S/O : What does "emotionally ready" mean?

mauceddie

A few posters noted in my post below about red-shirting that kids need to be "emotionally ready for school".

What does this mean? How does one become emotionally ready?

I am asking because my DD is extremely shy. In one sense, I think maybe if I keep her back a year she'll be less so, but on teh other hand, it's just in her nature, and perhaps challenging that earlier vs. later would be beneficial.  

 

kittycarr

What does red shirting mean?

eclaires

I usually hear socially ready over emotionally - but anyway, I was a shy child and did fine going at an early age.  I never struggled academically [I was an honors student, got mostly As, some Bs], but I did have a hard time making friends in younger grades.  I think that was more because we moved a lot until I was in 2nd grade.  After that it wasn't so much an issue.

On the other hand, my brother was the same birthday time period I was, just 2 years younger, and he repeated K.  He just wasn't ready to sit in a desk or listen to instructions all day, like he would have to have done in 1st.

I think the latter situation is more concerning for school.  Shy... lots of kids are shy, no matter their age.

Jen2124

I think of emotionally ready as = maturity (which can cover a lot of different areas).

Red shirting is holding your child back a year if their birthday is near the cut off date....so they are not the youngest in their class.

Purrrfect433

A friend who is a kindergarten teacher explained to me that it means they can be left somewhere without you without just emotionally losing it until you come back. Obviously, some crying for a little while in the beginning can be expected for certain children. But hysterics that distract from the class and doesn't resolve itself after a period might mean the child isn't emotionally ready yet.

mlm1128

Well, I may not start dd next year (she will be 4, turning 5 in November) and it will be because she still has some issues with following directions. 

mauceddie

Thanks. She can sit and do workbooks, crafts, etc for hours. But she's not good at just sitting and listening. (She has yet to sit through a full-length movie) Hopefully in 9 months she'll be better with that. I just figure the age cut-off is there for a reason. And it really messes things up when people arbitrarily make their own cut-off.  (there are obviously some good reasons as well).

isabella22

Aren't you in Canada?  Isn't she is junior-K now?

mauceddie

isabella22:

Aren't you in Canada?  Isn't she is junior-K now?

No junior K where I live, other than through private preschool. She's in a daycare centre so I don't send her to a seperate preschool.

MelandJeff

kittycarr:

What does red shirting mean?

This!

I thought she was talking about her being the only one not putting her kid in a red shirt for x mas photos or something. I am clearly slow. But not as slow as Kitty- want to clarify that. thanks.

gracendantho26

To me emotionally ready means that they are going to be able to participate without disrupting the class or taking too much of the teachers time for participatory guidance. I don't mean to sound harsh and of course kids are not all going to be able to behave perfectly in class everyday but it's also clear that some kids were just not prepared for it. Like right now Owen is on the edge of being ready but he also has a problem settling down and hopefully by next fall he'll be able to control his body (as a tell him) a little bit more. Just the self control that comes with more matuirty.

 

EllaJax

Jen2124:

I think of emotionally ready as = maturity (which can cover a lot of different areas).

Red shirting is holding your child back a year if their birthday is near the cut off date....so they are not the youngest in their class.

This.  I used to teach Kindergarten and there is a huge difference in maturity/emotion at this age.  I know it sounds silly, but you can almost always tell the difference between a young 5 year old and an old 5 year old.  My suggestion would be to take her to a Pre-K class for a day to get "evaluated."  They will see her interaction with the other kids as well as how she handles the curriculm and be able to give you their recommendation.  If she is already in a class, I would discuss it with her teachers and see what they think.  Hope this helps!