Thank you all for your thoughts and suggestions about Noah's sleeping. While we were visiting my dear mission companion, Katrine, in Santa Cruz this past weekend we found something that helped him. She had some hardcover children's Book of Mormon books. One night as he was going to bed he said that if he just had those with him that he would feel better. I think the name of the book was My First Book of Mormon Stories. Anyway, I ordered it online today with him and he accepted the Distribution Center's version of it for tonight. If he lapses, I will for sure try many of the methods you all suggested.
On to another Noah dilemma. Since he's my first child my questions are usually about him because I have no clue what I am doing. Anyway do any of you have children that are near the cutoff start date for kindergarten in your respective states? California and DOD schools (like in Okinawa) have a Dec 1st cutoff, but Utah and others are as early as Sept 1st. Here is my dilemma...Noah's birthday is Sept 25th. It makes the DOD cutoff, but not the Utah one (where we may end up). Since we would love him to be the oldest in his class for a number of reasons (dating, driver's license, sports, maturity, leaving on his mission closer to his graduation, etc) I have always thought of holding him back and just putting him in a 5 day a week preschool next year. However, with Rob being in Texas for the past week I have had it up to here with having 3 kids at home. Can I do it another year? Just to be clear, the plan was to hold him back and keep all 3 kids home next year (with preschool for Ben and Noah). Not only is preschool expensive, but I have to pick him up in the middle of the day (vs kindergarten full day). Anyway, I was thinking that I could just put him in K and have him repeat it for two years. Or, I could make him do K, 1st and 2nd in Japan and then repeat 2nd wherever we move next (he'd be in a new school and no one would tease him for repeating for a second year). What do you think? What have you done? Can I even let him repeat (ie: will the schools let me?) Help!
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Kindergarten start dates
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6 comments:
Both of my kids are summer babies. I too have struggled with this dilemma. 3 of my brothers (also summer babies) waited until they were 6 to go to kindergarten and they loved it. They loved being the biggest in their classes. They say it really helped with sports as well. It was, however, a little hard to decide what to do with a mission when they graduated. Do you go right away or go to a semester or two of school and then go. It is a bit of a challenge.
With my own children I chose to send Malia at age 5 because I was afraid that educationally she would be bored if I waited. I spent a lot of time in her Kindergarten class and it was totally obvious who the summer babies were. They were just much more immature and had a hard time with the long day. Many of them had to repeat Kindergarten because they were not ready. I don't think repeating is a big deal but there are social stigmas associated with that decision that they may have to deal with.
With Eli I am still not sure what to do. I have tried to keep him from moving too fast educationally, but somehow he just learns it all anyway. I am leaning more towards having him go ahead with Kindergarten at this point, but whenever I talk to him about it I make sure to say that you start kindergarten at 5 or 6 depending on if you are ready. I also tell him that no matter what he will be starting school--either preschool or kindergarten. He seems to like that idea.
Whatever you decide be sure to be real about his social, emotional, and educational abilities. Talk to his primary teachers. If he has a hard time sitting still, maybe he isn't ready. Watch his eye/hand coordination. Can he manipulate a pencil and scissors well? Does he follow directions?
Good luck with whatever you decide.
What about an all-day preschool?
I love your blog!
Melissa,
I have the same problem with Jack. He is August 16th. Baby to be is August 31st. Kate is july 21st. All three of them in my mind are quewstion marks.
I think if Noah is bored with preschool, repeat kindergarden. I think thats what I will do with Jack. If they aren't bored with preschool, do that twice. Little Chauncey is in his 2nd year of preschool and is really borede, but its ok I suppose.
I hope this helps!
mel
I am all for letting them start if they are ready. I think you might find they will get bored repeating Kindergarten. At least I know Nash would have. He is a July 1st baby and I was worried about him being the youngest and not keeping up, but I figured it was time for him to go. He has done great!
I think when you move back to Utah you will cross that bridge when you get to it. Don't stress about it right now. If he is ready for Kindergarten then start him. That is a tough one though just because of the different cut-off dates, hopefully you can figure out what is best. Not sure I was any help to you. What has Rebecca done?
I think you know best what ro do with Noah. I know in FL they wouldn't let you hold him back later. I know a few people in this same situation and they are having their boys do 3 day a week preschool this year and then moving them to 5 day a week next year and then kindergarten. I don't know if that is an option for you but I think it could work well. Best of luck and let us know what you decide.
Gibson's birthday is Sept. 16th and we're holding him back. I'd rather he be the oldest than the youngest in his class. (Acutally I think in Utah the cutoff may be Aug. 31st so you may not have a choice).
This year (age 3) he's doing 2 days a week preschool, next year 3 days and then when he's five I think I'll do pre-k or add is some extra curricular activities so he doesn't get bored.
I don't think there's anything wrong with having him repeat 2nd grade when you move back to the states. I think either way you're going to have a bored child- either when he's 5 (because he's ready to go to K) or when he's 7(because he's already done some of the stuff).
Good luck with your decision.
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