Kids in the US usually start kindergarten at age 5 in September. The cutoff is usally December 1 so they technically could be 4 1/2. My 2 older, born in June and July, both started at 5. My twins born in February will be 5 1/2. It has always been my opinion that it is better to hold them back if you think they are not ready - either academically, socially or emotionally - than to push them into a situation where they struggle. If they start school off on a bad foot that may well follow them through their school years. You want them to enjoy school. Also, holding them back has some emotional issues associated with it when they see all their friends going to the next grade. Also, I think for boys especially they are less mature and less able to focus than girls their age and they can greatly benefit from entering school later.

That said, he needs to be challenged also. If the school he is at can't provide that maybe someone else can. Maybe from home? Or another school? Maybe it is okay if he has one more year where he gets to be a child?

A very hard decision. I am so not ready for my twins to go to kindergarten. Thank god I have one more year with them.

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