When to Send My Summer Baby to Preschool

My supervisor at work has two boys - the oldest they didn't hold back in kindergarten, but ended up having to in 1st grade and the youngest they held back from the start. He says that was the best thing for him and he wishes they would have done so with the oldest. Good luck!

2 of my kids were summer babies. One born in Aug other in June and they both started school on time and are doing fine. In fact the Aug boy is a year ahead because in the south the cut off start date was Oct 1 when he started school and here in Missouri it is July so he just turned 16 and is a junior in high school. He took 1 college level class last year and is taking 2 college level classes this year as well as other honor classes and has a high grade point average so it is up to each child on how well they will progress in school and not really due to if they are the youngest or oldest in the class.
I teach 3-5 year olds at church and most of them are immature the first few weeks of kindergarten then get more independent as the school year goes along and don't whine as much as they do right before Kindergarten especially with their parents around. Kindergarten is a big step for kids and is definately a different setting than preschool where they are used to learning through playtime most of the day so whether you start them at a young 5 or an older 5 all kids have that new adjustment to make. Sometimes the older 5 will be more bored if it's too easy and cause more disrupting in class. You will know when your children are 4 whether they are ready for Kindergarten or not. As for preschool it is nice to have them go at least a year before Kindergarten which is what most school districts recommend and a lot of them even have a free pre-k program for that year before Kindergarten. Any other years is optional and up to the parents.

My sons both went to pre-k the one year before Kindergarten and did fine. My daughter that was born in June did not go to preschool at all because there wasn't one offered where we lived when she was 4 but she also is doing fine and is 13 and in 8th grade this year.

We moved a lot with hubby being military and the kids have gone to several different schools and have learned a lot about life adjustments as well as having new friends all the time and still make good grades. We are more settled now that he is retired from the Army so they are involved in more activities and have a lot more friends now that they will have for a long time.

My son has a late June birthday, and we'll be making the same decision next year for him. He is 2/will be 3 next year. I always said if I had a boy with a summer birthday, that I would definitely wait to send him to Kindergarten so that he would be the oldest in his class instead of the youngest for later down the road (sports, driving, etc.) with being a boy. That was all before I had a boy with a summer birthday! Now it kind of seems strange that he would actually start 3 year old preschool when he's 4, and 4 year old preschool when he's 5. My neighbor has a 5 year old son with a summer b-day, and she sent him to Kindergarten this year. We will just have to see if HE'S ready. I've been told one of the things to consider is whether they can sit still & pay attention for a period of time?

Hi A., My son will be 3 on Aug 31st, which will make him the absolute youngest one in school if we don't hold him back because Aug. 31st is the cut-off date. We have already decided we'll hold him back. He would be 4 yrs old starting kindergarten if we didn't. We are starting him in a Children's Day Out program this year. It's just one morning a week, but will be a good introduction to preschool. Next year he will go to preschool and then he will go to Pre-K for 4 yr olds the following year. Our preschool offers all three programs so he can stay there all three years. Good luck!

If you already know you will hold him back, then maybe start with a Parent's Day Out for 1 or 2 days/week. My son was born in November, so he had to wait to start Kindergarten, and I do like that he is an old, turning 14 this year! I had him in a Parent's Day out at 3 (Tues./Thurs. 1/2 days) and pre-school at 4 and 5. By the last year of pre-school he was going 3 days/wk. with an extended day (until 2:30) on one of the days. My youngest son will be 3 in January and I plan to start him with the same schedule. By Kindergarten time they are more prepared and use to being in school. I think you are doing the right thing by holding him back since he is a summer baby, it really does make a difference. Good luck!
V.

A., I don't have experience with summer babies (I have Christmas babies) but have you considered a Kids Day Out program? My youngest, 2 1/2, is starting one day a week this year, and then again next year, and will only attend 4 year old preschool (just as my older two have) and that has worked out well. In our particular school they still change classes, and are with kids their age and it allows you to have a bit of a break, and them to learn some of the basics (standing in line, following rules, etc) as well as fun stuff like crafts and playing with friends. Just my two cents that has worked for my family. Hope it all works out.

I'd send him now to preschool or a MDO!

A., if I had to do it all over again, I would send them to preschool, just so they can make friends and have some socialization, and learn a few new things. But, I would definitely hold them back when it comes time for kindergarten. My boys are ages 12 and 10. I sent my 12 year old to kdg when he turned 5, and he was OK with it, but my youngest was definitely not ready for school. I wish I would have kept them both at home and just enjoyed them another year, and spent that year playing fun learning games. I held my youngest son back in 1st grade another year because I felt that would help him to catch up, and it did but he still struggles in the 4th grade. Also, both my boys were late summer babies. Good luck, I struggled with the same decision you are.

I would look at preschools you are considering and find one that offers a 3 year old, 4 year old and pre-k program. Then your son could attend three years and have a different experience all three years.

My son- with a Sept. birthday - started preschool at 3 (right before he turned 4) It happened that his preschool had a Tues/Thurs 3 year old class made up entirely of kids who had 'late' birthdays (They were all 4 by Thanksgiving). The teacher was able to alter the curriculum to accommodate the older children at their level.