Not sure if my child is ready for kindergarten !?

Question

So he has been excited for kindergarten all summer. Now it starts tomorrow and he’s been crying all day because he’s scared. He will be 4 going into school but turns 5 October. My husband didn’t bother to address his concerns until we got him enrolled and school clothes. Now he’s making me feel guilty for encouraging school. He doesn’t think he’s ready even though he meets most of the benchmarks. He’s very clingy to us. Husband is worried about sports mostly. And getting this like a car later than others because he graduated at 17. I graduated at 19 and I disliked being so much older than everyone in my grade that I had no friends. So I don’t know if we are just going to let him go for a few weeks and see how it goes. Unsure if he doesn’t do well if we would or should pull him out of school until next year or what?! Any advice? School starts tomorrow morning..

Answer

My daughters birthday is in December. So she is 5 now and will be turning 6 in December. She is just starting kindergarten this year. Personally, I think it’s better to wait. I don’t think your son would even be accepted yet into our school district because you have to turn 5 by September of the year they start. 
I personally wouldn’t worry about the car thing or sports, I’d be worried about academics and emotional readiness. In my opinion, the best thing to do now is just see how he does when he goes. You, your husband, and the teacher can all discuss how he’s doing and if he isn’t ready for first grade, he can redo kindergarten. My nephew actually did something called “pre-first” where he basically was held back a year, but it was a program specifically for kids who weren’t fully ready for first grade. 
My daughter has been very excited to start kindergarten, but I think she may cry and be a little nervous as well. I think that’s normal. It’s their first day and there are a lot of unknowns for them.

Answer

My 5 year old cried the night before too. He loves it now. That was a week or two ago. He was fine by the afternoon and he had been clinging to my shirt that morning. It’s new. Just address his concerns and give him comfort but reassure him that he’ll enjoy it. It’ll be fun and exciting, it’s just new and normal to be afraid of the unknown.

Answer

As someone who is from a family of teachers, started teaching (wasn’t for me personally) and knows many teachers… wait.
Both boys and girls benefit.
It’s not about academics, it’s about maturity and emotional readiness for school.
Also, the countries with the best education in
the world don’t start their kids till 6.
Once they start their education that’s it. They’ll be in school. Let them be kids for a little but longer.

Answer

I’d wait a year. He’s young and I don’t see the need to push kids into school early

Answer

If he’s about to be 5 he’s at the age to where he should be in school. A lot of kids get scared but won’t be for long. My son is 3 going on 4 next year and he’s going to school. He’ll b ok he’ll soon love it !

Answer

I’m was a Kindergarten teacher for several years and am now a Reading Specialist (I work with struggling readers K-5).  My advice is 99 times out of 100 it is better to wait. Even if he is hitting all the academic and physical benchmarks, it takes an incredible amount of emotional intelligence to navigate school. I’ve seen a lot of kids start early and struggle because they are younger than their peers socially. And just think... do you really want him going to college or starting a full time job at 17 when he is around older friends?  In my state (IL) the cutoff for kindergarten is Sept 1 and they are seriously considering moving that up to July 31, and I think that’s a good idea. I had so many young boys in particular really struggle.

Answer

The cutoff in our state is September 1, so around here, he wouldn’t be starting school this year anyway. Obviously irrelevant since it sounds like he can start earlier there, but my point is that he doesn’t seem ready, and I wouldn’t personally start my child that young. 
I would wait a year. His development and readiness is more important than your disliking of being a year older than your friends in school, which seems kind of weird anyway. Like, there was even a difference?

Answer

Our school district has and August 29th cutoff for age. My son turned 5 one day before the cutoff. He's the youngest in his class. He was super excited to start school. He had to miss out on preschool because of covid. 😢 He was super excited to get on the school bus with his big brother. Actually cried when he couldn't go to preschool.
Every kid is different though. Some 4 yr Olds are more than mature enough for kindergarten and some aren't even close. It wouldn't hurt to send you child and either pull him out or let him go then hold him back for another year. He may surprise you and do amazing. 🥰

Answer

I think it is very normal for your son to be scared, and clingy at the thought of big boy school and leaving what is comfortable for something that new and different. That doesn’t mean he’s not ready and I think it’s our job as parents to encourage and show our kids that they can do difficult things and to help build their confidence, will it be an adjustment yes, will it be hard yes, but I think it’s better than the alternative.

Answer

He will be actually behind if you make him wait I feel like. Has he ever been in daycare before? Why does he think he's behind that's silly because if he hasn't gotten any school teachings then how would he know he's behind? I would let him go and you can always get him screened to see if he needs extra help parents don't usually hold their kids back until after some schooling if they actually feel like they need extra help.

Not sure if my child is ready for kindergarten !?

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