Is this kid actually behind?

Question

I volunteer in a preschool for economically disadvantaged families. There is a girl in this class who has only been in preschool one year. Her family probably also doesn't work with her too much academically and she spends most of her day in day care. The preschool teacher is worried about her going into preschool because she says she's behind.....

However, here's my experience with her... At the beginning of the year, she couldn't write her name and didn't know the letters in her name. Over the course of the year I have seen the progress of her name and have recently heard her spell her name out loud. She also was asking me how to spell things and when I said the letters, she could write the words. I think she's a bit behind with her counting (trouble past 10), but overall, would you really say this is a kid to worry about?

Answer 1

there's nothing wrong with that child! people expect little geniuses so assume that a child is delayed because at 4 or 5 they can't write yet. *rolls eyes*

things have changed so much since i was in kindergarten. back then you weren't expected to know how to write your name and all before you were in kindergarten. if you could do so before then, fine. if not you learned. you weren't expected going in with skills that a first grader used to learn at the time. now kindergartners are expected to read and write, almost do multiplication, etc. at 5! you used to learn pre-reading skills (letter recognition is one skill), how to write your name, learned your address and phone number. pre-math skills like sorting. how to listen. learned how to write.

Answer 2

If she's writing her name and knows most letters, then she should be fine.

Does she know at least 13 of the 52 letters (upper & lower)?

Does she know all letters in her name?

Teach her the parts of a book and read to her daily.

Answer 3

What she is lacking, she will learn in kindegarten.  When is her birthday? If she is a young 5, you might want to consider holding her another year in preschool.  If she is an older 5, send her on and let her go on her own.

Answer 4

With the rigor of today's kindergartens, I'd be concerned too.  With NCLB, Kindergarten has become much much more like 1st grade that you and I knew.

However, that isn't to say that she won't catch up with daily instruction or that Kindergarten isn't the best placement for her.  If she is socially ready - and can handle being being in a classroom all day - then teachers can work with her.  Better yet, they can better determine IF she is behind and IF there is a learning issue.  I've heard K teachers say many many times "give me a kid ready to learn, and I can teach him/her whatever he/she doesn't know."  They are much more worried about a kid that can't sit for circle time then a kid that doesn't know their alphabet.

So yes, she is behind, but not necessarily a kid to worry about.   I think there is equal reasons for sending her as to not sending her.

Answer 5

Not necessarily.  It may simply be that she is just developmentally becoming ready to learn her letters and counting.  Or the disadvantaged environment may be slowing her down.  Either way, she sounds like she is now ready to learn.  If the environment is the problem, she will certainly be better off in school than at home, and if she is really not ready yet, she can always repeat kindergarten if one year is insufficient.  Personally, I would probably encourage the family to enroll the child in kindergarten and simply caution them that if a second year seems necessary, it should be viewed in a positive light.  ("You lucky girl, you get to go to another year of kindergarten!  Not every kid gets that chance you know!")

Answer 6

My kid is 2/1/2 and is at about the same level. But I think she is ahead.

Answer 7

I think people tend to forget that each and every child is an individual and will learn at their own pace.

If you have observed a definite progression in the child then there should be no concerns - concerns should occur when their is no progression in the child's development over a period of time.