My son went to pre-k and they felt that he was a little behind in development. So, they placed him in the DDK program at our elementary school. Now, it has been mentioned that he would benefit from summer school that is 3 days a week from 9 til 12. He is 5 and will be 6 in June. He is heavily influenced by the children he comes in contact with...aka a follower. I need suggestions-is it right to send a 5 yr old to Summer School? I just feel like it's robbing him of his summer! **2/29/08:My oldest son has a November birthday, and even though he was 6 when he started kindergarten, he was still behind and ended up repeating K. The 2nd go around was a total 360 from the 1st time. We always get the-he's a boy and boys don't develop as quickly as girls. No one has evaluated him except for his speech-which has improved this year with his speech teacher. I guess I'm starting to feel like I would be doing him a disservice by not sending him to summer school or something of the sort. Thank you so much mom's for helping me see the bigger picture.
If he is already behind in pre-k then he could miss 1 summer for the extra help.
I would suggest that you put him in something for the summer.Mainly as a skill and confidence builder.Not being nosy-but would he not be in daycare since you work full-time?? My oldest was ahead of everyone in his 4 year old class, but we let him go for half of the semester to adjust to being away---I can tell that it helped him when he started 5K. Our Daughter is not as advanced as our first son. She knows her stuff, but not as well as she should. She will be going to a 4k type program at a local church. You can make the summer fun for him, even if he goes to school.Education in the early years is very important. We also use several websites. I have a list of them if you want me to share them with you. Another point,if he goes to a summer-school or similiar type program, he will know more when he starts 5K and that can help his self-confidence level, maybe helping him to be more of a independent person and not a follower.
I wish your little man the best!! Same to you!
Hi Connie.
It would sting a bit if I were told that my child needs to attend summer school, but it most-likely would be a good experience for the little guy. Keeping with the school schedule would be helpful for any child (any age). And I agree with the previous post, that it might help him advance, and make new friends.
This has gotten me thinking about my Pre-k'er. I might look for a summer school program for her, becuase she HAS to have the STRUCTURE of that schedule. :)
Good luck and God bless.
Susan
I would not send him to summer school. I am an educator and have also talked with many moms of older children who have made the comment that boys especially need more time at home with their moms. He can continue learning in less structured ways at home and going on outings. Can you carve some time to be with him and you do the teaching and learning activities together? I.E. go to the library once a week, the Fernbank, the grocery store doing counting and math activities together. Read together as much as possible, sound out words as you're reading. Have him write a sentence about his favorite part of the day.
Rachel H
Isn't he still young enough that school is fun? If they recommend it then I would send him. He doesn't yet fully understand the joys of summer vacation. This might keep him from missing some when he does. Good luck!
I don't have children in school yet, but it does seem that summer school for pre-K is too much. You might want to try and find a teacher that could tutor him in the areas he needs help with. It will cost a little more, but a lot of teachers tutor during the summer for extra cash. Hope it all works out.
I am no expert, but have been heavily involved in my children's schools and a business partner in education for many years. I have sat on school councils and have heard the teacher/principals side of things. As hard as it may seem to rationalize sending a kindergarten child to summer school, I would definately advise you have him attend. He may thrive in the classes as I am sure they will be small and you would hate to have him start school off behind and have him strugle his way through. It would give him the chance to start out on a level playing field with all the other children. It will make his life easier in the long run.
I have a daughter who was born in August - she is now 6 years old. Her kindergarten year was very tough on her - she struggled with everything - academics and she too liked to follow. Her teacher kept telling me that most of the issues were developmental and that she was just very young. I didn't like the wait and see attitude that I was being told to accept. I decided to check into a lady that tutored that saw her 1-2 times a week for the whole summer last year. WOW - what a difference this school year has been. The one on one attention was just what she needed to get her confidence up and let her know that she can do anything when she tries and she has been standing up to children in her class that are not doing what they should. My son is also an August baby and he starts Pre-K next year - I am already planning on having him do the same thing b/c it was such a positive thing and made all of our lives that much easier. Hang in there - it sounds as if you too may have a "young" one and they will develop in their own time - but until they do - we have to help ourselves in any way possible. see if you can find an alternative to a school setting - if not - try it - extra education definately can't hurt. GOOD LUCK!
Connie... I did a little research to learn what the "DDK Program" you mentioned is and it is specifically for kiddos with developmental delays. PLEASE pardon the questions but they may help determine greater issues than your son just being "a follower." Have you noticed other developmental delays? Has he ever been evaluated by the medical community for difficulties? And has your other child had developmental difficulties?
WHEN there are learning disabilites early intervention is such a help and could deflect/ identify problems now VS. later when helping him could prove more difficult. Try seeing this as a warning signal and a way to help him with other potential difficulties. I agree with another Mom who rightly pointed out this is just ONE summer, he has many more to come! Your school district MAY be providing you the best "gift" your son willl recieve, that of needed help.
Blessings to you as you travel this road...Linda
Connie,
I can't really give you any advice from my experience, since my son is only three, but I would just like to ask if you have read the book "Bringing Up Boys" by Dr. James Dobson? This book really helped me understand how boys develop in their learning skills and attention span. Perhaps the information in this book would help you make a more informed decision for your son.
By the way, I also have my own Mary Kay business. I pray that God blesses you and your family through business.
Hope this info helps at least a little. Wish I had more to offer.
Hi Connie,
Did you know that there have been extensive scientific studies proving that BOYS are NOT ready for school when girls are? Boys are programmed to develop their motor and social skills at that age-NOT sit in a chair all day and try to absorb teaching!!!! There is a wonderful web site called Focus on the Family that could give you more info on this. It's headed by Dr.Dobson-a very well known Christian family doctor and counsellor. He heads the 700 club on tv.My brother also had trouble adapting to school and was held back a year. It didnt hurt him a bit-he became a Marine and a prominent business owner later on. Also my grandson had trouble entering school too soon-they held HIM back a year and now he's in the 5th grade on the honor role every year!!!!! Just MY opinion-but I think putting him through summer school would be an unessesary burden on him-let him play and develop normally!!!! Even if it means keeping him back one year. The school systems in this country KNOW all about the research that's been done on boys entering scholls before they are ready.They chose to ignore it because they'd lose too much government money is they made a change. Hope I have been helpful. Your freind,Judy
That sounds like a tough decision. For me I think it would depend heavily on how much he enjoys the program. If it's very similar to what's been going on during the school year, you can get an idea of that. Hopefully he enjoys it enough that that he would prefer to be there than to be at home. If it's not excited about the school, then anything to pressure him to go more could be very counter-productive. You don't want the poor kid hating school before he even gets to first grade.
The most important thing he needs to be doing is running around like a maniac and burning off some of that boy energy. If the summer school means a lot of sitting still and being quiet, it could make him quite miserable. If they have things like centers where he can build castles, have pretend play, and spend LOTS of time with free play with the other kids, especially outside, then that sounds pretty cool. (Scratched knees, mosquito bites, and a little sunburn means he's having a good summer.)
I wonder if the "developmentally delayed" refers to his development academically, socially, or emotionally. I think he's a bit young to be pushing too much of an academic agenda on him. Make sure they won't be drilling him on flashcards, numbers and letters all summer.
If he doesn't do the summer school program are they likely to hold him back a year?
It also depends on what other plans you had for the kids this summer. If you've found a great summer camp then maybe you can explain to the teachers that you think he will get many of the same benefits at a camp. Or even if you keep the kids at home and just do lots of activities with them ("Camp Mom" I've heard it called) with trips to libraries, nature centers, museums, etc. Doing that with 3 boys would be guarateed to wear you out, though.
And I certainly would make sure that any summer school wouldn't keep you from taking them on a vacation somewhere. If you want to take them somewhere for vacation, make sure he won't be penalized for being out that time.
Good luck.
Connie, it sounds like your son needs more structure in his life. Summer school from 9-12 three days a week can't hurt him; in fact it will probably do him good. Listen to the school and take their advice. I have a grandson who is ADHD and he has had to take summer courses to keep up with his class. It has helped him tremendously. Three hours a day won't hurt. Good luck!!
I am a stay at home mom of two boys, former elementary school teachers. My boys have received several therapies for a variety of delays. I recommend that you ask the school for a full educational/pyschological evaluation. Also, I do think summer school will be very beneficial, unless you find a great tutor or other educational program. However, you can't really beat free summer school.
I have a child that had a developmental delay he is now after special ed prek and therapies finally where he should be for his age and doing very well, he is no longer considered developmental delayed. I think you should send him and if he's able to get any other assistance I'd get it for him. It's easier now to do and get what he needs I think as a child gets older it's more difficult. Best wishes.