My son is in the wrong class at daycare...bad thing or good thing?

Question

My son (20 months now) has been in the wrong class at daycare for a few months now. He should be in the 1-2 year class, but got put in the 2-3 year class by mistake (He's a big boy and looks older then he is, which is probably why he got put in that class.)

The class he should be in has no spots open, so it's either here or another daycare, and since I really like this one and his sister is in it, that's not an option.

So here's the question. Is this a potentially good thing or bad thing? Being with older kids all day might have the advantage of helping him to develop a little quicker (we have concerns about his speech development, though he's probably doing fine). On the other hand, it might be frustrating for him to not be on the level of the other kids. At home, he plays with his sister all the time (she's 3 1/2). The two are the best of friends.

At any rate, I'm just curious for an outside opinion. He seems to be doing fine in daycare right now, but you never know.

Answer 1

I think that he is fine as long as he is not acting out in class or has suddenly changed his mood or appears frustrated.  Many time I have children that are younger (3-4) in my 4-5 class and they seem to do just fine.  In my eyes there is no harm that could be done my having him in an older class.  Just make sure to keep open lines of communication with his teaher and watch his progress.

Answer 2

If currently hes not having any problems in there...then its fine i guess. But you might want to talk to the teacher and see what he/she says. Hmmm...its really up to ur comfort level, his, and what the teacher says. But i think hes fine. Plus this school year is almost out. Its not like hes in first grade taking a third grade class. BUt i can see your concern

HOped i helped :-)

Answer 3

It might be a good thing if you see that he can keep up with his classmates, but he might get too tired or too stressed by being with older children all day, small kids sometimes need to be with small kids.

The issue I would worry about -being myself a preschool teacher- is how much time can the teacher give him. A smaller child needs more attention, more help when doing things, to be able to learn and have a good time smaller children sometimes need one on one attention that the teachers of the younger children grade are organized to give the children.

Where I work we have a multi age class with children from 0 to three years and sometimes it happens that smaller children are left to play by themselves when we do things with the older children who can better ask for attention.

Keep a close eye on him, anyway, if he seems left behind or he doesn't seem happy about going to school -for other reasons that's not wanting to be with you- then you might want to reconsider his being there!

Hope I helped!!

Answer 4

If i were in your shoes I would leave him in that class and see what happenes or talk to the teacher to see what they think

Answer 5

I would see it as a good thing. He will develop quicker and have more mature thoughts. His speech will improve, and he will get along better with older kids. Just make sure he gets to play with kids his own age sometimes.

Answer 6

if he is not getting in trouble at daycare its a good thing.  it shows he can keep up with older kids.  If the teacher ever  tells you he seems be acting up, not getting alone with other kids, or can not keep up with the othr kids, then pull him. Since he is doing fine now, I would leave him until you see a problem

Answer 7

I would say based on the information given that being in with older children will bring good results, challenging him rather than frustrating him.  A challenge is in my opinion a good thing.  He is less likely to be bored, less likely to get into trouble because of the mind being busy trying to "keep up"  so to speak.    

just my opinion.

Answer 8

I have been in the Early Childhood Education Field for 15 years, so believe me when I tell you that your son is fine.  I am a strong supporter for providing care in mixed-age groups.  Children at the same age are not necessarily at the same developmental level.  Mixing ages help teachers to provide curriculum to meet multiple developmental levels.  Children in these groups also learn to take care of younger children, while younger children have the advantage of having older children help them if needed.  Children get both experiences as they age and they would also stay with the same teachers over a longer period of time.  The teachers have to be really good at their job in order to meet every child's need.

Anyway,  I think it is great that you are following your child's lead.  If he is not being successful there would be behavioral issues in the classroom.

Good luck!

Answer 9

see if he copes well.if not,consider changing classes.

Answer 10

I wouldnt worry too much, when staff plan activities for children they have to take into account every childs individual needs,  My son is in the oppisite situation, He is still in the walking babies room, when he should be in the 2-3 room, as there is no room for him to move up. he does get frustrated as he is quite boistrous and he cannot be boistrous with smaller children he is 28 mnths. I wouldnt worry too much as in a pre-school class they have children from ages 3 tup to 4 years 11 months. Also nurseires tend to do the same topics throughout the nursery, ur children are porb both learning about spring and bugs at the mo... it just the activities will be different. If the nursery/day care setting will probally be doing observations and keeping records on your child.- u may want to ask to see them. Staff at nurseries are normally honest with  parents, and do take parents concerns seriously. I dont think that being around older children will be a problem, he would of been moved up in 4 months anyway, which to a child is a long time, but it isnt really that long. I dont think it will make ur son develop any faster, because all children develop at there own speed, but seeing older children will help him want to learn.

you could have a word with the nursery to say u are concern about his speech, see if they agree, but don't worry too much, girls talk/devlope talking b4 and faster boys normally.

Answer 11

For the remainder of the session, I would keep him in the class he is in. Most classes for his age are only learning shapes and colors sort of skills. But for the next year, enrol him in this class again, as a memory refresher, and to keep his skills up. Try to keep refreshing his memory outside of school too; this will help him understand the material more.

Answer 12

I think that whenever possible it is always a good thing to have children around older kids. I have a 7yr old boy and a 3 yr old boy and Not to sound strange by saying this but my 3yr old is much smarter than my oldest was at his age. I strongly believe that is because he is watching and learning from someone who knows more. It is like going through training for a job..always a good thing!