Should I send 5yr. old twins to all day kindergarten?

Kelly - posted on 05/16/2011

I have b/g twins that will be 6 in July and they will be starting Kindergarten this year. We decided when they were born that we would give them that extra year instead of having them go to school with kids that would be almost a year older. Knowing that they will turn 19 right after graduating HS is also a plus. We do plan on having them in the same class as their preschool teacher saw no issues with that.

Melissa - posted on 05/16/2011

Right now I am in the same position for this year. I was torn between sending my son (who would be turning 5 in September) to all day kindergarten or have him repeat preschool. His teacher also had concerns about him starting this year and agreed with me, as I thought maturity wise, that he isn't ready for it. Though I have been having doubts since he's made friends this year, I don't want him to struggle through kindergarten so he's going to go to preschool again this year.

Monica - posted on 07/29/2010

My twin girls turned 6 the September they started Kindergarten, it has turned out wonderful as they are the head of their classes. One thing you may consider for next year is that if it is possible, place them in seperate classrooms. I had one twin that was more immature socially, once I had them seperated at age 4/5 preschool she grew and became more independent. Since then we have kept them in seperate classes and they are now entering 3rd grade.

I am actually okay with them being 19 when they graduate HS, they will be almost 20 entering college and probably better equiped and mature to make decisions regarding their future.

Tracy - posted on 07/27/2010

Hi Lisa,

I can't give advice based upon my experience as parent (my twins are only 9 months) however I had 3 siblings held back. My youngest sister repeated kindergarden, my brother repeated grade 2, and my other sister repeated grade 9. I honestly would not worry about age differences in high school being a problem. Both of my sisters were held back for social reasons. My brother was held back for academic reasons. My sisters would both agree that being held back was a VERY good thing for them. In fact the older one wanted to be held back so she could be with her friends. She actually ended up being on the honor roll and was quite popular. The younger sister was too young to know any better so it wasn't a big deal. Not sure how my brother coped at first but I do know that in the end NONE of them had problems adjusting in high school. In fact it was a total non issue by then. One of my good friends was also held back in grade two because she had health issues and spent a lot of the year in the hospital. Other than getting her period before me I don't recall feeling like she was different because of or age difference.

Regarding them graduating at 19. I think kids grow up too fast. Giving your children an extra year to select a career and post secondary education path could be a good thing!

Lisa - posted on 07/27/2010

It's actually a boy and a girl, and according to their pre-school teacher they are both struggling in different areas. My daughter, according to the teacher lacks confidence and my son is very bored and tired. Also the teacher said they are demonstrating traits of a 4yr. old and not that of a 5and a half yr. old. My concern though is long term. If I hold them back, when it comes time for HS, they will be much older than their peers. When they graduate from highschool they will be 19. Would that be a concern of yours??

Monica - posted on 07/27/2010

If you have the option to hold them back, it would be better for your boys in the long run. If the advice is from their pre-school teacher, she has had a year to observe them both acadmically and socially. Many times boys maturity levels are not ready for kindergarten and they struggle, sometimes resulting in having to be held back a grade either in kinder or 1st or they end up struggling through much of their school years. It is not going to hurt them if they stay back now and it will give them an advantage over the other kids next year.