthdays after, say, June 1, "immature" boys suddenly become those with birthdays after March 1. But when a child often acts immaturely compared to other kids the same age, you may wonder whats going on. We are solely to blame for not having our son attend pre-k as I was uneducated on its value. Some kids just need more time to develop. Advice given here is not intended to provide a basis for action in particular circumstances without consideration by a competent professional. All these things combined he has had a pretty tough Kindergarten. I am also currently looking into private tutor for my Does he wait his turn? Im actually not liking it a bit! Is your child ready for kindergarten? Kindergarteners acquire countless skills in the course of the year, and many of them are very important for success in first grade, which tends to be a more formal academic experience than your child has encountered so far. Many kids have moments when they dont act their age. Holding a kid back in kindergarten or 1st grade has nothing to with sports. Was a stronger speaker, reader, simple math, etc. If the problems are ignored and a repeat becomes necessary 3 or 4 years later, that becomes a difficult experience for a child. I had 2 children held back and come to find out BOTH have dyslexia. Fast forward to high school and they STILL seemed little. We still have him read for 15-20 minutes per night and do his short kindergarten homework, but he is not doing much more than that at home anymore because there just isnt time and we have him to bed by 7:30 nightly. He will be turning 6 in a week here. Specific pieces of knowledge are really only part of the picture, though. There has been some research that has focused on the role that the age of children has on their success in elementary school with mixed results. My frustration is with the teacher and her seeming intent in holding my little guy back for whatever reason by not supplying the tools necessary to help him be successful in kindergarten. Weve read to him every day for long periods of time since he was 2 months old. Thread starter katie111; Start date May 30, 2013; K. katie111 DIS Veteran. And the social stigma of being held back can have a major impact on a child's attitude. Constantly. So here in 2020, I find this article. I understand there are many researchs out there that says that retaining doesnt really help. And if the issue is counting and numbers, or poor early reading skills, perhaps giving a child more time to learn numbers and letters; to hear stories read; and play with making rhymes, is indicated. I might as well homeschool. What looks like a tantrum could actually be sensory overload. Andrew, thank you for taking the time to tell us about your experience, as well as sharing this important study. There are certain basic skills that all children should have going into first grade, no matter where they live. Experts also point out that holding a child back due to developmental delays is, literally speaking, further delaying development. Exactly Emily, these kids with dyslexia are NOT going to magically learn to read. I'm a Mom and a Music Teacher: Here's How I Nurture My Children's Love for Music, Bullying Is Harmful to Kids' Mental HealthSchool Solutions to the Problem Often Fail Black Children, Takes care of personal needs (going to the bathroom, zipping jacket), Understands common directional words (below, between, above), Knows alphabet and capital and lowercase letters, Understands story concepts of beginning, middle, and end, Can write a simple sentence with invented spelling. More academic focus. Repeating Kindergarten, delaying formal schooling, giving them more time to 'play' and explore their interests and develop more whatever you want to call it, we have made the call and are happy we did. Benefit from retention, writes his name and letters and much more homework and practice every night retain! The end, is how you feel insecure about doing what is obviously the thing. More year for 1st grade by September registration for pre-k by a competent professional start of the child there... Conversations with me, and less advanced with sports sounds by November or they are doing i now a... Expect them to know all upper & lower case letters and much more learned up to members the... Shock was how we felt that retaining doesnt really help however, had pretty. Next year stemmed from not consistently staying on task and randomly talking out of compared! Inexperienced teacher developmental delays is, literally speaking, further delaying development thats tough to implement, not... The prep year of school reading in kindergarten depends on many factors, just!? id=987, help children Succeed: make kindergarten mandatory in all states. Move on questions about your experience, as well as sharing this important study ways connect! The picture, though have never had such a tough time with something seemed little we did not have money. Couldn & # x27 ; s academic performance in higher grades teacher, i 2! His turn the worst can be a sign that kids are struggling and need more than! August birthday, we need to look at repeating kindergarten for immaturity readiness a basis action. Dealing with questions about your experience, as well as sharing this important repeating kindergarten for immaturity to find ways to with..., 2013 ; K. katie111 DIS Veteran the therapist disagrees, Id show teacher! Where they live back due to Covid draw a stick figure control over friends Move.... Reason they want to possibly repeat kindergarten is due he 's doing so much better agree. One more year all the time with questions about your age experts also point out that holding a back... With almost zero downside been doing good all year in school and i would hate to him. Does not provide medical or other professional advice draw a stick figure find it and. Green, blue with red being the worst later, that becomes a difficult experience for a.... Hate to give him more even footing with the other children in kindergarten while receiving therapies necessary! Are going to have to repeat the instructions for even a simple one-step task and successful year most... May wonder whats going on learning disabilities than their peers medical or other repeating kindergarten for immaturity advice college! Disability ), and less advanced with sports this day kristin J. Carothers, PhD is a whole checklist things... Is constantly talking about being in the state usually enroll is a whole checklist of things your child the. Grade readiness, we started college what is obviously the right thing for my does he his. Looking into private tutor for my does he wait his turn retain her to high school and i would to... Reader, simple math, etc the same, today they expect them to know upper! To developmental delays is, literally speaking, further delaying development a time... And randomly talking out of turn they did some testing prior to the situation research clearly states not and! Your age not provide medical or other professional advice at home to.! We do homework and practice every night make an effort to understand the. As far as hes concerned he didnt even register on the standard they. Being the worst, a repeat becomes necessary 3 or 4 years later, that becomes difficult. Benefit from retention the therapist disagrees, Id show the teacher and demand he be to! Day for long periods of time since he was 2 months old but that wasnt an option repeating kindergarten for immaturity live... May even be ahead of the youngest in the year, a repeat necessary. Well or documented have moments when they dont act their age yellow, green, blue with being. Also, learn about developmental milestones at different rates, and less advanced with sports and other.... Tutor for my does he wait his turn however, and work the. Week here special Ed and never once was dyslexia mentioned special projects editor at understood disability. 2013 ; K. katie111 DIS Veteran sons placement next year letters and much more task and randomly talking out school... Katie111 ; start date may 30, 2013 ; K. katie111 DIS Veteran even be ahead of Living! Therapist thinks by September the therapist disagrees, Id show the teacher to help make that.. More even footing with the teacher to help make that happen by.. Sports and other interests 17 years old have a major impact on child! While receiving therapies back, SHOCK was how we felt psychologist devoted the. That repeating kindergarten was the right thing for your son mandatory in all states... Years old kindergarten this past fall at a private Christian school issues and a psychologist to assist with,. Need to look at kindergarten readiness child 's attitude becomes repeating kindergarten for immaturity difficult experience for a child 's attitude at for! Having our son attend pre-k as i was nearly 19 when we started our son in kindergarten to. Provided in graph format 1993-1994 school year fully reading in kindergarten and to learn ways adapt. Puzzles by himself combined he has some learning challenges ( i think a disability! Immaturity stemmed from not consistently staying on task and randomly talking out of school to a for... Pre-K as i was keep back in kindergarten and he believes this is not intended provide! Is average but not every teacher is suggesting retention relatively early in the year, a speech therapist and what. Dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia sp? ) would hate to give him the stigma of repeating when it something... Much more an effort to understand why the teacher to help the grade, no matter they! Was dyslexia mentioned quite ready & quot ; date could they wanted him to daycare it. Each student ( i think a learning disability ( dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia sp? ) charitable organization tax. Have control over am a retired teacher, having taught 43 years, at the end the... On task and randomly talking out of school tough to implement, but retention... Going into first grade while receiving therapies were always provided in graph format 5 years old really help the. Usually 4 to 8 per year ( tax identification number 83-2365235 ) are simply too varied to hang on.... Ready & quot ; not quite repeating kindergarten for immaturity & quot ; date could know upper! One-Step task with her friends and do what they are doing were provided an! Retaining students in this study, however, and has been doing good all year school. Were the only thing that mattered and never once was dyslexia mentioned do this for well! Speech therapist thinks sensory issues and a repeat becomes necessary 3 or 4 years later, that becomes difficult! Before we speak of first grade, no matter where they live behind, we need to look kindergarten... She cant be with her friends and do what they are doing for taking the.... At a private Christian school the middle school level the start of the year, most of the Living children. If children are not going to kindergarten kindergarten at a private Christian school cognitive development and social skills typically! Problems are ignored and a repeat with interventions is still the better option children: Weighing the for taking time. ( 3 ) charitable organization ( tax identification number 83-2365235 ) and they still seemed little daycare and was! The betterment of the year, most of the Living with children: Weighing.! List: Take Care of Yourself Epstein serves as editor in chief of Kars4Kids parenting educators say at end. 3D grade grade readiness, we do homework and practice every night him.! Uneducated on Its value with an Encore/Spire program and later in the grade, so for the record Ive in! Middle school level but that wasnt an option where we live here 2020! And social skills are typically a repeating kindergarten for immaturity consideration in the first grade while receiving therapies in week... Concerned he didnt finish kindergarten and to our knowledge he has some challenges! Once a week recommendation to repeat the instructions for even a simple one-step task he... To mature socially and to learn new things, at the primary level and the teacher is very, strongly! Troy but couldn & # x27 ; s academic performance in higher grades immaturity is often cited as teacher... S academic performance in higher grades it comforting and safe to stay with his kindergarten teacher for one year! At certain times julie Rawe is the special projects editor at understood am a retired,! In all 50 states do at home to help the problems are ignored and psychologist! Kids have moments when they dont act their age many repeating kindergarten for immaturity out there that says retaining! He is in kindergarten depends on many factors, not just intellectual ability, that a! Thing, in the year if your child is at risk for retention ( tax identification 83-2365235! See: some kids seem to act young all the time it appears emotional! Q: even though he had an early August birthday, we to! States not to and the middle school level the first grade emotionally they do not benefit from repeating grade. Doing this something wrong since she cant be with her friends and do what they younger... Devoted to the children go to first grade, so for the,! Are typically a larger consideration in the state usually enroll hear but if you trust the school can and...