Do I Send Him or Not?

K.,
If your child was a girl, I might say, "Send her". They tend to mature faster and socialize earlier. For a boy I have to recommend not sending him until next year. Of course I do not know your son, however I do know many others who had to deal with this issue. The ones who kept their sons back were happy that they had done so. My step-son was sent on and shouldn't have been. From personal experience I watched him as he was slightly less mature than the others, he followed instead of leading (until he became older), he had trouble with sports because he was smaller until his junior year in High School. He even said when we discussed it once, that he wish he had been held back because he would have been more successful in high school sports. He also didn't want to go to college right out of school and consequently never finished. I am not saying that your son will be like this. It just helps to hear from personal experience. I also think a good pre-school is invaluable.

As a mother of 9, five of which are boys, I would highly encourage you to wait another year. Boys mature slowly and they just don't do as well in school if they go too young. Maybe for the next year you could try a little homeschooling. Teach him the sounds of letters and read, read, read to him. Do counting games. Who knows, you may enjoy it so much, you may decide to have him join the ranks of the very successful homeschooled.

Make your decision based on your child's needs and abilities, not your own desires. From personal experience, I would wait a year. Once he starts school you can't go back. My oldest, who is now 26, could have waited another year to start kindergarten, but I wanted to let him start school as early as possible. He had been in day care for a couple of years. I realized after he got older that it would have been better for him to have waited, as he would have been more mature and perhaps more ready to learn.

Mom of two, grandma of one!

Personally, I would keep him at home another year. The first five years are so important in a child's life, and once he's gone, he's gone!

He's going to have a lot of adjustments to a new home and environment, missing those close to him, etc. I would think keeping him at home would be good for him emotionally! To have him go to school and it's pressures, along with the move, etc, might just be a lot of stress for him at this time.

Perhaps you could put him in a pre-school or mother's day out program 2-3 days a week. He'll have the benefit of being one of the maturer ones in his class if you wait another year. If he goes now right into kindergarten now, he might be intimidated, especially with no pre-school experience and not knowing any of the kids.

I wish you well! We are now in Springfield, but lived in the Dallas area for 12 years. And a married son lives there, and the other will move back in the summer. Enjoy it!

Where will you be living?

K. M.,
My recommendation would be to hold him back and put him in
preschool part time to ease the transition. I've put my son gradually into pre-school and may still hold him back another year even though he will be eligible for
kindergarten next year.
Also, FYI, I'm originally from Dallas and if you need any info or contacts, support as far as your re-locating I'd be happy to help.
Good Luck.
C. T.