5 y/o boy registering for kindergarten?

Question

I have a 5 y/o son who will be registering for kindergarten next month to start in the fall. He is a young 5 with extremely poor fine motor skills. He is very bright - knows his numbers, letters, colors, shapes, and has an excellent vocabulary, but seems to have some sensory issues. Does not color or draw, much less write his name. He has only just started feeding himself with a spoon, although he's been using a fork for a while. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can work on this with him without forcing him or making it traumatic. Maybe some fun activities I could do with him at home that would help improve his fine motor skills. He does not have any diagnosis as his previous pediatrician kept saying he's just immature when he wasn't meeting milestones. I had a very hard time potty training him, and was not able to get him into pre-k, so he is less prepared than other children for kindergarten, and the standards are much higher than when I was kid.

Answer 1

As fine motor skills mature, three hand characteristics develop. These include:

1 Development of a transverse arch from the thumb side to the pinky side of the hand, giving a curved look to the back of the hand.

2 An "open web space" between the thumb and forefinger is noted when holding objects in the hand.

3 Separation of the two sides of the hand evolves, with the thumb side of the hand developing refined dexterity skills while the pinky side of the hand offers strength and stability.

Difficulty with fine motor skill causes a child to have difficulty with fasteners such as buttons or snaps, poor pencil grip (often holding a pencil in a fisted grip) and an inability to work manipulatives such as stringing beads or joining lego pieces.

Ideas to improve fine motor skills include the following:

Cutting or tearing paper, construction paper, cardboard or putty.

Stringing small beads to make snakes or necklaces, completing lacing cards.

Playing with resistive putty to make food (hot dogs, pizza with toppings, pancakes), hiding small objects in putty such as pennies or beans and then trying to find them.

Picking up small items using tweezers.

Good luck and God bless. I hope I helped.

Answer 2

Can you find a summer school pre-K so that he's at least exposed to the social aspects of kindergarten?  Just so you know, not every kid goes to pre-K and it's okay. In my daughter's kindergarten, only about half the kids had been to a pre-K.  Also, there were kids who didn't know their colors, numbers and letters at the start of the year so he's ahead in that respect.  He will have to work on writing.

They have some nice pre-K workbooks out there, even in the grocery store - maybe go together with him and let him pick something out.

Answer 3

First of all, I would get a second opinion from another pediatrician.  It seems odd to me that he wouldn't be concerned when your child isn't meeting his milestones in a reasonable time frame.  

If he doesn't like to color or draw, how about cutting and pasting.  That is a good way to develop fine motor skills.  You can also build with blocks, string beads, and count beans. (get dried beans and a jar, have him pick up the beans indvidually and put them in the jar.)

The most important thing for you to do though is get him to a new doctor and make sure there isn't a real problem.  Schools can help him with developmental issues, but only if they know he has them.

Also, don't worry so much.  It sounds like he has a good knowledge base to start school.  All kids start kindergarten at different levels.  My daughter never went to pre-k and she's now in 3rd grade and in the gifted program.  Meanwhile, my son went to pre-k for 2 years, and he's now in 1st grade and will probably be held back as his reading skills aren't where they should be.  All kids are different, and the important thing is they are working up to their OWN potential, not comparing them to the other students in the class.

Answer 4

As a mother to 3 girls, my youngest having some disabilities, I wouldn't send him to Kindergarten, give him 1 more year in Pre-K and let him catch up alittle. Why rush it when you know he isn't ready for it. I've heard MANY mothers say they regret pushing a child into a grade they weren't ready for, but not 1 has ever said they regret holding them back. Good luck to you.

Answer 5

what you can do to help him learn. is to make it fun. do it with thing he likes. i got my son to count by using hot wheeles. the have these books that you can color and trace and then wipe off. my son had the same trouble so i started the learn really early. he also went through a program in Kentucky called first step. they sent out an occupational therapist to help him.so maybe you can think about talking to a occupational therapist about helping with the fine motor skills. oh and thank for the information you gave me about the chiari malformatiom it real helped.

Answer 6

I would read to him everynight to keep his vocabulary up and stars to learn new words, but on top of that I would buy him coloring books and pencils and paper for him to practice his  name and coloring.  It will make it more enjoyable for him if you sit down with him, or even color and practice your name with him.  You have to also let him be a little more independent.  I can tell that you really love him and you may be babying him.  just let him go.  Sometimes you just have to let them make a mess because they are learning a lot while they are doing it.

Answer 7

I would just start having him do fun activities that require him to use his fine motor skills.  This may help him develop them a little more.  For example have him color and draw, you could also have him do art projects where he is cutting and gluing since this is something that is done a lot in kindergarten classrooms.

Here are couple of websites you may be interested in.  They have activities and suggestions on developing fine motor skills and getting ready for kindergarten.

http://www.shrewsbury-ma.gov/schools/Bea...

http://members.tripod.com/~imaware/fmoto...

http://www.shirleys-preschool-activities...

Answer 8

You dont need to worry that much.

With him being in school the teachers will help out with his learning and they will be able to give you things you can work on with your child.

Answer 9

i wouldn't stress over it. Once he gets in the class the interaction with other children and a teacher who is supposed to understand all 5 year olds are different will make a direct impact on him. His teacher will keep you updated as to how he is or if there are any concerns. Just like the standards are higher, the teachers are more assesment oriented than like old school teachers that are more like day care at that grade.

Don't worry about it to much. You can get pre-school work books and do them at home with him. These are usually very helpful, if he shows you he is excelling at them move up to the kinder. ones. However, becareful if you are palying school at home constantly and then he has  a full day at school he may become overwhelmed and slow down.

Good Luck!

Answer 10

your right on the dot when you said that he had some sensory issues in the fine motor area. and I totally agree with the activities laid out from 'madeline d'

everyone is offering thier support in what you should be doing but not really answering your question which was ways to get him to do it becuase it sounds like your on top of things with him.

what we do in our class when our kids dont want to work is to say this is what we are doing and try to get him to do those acitvities for a few minutes each day and slowly work up the time. when they dont want to they will throw a tantrum but they will sit at thier name at the table until they are ready to work then play. some of the kids are nonverbal so we use pictures for the work first then play sequence.

try the cutting but start with special scissors that an OT would use that only require that the child sqeeze them shut and they open back up them selves.

stringing things together that he likes would be good and get a small rectangle drawer tote and fill it with beans or rice or something and get him some tongs to go digging with.

shaving cream is good too. I know you probally have lots of ideas planned for him to do but remember that you have to be in control and say he has to do this first then he may play and keep the time down, like start out with just 5 minutes and keep doing it everyday whether he seemed to make progress or not, he knows that he will have to do it and there for will do the acitvity for those few minutes if it means he can play. just that routine and consistantcy is a major biggy!!

encourage drawing by taping the paper to the wall and get him to stand up and draw (the magic eraser is really a wonder) there are also some easy grip pencil things that you can get that will make it more comfortable for him to hold at first.

another thing you can do is get a tupperware bowl cut a slit in the top and get some coins or something for him to practice that pinchers grasp while he puts the coins in the bowl.

I hope that some of this has helped!!

Answer 11

I would try talking to the school first.  If you can register him now possibly you can get him into pre-K.  At my school there are special ed pre-K units.  I would have him tested to see if there is anything wrong with him.  If he is registering in a public school, they will pay for his testing.

You are right about standards being high for Kindergarten.  See if you can put him in a Montessori school.  They are great because they focus on fine motor development.

If you can't afford sending him try these activities:

Buy clay and have him roll it in the shapes of letters.

Practice picking up small objects using tweezers.

Buy a small chalkboard and chalk and have him write using a small 1 inch piece.

Write out his name using a highlighter and have him trace over it with a pencil or pen.

Make a collage by drawing an image.  Example draw a heart and have him tear small pieces of red paper and glue it on the heart.

Practice cutting with him by drawing lines on a paper and have him cut on the lines.

These are some of the activities I do with my students. Hope it helps.

Answer 12

Wait another year and work with him holding a spoon and pencil you might be able get him ready so that he has no  problems in school. Just make it fun you can give lots of praise when he gets it right. Occupational therapist might be able to help you too, talk with your doctor if you are concerned then maybe he needs another year.

he can still a preschool program now.

Answer 13

My son had trouble with fine motor skills.  I didn't send to school until he was 6.  It was the best decision I ever made.

My son has Sensory Integration Dysfunction.  This affects motor skills and all senses.  The following book is perfect for your son.  He'll learn all his motor skills with the simplest of tasks.

Here is the title The Out-of-Sync child Has Fun by Carol Stock Kranowitz, MA.

Good luck.