Can anyone tell me more about developmental kindergarten? Would you recommend it?

Question

My son turns five in summer....and the school is recommending he take developmental kindergarten. He knows how to count to 100, knows all of his letters, numbers, and colors, talks in complete sentences. Is this necessary? I'm concerned because he is already big for his age (looks to be 6 or 7) and if he has to take kindergarten twice...well, I just don't know. Please help! Others parents with kids going through this or teachers....please respond!

Answer 1

You should ask the principal/child study team/ whoever you are in contact with why they suggest that it is a good place for him. Also, you know your son better than they do. While they have years of practice teaching and assessing students, you have years of practice being his mother.

Does he have experience with other children? Does he behave appropriately with others (not hurting them, talking nicely to communicate, sharing, etc)?

Can he count objects with one-to-one correspondence? (Meaning if you give him thirteen things or nine things, can he count each one only once?) Also, if he does this, ask him so, how many were there? Sometimes children don't know that the last number they said was how many there were. It's a developmental leap.

If you give him a book, can he find the front cover, show you which way is right side up? Can he tell you which letter is which, "point to an a?" and he will? Can he explain where the story comes from (the words)?

Can he sit still? Unfortunately, attention spans of kindergarteners do not measure up to the ridiculous expectations that state standards require. Sometimes children aren't ready to buckle down and do pencil work for enough hours out of the day, or sit in a circle and follow directions without running around as much as preschoolers get to.

My friend went to developmental Kindergarten, primarily because she was painfully shy. By being in that extra year, she felt more comfortable and was ready to make the transition into Kindergarten.

Ask the teachers what the differences are between the two Kidnergarten programs, and why they think your son, particularly, will benefit. What do they think he would be challenged by?

I hope this helps. Remember that even though it may seem judgemental, these people are just trying to make things easier on everyone. Also, don't burn any bridges with the school, since you are planning on sending him there either way.

Good luck! Don't be afraid to, once you have all the info, stand up for what you think is best for your son!

Answer 2

Teacher and mother of five responds:

If possible, keep the child at home rather than accelerate  him into another stressful environment.  If he is big for his age, another year or two will maybe bring him in line with his peers.

i do not believe that knowing all this stuff at an early age is so much to be proud of.  It just shows that he can parrot stuff.  He has no idea what 43 is. . .or 34.  they are just rote memorized things.

Let the boy run and jump and get dirty!  Give him lots of different stimuli, but do not clog his mind with 'tricks' he can do, and stuff that is cute for grandma,  but not any good for his child inside.  he is FIVE for gracious' sake.  Plenty of time for academics after his is fully ready.