Worried...Is my son ready for Kindergarten?

supermom2008

He will be 5 in February. He started full-day preschool at age 3 and is in full-day Pre-K now. I've been working with him on phonics and he can sound out  many 3-4 letter words  and has about 10 sight words. He can count to 20 and can count highter with a bit of help. He can easily identify 2D shapes and I just introduced 3D to him. we've also started talking about simple math concepts. He can write his first name but sometimes write the letter "a" with the tail on the wrong end Also has some trouble diffrentiating "b" and "d". He is well-adjusted socially and has many friends at school as well as a best friend. He also has a very good attention span. Has no problemWe spend 30 mins reading every night Mon-Fri, more on weekends.

I work fulltime and am a single mom. He has a wonderful, engaged Dad, who spends every other weekend with him as well as a midweek visit, but he doesn't work on the educational stuff with our son so it's all on me at this point.

 

mrsseguin

In Ontario we have junior kindergarten with a cut off date of Dec 31st.  That made DS 3 years old when he started.  He will be 4 going on 5 in regular kindergarten.  He can't do most of the things you listed.  I think he'd be fine.  Are you worried he's not ready?

Jelliebean1982

Why are you worried? Your son sounds like he's more than ready. You should be worried if your son cannot identify the letters in his name, is unable to draw a circle, cannot count to ten, is not potty trained, or has trouble in social settings. Many parents have done much, much less in preparation than you.

littlemermaid

He sounds more than ready, plus by the time Kindergarten starts he will be 5.5 years old, so it's not like he will be an early 5 by any means.

wellfleet04

I'm not sure I understand what it is you're worried about.  He'd be more than fine to start kindergarten right now in terms of "academics" from what you listed, and it's almost a year away.  Lots of parents and kids don't do near as much as you have to prepare for kindergarten and their kids are fine too.  He'll be 5.5 when he starts kindergarten, so not even a young five.  I'd say you can stop worrying

jnksmom

wellfleet04:

I'm not sure I understand what it is you're worried about.  He'd be more than fine to start kindergarten right now in terms of "academics" from what you listed, and it's almost a year away.  Lots of parents and kids don't do near as much as you have to prepare for kindergarten and their kids are fine too.  He'll be 5.5 when he starts kindergarten, so not even a young five.  I'd say you can stop worrying

This.

supermom2008

I think my worry stems from the fact that I have a lot of friends with kids his age. They are all stay at home moms, and spend a lot of time teaching their kids...and of course they have a supportive spouse as well. Some of these kids are already reading when they start Kindergarten. There's a 1st grader in my circle of friensd that is reading at a 6th grade level. Everyone keeps telling me  that Kindergarten these days is not what it used to be, that is it more like 1st or 2nd grade...that kids should be reading, counting to 100, etc. My son is a very social kid, funny argumentative and sometimes makes statements that makes me stop and think but he I think I'm worried that he'll be behind as he comes from a broken home, and while his Dad loves him and is very involved in his life, is not as involved in "teaching"...so he doesn't get the constant attention my friends kids get when it comes to academics.

wellfleet04

supermom2008:

I think my worry stems from the fact that I have a lot of friends with kids his age. They are all stay at home moms, and spend a lot of time teaching their kids...and of course they have a supportive spouse as well. Some of these kids are already reading when they start Kindergarten. There's a 1st grader in my circle of friensd that is reading at a 6th grade level. Everyone keeps telling me  that Kindergarten these days is not what it used to be, that is it more like 1st or 2nd grade...that kids should be reading, counting to 100, etc. My son is a very social kid, funny argumentative and sometimes makes statements that makes me stop and think but he I think I'm worried that he'll be behind as he comes from a broken home, and while his Dad loves him and is very involved in his life, is not as involved in "teaching"...so he doesn't get the constant attention my friends kids get when it comes to academics.

My mom is a first grade teacher.  She, and every other quality teacher I know, says that reading is developmental.  The early readers are not necessarily the best readers by 3rd/4th grade.  Some kids learn to read at 4.  Others are closer to 7.  Learning first doesn't mean you'll be the best/smartest, just like learning to walk early doesn't mean you'll be a great athlete.  My friends daughter went from not reading to reading Harry Potter in 6 months, but she didn't start until early 1st grade.  Honestly, parents love to brag about their kids' early prowess, but it doesn't indicate intelligence, and your son won't be behind just because theirs are "ahead."  My DD is in kinder now.  Some of the kids are reading, some are still learning their letter sounds.  All of them are right where they are supposed to be. 

 I guess it depends where you live, but I live in one of the highest achieving, best districts in MA, which is one of if not the best state in the nation for education.  It is absolutely NOT required that kids ENTER kindergarten knowing how to read or count to 100.  My DD didn't.  I am super glad our district hasn't bought into the whole "kindergarten is the new 1st grade" thing.  I think it's much more important that your son is social, happy, and imaginative, and that he's exposed to plenty of time for creative free play.  Drilling academics at age 4, while it does produce excellent party tricks, does not produce critical thinkers and problem solvers who will ultimately be successful in life.

 You, and his dad if he's involved and caring, are doing a great job!   

supermom2008

Thank you! I really needed to hear that. He does very well in social settings. As an only child, he entertains himself (and his mother) with his imaginative play. He has a better vocab than his friends. I really want him to just have fun being  a kid while developing a love for reading as I am an avid reader. He loves being read to, and gets excited when he recognizes one of his few sight words I think I just need to relax and not worry about the "mompetitors". Of course they are proud of their kids, but I need to take everything with a grain of salt.

xnbride

He sounds ready to me! 

neverblushed

I think he's academically ready for K, based on what you say here.  I would also just want to be sure that he has the "with-it-ness" to handle transition times like the bus, substitute teachers, specials, etc. But, from what you say, it sounds like he's pretty steady in this type of thing.

It's pretty normal for kids to have "b & d confusion" during primary grades, and to make letters and numbers backwards at times.  By the time they're 7, they seem to naturally grow out of this unless they have some sort of visual-motor processing issue. 

Another good gauge is to ask him to draw a person.  A kid who is not really ready for K will draw a circle for a head with sticks sticking out of it for legs and hands with dots for eyes/nose and a line for a mouth.   A K-ready kid will draw a round head with lots of facial features, a blob-shaped or rectangular body, and the arms and legs will have hands and possibly even fingers and toes.  This doesn't measure how artistic a child is; it measures how much detail they can perceive, remember, and represent -- an important measure of cognitive skill.

supermom2008

neverblushed:

I think he's academically ready for K, based on what you say here.  I would also just want to be sure that he has the "with-it-ness" to handle transition times like the bus, substitute teachers, specials, etc. But, from what you say, it sounds like he's pretty steady in this type of thing.

It's pretty normal for kids to have "b & d confusion" during primary grades, and to make letters and numbers backwards at times.  By the time they're 7, they seem to naturally grow out of this unless they have some sort of visual-motor processing issue. 

Another good gauge is to ask him to draw a person.  A kid who is not really ready for K will draw a circle for a head with sticks sticking out of it for legs and hands with dots for eyes/nose and a line for a mouth.   A K-ready kid will draw a round head with lots of facial features, a blob-shaped or rectangular body, and the arms and legs will have hands and possibly even fingers and toes.  This doesn't measure how artistic a child is; it measures how much detail they can perceive, remember, and represent -- an important measure of cognitive skill.

 

His drawings are not that detailed. How important is that??? I've never heard of this and now one more thing to worry about His "people" have a circle for a head with stick arms and legs, smaller circles for eyes, nose, mouth and hair.

wellfleet04

supermom2008:

neverblushed:

I think he's academically ready for K, based on what you say here.  I would also just want to be sure that he has the "with-it-ness" to handle transition times like the bus, substitute teachers, specials, etc. But, from what you say, it sounds like he's pretty steady in this type of thing.

It's pretty normal for kids to have "b & d confusion" during primary grades, and to make letters and numbers backwards at times.  By the time they're 7, they seem to naturally grow out of this unless they have some sort of visual-motor processing issue. 

Another good gauge is to ask him to draw a person.  A kid who is not really ready for K will draw a circle for a head with sticks sticking out of it for legs and hands with dots for eyes/nose and a line for a mouth.   A K-ready kid will draw a round head with lots of facial features, a blob-shaped or rectangular body, and the arms and legs will have hands and possibly even fingers and toes.  This doesn't measure how artistic a child is; it measures how much detail they can perceive, remember, and represent -- an important measure of cognitive skill.

 

His drawings are not that detailed. How important is that??? I've never heard of this and now one more thing to worry about His "people" have a circle for a head with stick arms and legs, smaller circles for eyes, nose, mouth and hair.

You need to stop looking at one specific thing and measuring him against it.  It's the whole package, not one thing that he is or is not doing.  AND IT'S ALMOST A YEAR AWAY.   Seriously.  He sounds fine.  If you're still worried, why not ask his daycare/preschool teachers what they think just to ease your mind.  But mostly, I'd just relax.  You'll know if he's not ready--he has a February birthday, he's not even borderline.  Unless his teachers now tell you in the Spring that he needs to work on some stuff (which I doubt they will!) I'd just let him enjoy his imagination, friends, learning social dynamics, and soaking up the world like the normal not even five year old that he sounds like he is!

capulet

wellfleet04:

You need to stop looking at one specific thing and measuring him against it.  It's the whole package, not one thing that he is or is not doing.  AND IT'S ALMOST A YEAR AWAY.   Seriously.  He sounds fine.  If you're still worried, why not ask his daycare/preschool teachers what they think just to ease your mind.  But mostly, I'd just relax.  You'll know if he's not ready--he has a February birthday, he's not even borderline.  Unless his teachers now tell you in the Spring that he needs to work on some stuff (which I doubt they will!) I'd just let him enjoy his imagination, friends, learning social dynamics, and soaking up the world like the normal not even five year old that he sounds like he is!

This.  DD is only a few months older than your DS and started K this year.  She is keeping up with what her teacher considers a well-behaved and bright group of kids, some of whom are more than a year older than she is.  And she was not where your son is at when she began kindergarten in a lot of respects - certainly in terms of reading; she's just learned some sight words and started sounding out simple words in the last month or two.

neverblushed

supermom2008:

neverblushed:

I think he's academically ready for K, based on what you say here.  I would also just want to be sure that he has the "with-it-ness" to handle transition times like the bus, substitute teachers, specials, etc. But, from what you say, it sounds like he's pretty steady in this type of thing.

It's pretty normal for kids to have "b & d confusion" during primary grades, and to make letters and numbers backwards at times.  By the time they're 7, they seem to naturally grow out of this unless they have some sort of visual-motor processing issue. 

Another good gauge is to ask him to draw a person.  A kid who is not really ready for K will draw a circle for a head with sticks sticking out of it for legs and hands with dots for eyes/nose and a line for a mouth.   A K-ready kid will draw a round head with lots of facial features, a blob-shaped or rectangular body, and the arms and legs will have hands and possibly even fingers and toes.  This doesn't measure how artistic a child is; it measures how much detail they can perceive, remember, and represent -- an important measure of cognitive skill.

 

His drawings are not that detailed. How important is that??? I've never heard of this and now one more thing to worry about His "people" have a circle for a head with stick arms and legs, smaller circles for eyes, nose, mouth and hair.

Oy -- I shouldn't have said anything.  Listen.  Forget about the stick people.  Your son is already doing most of what they're expected to learn during kindergarten and he's got NINE MONTHS left before kindergarten actually starts!

If he's putting details like noes, mouth, hair, etc., on his drawings, that's normal for a kid his age and an indication that he's not "behind."

Relax.  Don't let your own anxiety about being a single mom make you all wiggy.  It sounds like he's right on track.  To know letters and sounds and already have 10 sight words memorized this far before beginning kindergarten is a very good sign.  He's not going to go backwards from here.

Really.  Relax. 

supermom2008

neverblushed:

supermom2008:

neverblushed:

I think he's academically ready for K, based on what you say here.  I would also just want to be sure that he has the "with-it-ness" to handle transition times like the bus, substitute teachers, specials, etc. But, from what you say, it sounds like he's pretty steady in this type of thing.

It's pretty normal for kids to have "b & d confusion" during primary grades, and to make letters and numbers backwards at times.  By the time they're 7, they seem to naturally grow out of this unless they have some sort of visual-motor processing issue. 

Another good gauge is to ask him to draw a person.  A kid who is not really ready for K will draw a circle for a head with sticks sticking out of it for legs and hands with dots for eyes/nose and a line for a mouth.   A K-ready kid will draw a round head with lots of facial features, a blob-shaped or rectangular body, and the arms and legs will have hands and possibly even fingers and toes.  This doesn't measure how artistic a child is; it measures how much detail they can perceive, remember, and represent -- an important measure of cognitive skill.

 

His drawings are not that detailed. How important is that??? I've never heard of this and now one more thing to worry about His "people" have a circle for a head with stick arms and legs, smaller circles for eyes, nose, mouth and hair.

Oy -- I shouldn't have said anything.  Listen.  Forget about the stick people.  Your son is already doing most of what they're expected to learn during kindergarten and he's got NINE MONTHS left before kindergarten actually starts!

If he's putting details like noes, mouth, hair, etc., on his drawings, that's normal for a kid his age and an indication that he's not "behind."

Relax.  Don't let your own anxiety about being a single mom make you all wiggy.  It sounds like he's right on track.  To know letters and sounds and already have 10 sight words memorized this far before beginning kindergarten is a very good sign.  He's not going to go backwards from here.

Really.  Relax. 

hehe Sorry I was totally wigging out. There's mommy guilt.... add to that working mommy guilt and then single mommy guilt is another level. You would'be laughed if you'd seen me yesterday. He accidently brought home another child's art work..and this kid drew people with fingers and toes. I'm sure you can imagine my heart racing! haha! I will relax..I really will

smilejenn

Ditto what most everyone else said. He is ready for K!

Littlejen22

There are plenty of kids in my sons K class at that level. And you have a lot of time. My son started reading Bob Books set 1 in Oct last year and can read level 2 books very easy now, like breeze through them and read a level three or four will little help and encouragement now and is way ahead of all the other kids in reading. I think your son will do just fine. If you want to get him reading buy or take from the library the Bob book sets, awesome.

shopgirl78

He's fine for KG.  

I work in a KG class (for an hour a day) and there are several kids who cannot write their name (one poor girl with a 14 letter name that I have to look up to spell--poor thing), some that can't count to ten, and have no sight words.   

brewcitybride

Why would you be worried? People think their children have to be geniuses to start school these days. That is what school is for!

jlw2505

I honestly don't see any issues here - he sounds more than ready - many kids start kindergarten not being able to read at all and some don't even know all the letters/numbers which is totally normally.  I don't think you have anything to worry about at all.  HOnestly, sounds to me like you need to let him be a kid more - he is 5, you don't have to work on educational stuff all the time (Basing this on your comment about his Dad not working on educational stuff).  Kids learn by playing at this age and by doing things not just by sitting and reading or working on worksheets and books.  KIds learn by being outside and by being around lots of people and experience lots of different things.,