Are Today's Kindergartens Anti-Boy? (continued)
Topics: Kindergarten Readiness, Middle Years (5-9), Kindergarten, Red Shirting and Kindergarten for Boys, Gender Differences
This practice of starting school a year later—called kindergarten red-shirting---may be a better solution for some boys. Give that boy an extra year to be a kid before he has to undertake the academic grind of 21st-century kindergarten. That extra year may prevent him from deciding, very early, that school isn't for him.
The key to success in kindergarten is to do the right thing at the right time. Imagine a farmer in Iowa. The farmer may have the best seed corn in the world, and the best farmland – but if the crop is planted during a January blizzard, the result likely will be a failure. Expecting a 5-year-old boy to sit still and be quiet for hours on end may, for some boys, be similar to planting that crop in January. It’s not developmentally appropriate. The end result, too often, is a boy who hates school and everything that reminds him of school.
If you're not 100% sure what is best for your son, I suggest that you give him an extra year of childhood. That could mean staying in preschool for another year, or paying for a private kindergarten that is truly a kindergarten, and doesn't present first grade curriculum. Doing something earlier doesn't mean that you do it better. It may mean that you do it less well, in the long run.
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Comments from readers
Just to fill you in:
Japan preschool begins at home and 99% of eligible students attend kindergarten at age 5. Normally all children are 6 years old when they begin 1st grade. Other countries we are trying to stay aligned with such as China begins school as early as three years old. And yes this is formal education at 3 years of age. There are other industrialized countries that start formal education between 3 and 4.
We know today the historically kindergarten education was only a public child care center that did not have a curriculum because they did not believe children was capable of learning course work. Still in kindergarten you will find children singing, dancing, playing and fingerprinting. Only it will be with a purpose. Research suggests that there are numerous reasons why our early learners are not doing as well as we like. For one parents are not as involved. Even in the families with high socio-economic standings. Learning begins at home. More and more parents are sending their children to school to learn the alphabet, shapes and colors and preschools are not teaching at the level they should.
You stated that some countries are starting children in school two-years later. Who are these countries and are they leading in the world of academia? It takes a village to raise a child and today with the increasing numbers of single, inactive, or absent parents children are NOT get the village effect.We know from extensive research conducted by Vitgotsky, Piaget and many of the like, that children are very capable of learning many things if we take the time to create an environment that is nourishing and stimulating. Children are in fact sponges we can teach them anything. Even 5 year old little boys.
Your reference to students of low-economic status is again underdeveloped. We know that these particular students hold a unique set of characterizes that may contribute to low-academic standing or achievements and it is not that the curriculum is too difficult.
Personally, I think that all children should partake in formal learning as young as 4 years of age. I am an educator with numerous credentials and I take the time to the time to teach my children at a pace that is challenging and comfortable for all three of my children. My 5 year old started reading not memorizing but was capable of phonetically identifying worlds at 3 1/2. My four year old is now reading independently (she just started reading). Both children know the basic kindergarten curriculum and addition and subtraction facts. My oldest is successful with regrouping and multiple digit math. And he loves reading and enjoys learning. They beat me to the learning table each morning. I have to make them take a break. They make me teach them and they will not take NO or Later for an answer. I would like to think that I have gifted children but they learn because of the influence and high regard we as parents hold of education.
I could go on forever but the bottom line is that we need to believe our children are capable and smart. There is an increasing gap between the American educational system and our counterparts who are excelling in the world of academia and technology. What are we going to do about it? Keep making excuses?
I COMPLETELY disagree with you regarding the old style Kindegarten being just childcare. IT was a half day and was suppose to be fun to give kids a positive school experience.
It is great your kids are reading and learning. You sound very supportive and that is awesome. I just hope you are not suppressing what kids should normally be doing at this age...PLAYING. Kids this age learn through play. PERIOD.
Having a successful academic and classroom experience for the child requires participation and dedication from the teacher and parent alike. Parents mistakenly send their child off to school without the requisite foundation or basic knowledge because they are unaware of the expectations set by local school districts or by the state. States do a good job of disseminating these expectations but some parents do not seek the info or they simply ignore it.
I am saddened by parents who do not inactive with their children and who do not take the time to set aside a block of time to formally teach their children anything. Teaching your child phonics or single digit math is really simple and fun you just need to want to do it and create a love for learning within your home. I am proud that my children enjoy our family reading time. I am proud that my children want to learn.
Why is it that someone would question the quality of life a child has just because their parents place an emphasis on learning. We dedicate one hour of instruction each day excluding weekends to each child. And that one hour is often split into two instructive blocks throughout the day. Furthermore, my children have a plethora of toys that I help them play with. Yes, I am there on the floor too. I don’t just send them to a room so that they can get out of my hair. But I do believe in independent play so yes I encourage them to play together and alone.
We try our best to maintain a balanced home. We regularly visit the local Zoo’s, children’s museum, science center, local metro parks, community parks, water park, and amusement parks. We also enjoy daily walks or hikes together. In addition my children participate in educational and recreation programs with other children at the local library, day-camp and so on. Furthermore they partake in non-competitive sports that they choose at their own will. I am certain my children live a life many children would love to have. Both my husband and I are very active, attentive and loving parents and most importantly our children know that. What is even more sad is that my son is starting to realize just how fortunate they are. He is starting to question why some of his friends fathers are never home, why his friends parents NEVER say please or thank you, and why other parents do not read bedtime stories.
My children are very bright, well behaved with or without us, courteous, loving and extremely out going with plenty of personality. None of my children are shy or introverts. Again we are proud of our children and of ourselves. We continuously receive complements from neighbors, family, strangers, their doctor, teachers and just about anyone on how great our children are and happy they are. I guess I am really thankful I chose to be a well-informed and active parent and that I am able to do so.
Please join the movement and get active with your children if you are not already. They learn best through modeling and observing behaviors. Set the standards and lead by example. You are the parent and ultimately you are responsible for your children even after they turn 18. You get out what you put in.