More than five years ago, my husband and I faced that school milestone known as kindergarten.
Our son – our oldest – was a summer baby. During my years as an education reporter, I clearly remember hearing: if you have a summer baby boy, you might want to consider holding him back a year.
But at the time, our son was already in a special needs preschool five days a week. We thought he would be ready to move on, but to what?
Our neighborhood school offered an option that combines typical kids with special needs kids for kindergarten. During our IEP meeting the spring before, I brought up that possibility and the educators agreed.
Here we are several years later, and we are so glad that choice was presented. The following year, he was put into mainstream kindergarten. Maturity was definitely still an issue, so first grade would have been tough emotionally and academically.
Arizona school districts are starting the push for kindergarten registration. I wrote a story about it this week. Yes, it’s only January. Most classes don’t begin for another seven months.
But here it is. And the kindergarten curriculum is at a higher level than my son faced just a few years ago. It’s a critical year as children must know how to read in kindergarten by the time they finish third grade.
If we were in the same situation today, I likely would make the same choice.
No matter where your child is, one school principal (and former kindergarten teacher) said the teachers will work with your child to bring them where they need to be.
I like the advice at greatschools.org about kindergarten readiness. It raises some good questions for parents and caregivers.
Check it out.

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