School closures/delays?

Robert Rodriguez9 said:I'm guessing she meant those born right on the border. Look, you might be talented, but we're backed up, and based on your age, you can wait another year.

In that case, I wouldn't want to delay a gifted child's schooling either.🤷
Honestly, we shouldn't make things harder for them by making them wait.😢

With gifted kids, you often run into social or emotional immaturity, which can sometimes be a reason to hold off on starting school early. But you really have to look at how they’re doing in preschool and what kind of support system they have at home. Personally, I’d rather see a child get settled into a school environment than leave them stuck in preschool too long. I worry they might end up feeling like, "I'm not going to school because I'm not smart enough," especially when they see other kids who might struggle more academically heading off to class anyway.
Kids naturally compare themselves to others, and gifted children are very aware that they're different from their peers. They don't need any extra messages that contradict their expectation of moving forward into school, especially when they're coming from fairly uniform groups.

Susan James said:In that case, I wouldn't want to delay a gifted child's schooling either.🤷
Honestly, we shouldn't make things harder for them by making them wait.😢

With gifted kids, you often run into social or emotional immaturity, which can sometimes be a reason to hold off on starting school early. But you really have to look at how they’re doing in preschool and what kind of support system they have at home. Personally, I’d rather see a child get settled into a school environment than leave them stuck in preschool too long. I worry they might end up feeling like, "I'm not going to school because I'm not smart enough," especially when they see other kids who might struggle more academically heading off to class anyway.
Kids naturally compare themselves to others, and gifted children are very aware that they're different from their peers. They don't need any extra messages that contradict their expectation of moving forward into school, especially when they're coming from fairly uniform groups.

Do you honestly think that’s how their heads work?

Being gifted doesn't mean you're immune to social or emotional immaturity. Some kids are just struggling, regardless of their IQ.
Take my friend, for example. Her little guy was born in April—super bright, advanced, ahead of the curve in every way... but man, he can't seem to shake his mom's side. He deals with these anxieties that my own kid wouldn't even recognize (probably because my kid isn't nearly as much of a prodigy as he is).

Brian Jones8 said:Looks like we’re all fighting the same battle. We’ve been told we need to see a specialist or a child psychologist just to get a second opinion. ☕But honestly, I already know what they’ll say—that he’s just being immature, even though his speech issues are staring everyone right in the face...
I feel bad if being held back a grade ends up being a bummer for him tomorrow, but I really think this is the lesser of two evils.
Whatever hurdles we're facing now, things should hopefully settle down next year. Fingers crossed... 🕺

yeah, I'm with you on this one.
Who cares if he ends up being the oldest kid in the room? It’s not like it’s some huge deal. I was always the youngest in my classes from elementary through high school, and look at me now—didn't cost me a damn thing.

Brian Jones8 said:Do you honestly think that’s how their heads work?

Being gifted doesn't mean you're immune to social or emotional immaturity. Some kids are just struggling, regardless of their IQ.
Take my friend, for example. Her little guy was born in April—super bright, advanced, ahead of the curve in every way... but man, he can't seem to shake his mom's side. He deals with these anxieties that my own kid wouldn't even recognize (probably because my kid isn't nearly as much of a prodigy as he is).

it's the exact same story with this kid in our group born on April 1st. He lives right on the cutoff line. Super bright kid, but a total brat, cries constantly in preschool, won't leave his parents' side, and refuses to go to play centers without a meltdown. Naturally, the parents are pushing for him to wait a year before starting kindergarten.
Some people claim a single year doesn't make a difference, but if you ask me, it matters a whole lot.

Brian Jones8 said:Do you honestly think that’s how their heads work?

Being gifted doesn't mean you're immune to social or emotional immaturity. Some kids are just struggling, regardless of their IQ.
Take my friend, for example. Her little guy was born in April—super bright, advanced, ahead of the curve in every way... but man, he can't seem to shake his mom's side. He deals with these anxieties that my own kid wouldn't even recognize (probably because my kid isn't nearly as much of a prodigy as he is).

Yeah, giftedness often goes hand-in-hand with emotional immaturity and social struggles for a variety of reasons. Since these kids have needs that are met in slightly different ways, people don't always know how to react. On one hand, their environment might not be cognitively stimulating enough, and on the other, people might set impossibly high expectations because the child is smart, which can take a toll on their emotional life when parents struggle to handle it.

Being born in April doesn't make a child obligated to start school right away. School isn't something they are "destined" for based solely on a birth month. At most, they might qualify for early enrollment.

When deciding whether to hold a child back from starting school, you really have to look at the environment they'll be staying in—specifically, whether that setting can actually foster their development or if it will hinder it.
If a child is spending another year in preschool and is already showing social or emotional difficulties, that extra year might actually be a burden rather than a benefit, especially given their high intellectual abilities. It’s particularly tough if they see all their peers heading off to elementary school while they stay behind. They notice those visible differences—like being faster at math problems, reading, or writing—much more acutely than others might realize.
Gifted kids pick up on those gaps very quickly. Often, they struggle to socialize because they can't find anyone interesting enough to connect with or someone to challenge them, and then being left in that same environment for another year can feel even more isolating. 🤔

Deciding whether to delay school is never an easy call. There are so many factors to weigh to ensure you're doing what's best for the child. It shouldn't just be about getting a piece of paper or taking a breather because it's convenient for us; we need to consider what the child will be doing during that extra year and what skills they can learn, and with whom, during that time.

Joshua Ortiz2 said:Anyone else here from San Diego County? I just need to pick someone's brain about something real quick...

That would be me. Go ahead and ask, though I can't make any promises that I'll actually have the answer...👍

We finally got the results today without any issues, and I can finally breathe a sigh of relief 🙂 She asked for my take on whether he’s actually ready. Looking at the assignment and the diagram he had to complete—given his birthday is January 31st and they evaluate based on a March 1st cutoff—he technically has two extra months of development on his side, so it shouldn't be an issue. We were given referrals for a psychologist, a pediatric neurologist, and a speech therapist to get a full evaluation done. That way, we can pinpoint exactly where he's struggling and work on those specific gaps to ensure he's properly prepared for next year 🙂 I'm relieved; having this extra year will make a massive difference for him

Douglas Booth22 said:We finally got the results today without any issues, and I can finally breathe a sigh of relief 🙂 She asked for my take on whether he’s actually ready. Looking at the assignment and the diagram he had to complete—given his birthday is January 31st and they evaluate based on a March 1st cutoff—he technically has two extra months of development on his side, so it shouldn't be an issue. We were given referrals for a psychologist, a pediatric neurologist, and a speech therapist to get a full evaluation done. That way, we can pinpoint exactly where he's struggling and work on those specific gaps to ensure he's properly prepared for next year 🙂 I'm relieved; having this extra year will make a massive difference for him

So, who did you guys contact first to request a deferral, and what’s the actual process like?

Douglas Booth22 said:We finally got the results today without any issues, and I can finally breathe a sigh of relief 🙂 She asked for my take on whether he’s actually ready. Looking at the assignment and the diagram he had to complete—given his birthday is January 31st and they evaluate based on a March 1st cutoff—he technically has two extra months of development on his side, so it shouldn't be an issue. We were given referrals for a psychologist, a pediatric neurologist, and a speech therapist to get a full evaluation done. That way, we can pinpoint exactly where he's struggling and work on those specific gaps to ensure he's properly prepared for next year 🙂 I'm relieved; having this extra year will make a massive difference for him

Come on, give us some more details... why did you guys request the evaluation in the first place?
What was the testing process actually like? Did the tests themselves confirm that he wasn't quite ready?

We visited the school health clinic after finishing some blood work at the local lab and a quick checkup with our dentist. It started with the nurse, who went through the standard routine: weighing him, checking his vision, and having him draw a person and write his name. Then came the pattern recognition task—triangle, circle, plus sign, and so on. After that, we sat down with the pediatrician. It was obvious right away that he wasn't feeling it; he wouldn't talk and just turned his back to her. She asked me if I thought he was ready for this, and honestly, I told her no—that he’s been struggling with speech and hitting milestones a bit later than other kids his age. Looking at his drawing, she noted that his developmental maturity isn't quite there yet. We had a long discussion, and she agreed that pushing a child too hard before they are ready is counterproductive. She handed me referrals for a speech therapist and a psychologist so I can bring the results back to her. His drawing lacked fingers entirely, and he really struggled with those basic patterns, which is frustrating since his preschool teachers work on this constantly and I assign practice at home. We also have an appointment scheduled with the school psychologist, who shared the same sentiment: you can't force readiness where it doesn't exist.

So, did you actually get an official notice from the Department, or was it just something the doctor mentioned to you? I can't quite tell from your previous posts... sorry about that!

Douglas Booth22 said:We visited the school health clinic after finishing some blood work at the local lab and a quick checkup with our dentist. It started with the nurse, who went through the standard routine: weighing him, checking his vision, and having him draw a person and write his name. Then came the pattern recognition task—triangle, circle, plus sign, and so on. After that, we sat down with the pediatrician. It was obvious right away that he wasn't feeling it; he wouldn't talk and just turned his back to her. She asked me if I thought he was ready for this, and honestly, I told her no—that he’s been struggling with speech and hitting milestones a bit later than other kids his age. Looking at his drawing, she noted that his developmental maturity isn't quite there yet. We had a long discussion, and she agreed that pushing a child too hard before they are ready is counterproductive. She handed me referrals for a speech therapist and a psychologist so I can bring the results back to her. His drawing lacked fingers entirely, and he really struggled with those basic patterns, which is frustrating since his preschool teachers work on this constantly and I assign practice at home. We also have an appointment scheduled with the school psychologist, who shared the same sentiment: you can't force readiness where it doesn't exist.

We've actually been seeing a speech therapist regularly for about a year and a half now, and we were just at the psychologist today for testing (there's more coming in three days).

From what I can tell, his fine motor skills are solid, but his speech is really struggling—things like "R" sounds, certain word combinations, grammar... I'm genuinely curious to see what the psychologist concludes once the testing is wrapped up, because I certainly can't judge his maturity or IQ myself.

Oh, and the doctor made a point to say that pushing an unready child is a mistake because once they start elementary school, there's no turning back. In her view, it's better for him to stay home for one more year. She commented that she deals with way more issues from parents who force their kids into school than from parents like us, who seem worried they might not be ready.

Brian Jones8 said:We've actually been seeing a speech therapist regularly for about a year and a half now, and we were just at the psychologist today for testing (there's more coming in three days).

From what I can tell, his fine motor skills are solid, but his speech is really struggling—things like "R" sounds, certain word combinations, grammar... I'm genuinely curious to see what the psychologist concludes once the testing is wrapped up, because I certainly can't judge his maturity or IQ myself.

Oh, and the doctor made a point to say that pushing an unready child is a mistake because once they start elementary school, there's no turning back. In her view, it's better for him to stay home for one more year. She commented that she deals with way more issues from parents who force their kids into school than from parents like us, who seem worried they might not be ready.

It’s pretty much the same deal with mine, though he’s already been seeing a speech therapist for three years. We’re still waiting on the psychological testing.
I’m no expert, but personally, I don't think speech issues should be a barrier to starting school. Plenty of kids with various challenges get enrolled just fine.
Our therapist mentioned it's likely these quirks will always be there and might never fully resolve. Given how slow the progress has been over the years, I don't see an extra year in preschool making a massive difference in his speech. If other factors pop up during testing that show he isn't ready, then fine, we'll go with that.

Yeah, pretty much the exact opposite of what we're dealing with here... ☕

Our speech therapist thinks my little guy might eventually sound just like any other kid once he hits 7, 8, or 9 years old. But there’s a catch: he’ll basically just be memorizing how to talk because his grasp on grammar—the actual "feel" for the language—just isn't there. He'll still run into hurdles down the road that'll be pretty obvious, like struggling with reading, schoolwork, or even dyslexia...

She also mentioned he can definitely go to a regular school, but honestly, it’s going to be an uphill battle for all of us. It's hard because having solid speech skills is the whole foundation you need to actually master reading and writing.

Mine is already reading and writing, though he makes the little mistakes you’d expect at his age. He's been recognizing letters for a while now—no issues with spelling or syllable breakdown. I'm not sure what the future holds, but he's great at expressing himself, retelling stories, and his syntax is solid. Plus, he's got an R in there. His memory is excellent, so I don't think he'll have any trouble with the more academic side of things. 🤣

feralmoose32 said:So, did you actually get an official notice from the Department, or was it just something the doctor mentioned to you? I can't quite tell from your previous posts... sorry about that!

The doctor said it was postponed, that’s what we agreed on. We still have an appointment with the psychologist next week; she told us to show up regardless of the delay. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure how the process actually works in the end.

Douglas Booth22 said:The doctor said it was postponed, that’s what we agreed on. We still have an appointment with the psychologist next week; she told us to show up regardless of the delay. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure how the process actually works in the end.

The kid has to go through a full medical checkup with the school physician, mandatory testing at the school, and an interview with a specialist on campus (just like any other kid during testing season), and then a decision about a potential postponement is made based on those exams and recommendations. Once that's done, the Federal Government issues the official written confirmation.
At least, that's how they handle things down here in our southern county.

It makes sense to me that everyone needs to be on the same page. 🤷

Since we're talking about drawing during exams, I didn't even bother drawing fingers on my sketches—just a semi-circle to represent palms and hands. I skipped the nose, too. I always thought adding a nose made my drawings look weird, so I just left it out. 😂 Nobody ever gave me any trouble for it.

Honestly, they are becoming increasingly insistent about the drawing exercises. A little friend of mine forgot to include ears in her sketch, and the doctor kept questioning her about what was missing. The poor thing just couldn't wrap her head around it. As for my daughter, well, she refuses to draw ears simply because she thinks they look ugly... ☕☕☕
I eventually managed to convince her to just draw some earrings instead, if only to stop the constant nagging from the staff. 🤦

On a side note, while she was at the doctor's office, she ended up sketching a ballerina performing a high kick in a tutu 🤣🤣🤣...

I’ve already seen the school nurse, and I have an upcoming appointment with the school psychologist; the two of them coordinate their efforts quite closely.

I’m dying to know when we actually get the word on whether that deferral got the green light or not.
Seriously, I’ve got testing scheduled at school for April 4th, and I’ve already gone through the whole marathon of gathering every single scrap of paper from psychologists, preschools, and speech therapists.