Four year-olds are sent to school for a variety of reasons.  Some of the reasons are, parental pride, or reduction of childcare costs.

Here’s the concern, four years old is a really, touchy age.  Some kids are ready to start school at four, but most kids need more time, especially boys.   When you think of the life span of humanity, 4 year-olds are still babies in many ways.

There are many elements for kindergarten readiness, and the kindergarten screening will guide the parent.  However, there is something called emotional readiness.  Some kids are simply not emotionally ready to be sent to school at four years old.  As they say, the buns are not ready to come out of the oven.

 I made that mistake.  I sent my son to school at 4 years, 11 months.  He passed the screening test, but he was not emotionally ready.  His kindergarten teacher let me know that he was not ready to advance to 1^st grade and I was devastated.  Yes, like an idiot, I made it about me.  However, I had to put my pride away and my husband and I listened to the teacher.  She was the professional who saw my son as he progressed in school and compared to his peers.  Off to pre-first we went. 

It was a wonderful year.  My son blossomed with Mrs. Okoniewski.  In the small class setting, the students were given the little extras they needed, which in most cases were not educational, but more allowing time to grow a little more.  As a teacher in the district, I had the opportunity to keep an eye on the kids from that kindergarten class, and Mrs. Albright was spot on!  How blessed I was to have a kindergarten teacher who could properly assess and the pre-first teacher who would give my son the extra he needed to advance.

 So what are the alternatives?

When in doubt, keep your 4 year-old home, especially a boy.  If I were to do it all over again, I would start him at 5 years old, giving him a stronger start.  You’re the parent, you can explain it in a way the child will understand.

 A colleague of mine, figuring her 5 year old was not ready for school, sent her son to a local parochial school for kindergarten, and then sent him to kindergarten to the public school the next year.  The extra year gave him time to get his footing and begin his public school education as a confident student.  

Look, there are always difficult decisions.  We never know for sure if our decisions are correct, but if you listen to those who’ve been through the issue and do what’s best for your child, you’ll likely make the right decision. 

 Post script:  I just discussed this topic with my son.  He has no negative memory of his elementary school placement.  He had a happy experience during those first two years because no one made an issue of the extra year.