Would you be pissed?

I wouldn’t be angry but I’d probably still push my kid to the next level at that age. It’s just playful learning. Now when potty training comes into play and the child’s behind then I totally understand keeping them behind or if they’re in grade school.

@Allexys well at my job, the 3’s program you have to be potty trained or at least 90%, she is not yet.. she still has time before the 3’s to be fully potty trained .. but has of right now, not yet

I mean if she has time then why not wait until it’s time to assess where she is?

@Allexys because it’s more than just potty training. She needs to know specific skills. Gross motor/fine motor. Language, receptive language. Social/emotional, Academics (some colors, shapes)

Girl she’s 2. Our pediatrician won’t even consider recommending any interventions with things like that until then so like I get what you’re saying but Kids learn so fast. One day she could be behind next week she could be right there where she needs to be.

She’s 2 1/2 years old. And there’s just certain things that the 3’s program teachers are looking for. It’s just the way things run. And yes you’re right. She can change in a week or two. But since September I have not seen any progress, which is why I suggested the repeat. If I seen progress since she started. I’d push her along to the 3’s in September as well.

Just curious, was the mother made aware of your noticings since September? Are there things that can be done from now until the end of the school year and can you partner with mom? I teach, but HS kids, so I know it's different.

@RoRo I mean she’s on the young side in my class. I try giving my students a few months before I start to tune in on specifics. I start to really go into detail with stuff after all our long holiday breaks. I’ve noticed mid Feb. specifics but kept my eye on her and tried testing her in different ways to see if she was guessing things or actually knew some things. Which is why I am now mentioning something. I try not to compare my students and their ages because like I said in my story “I know everyone learns at their own pace”. Like her, and my 13 other students. I have to see for specific things.. Can she progress in the next few months… absolutely and then I can take back my recommendation.

My advice is to develop a plan specific for her. Since the other kids are more advanced, give her a bit more attention, and give mom a packet of things that she should be working on with your student. Reassess her in mid April. I think she can definitely move up with the rest of the class.

My kids aren’t quite at that stage yet but I’ve had my thoughts about this due to their current stage of development. I don’t think you’re in the wrong. I wouldn’t care so much about being told late. If I was being told that an educator thought that my child wasn’t ready to progress for the next year, I would at least: Have a discussion around why they think my child would need it. What can I do as a parent at home to help them keep progressing. Putting a child ahead of where they are, I feel creates additional stress, comparison and anxiety (not just for the parent but potentially the child as well - yes I know this is a young age group being discussed but it can have a domino effect in future years). If it was in my child’s best interest to repeat a year I would accept it and continue working with educators to get them where they need to be. Can you offer a sit down with the mom and explain in detail about why or things she can do in the meantime and reassess how things go?

You did the right thing some mothers just don’t want to hear it. Someone told my stepson’s mother to repeat him at 3 years old because he was behind. She just pushed him up and up. Even though his dad and me kinda agree with repeating him. He ended up having to repeat year 1 (age 6 here) and being depressed about it because kids at that age bullied him about repeating. Would have been better for him to have repeated at 3 years old when he didn’t understand and other kids wouldn’t have noticed.

@Tanika and also I feel like at that point your step son would possibly have already made friends - I know it’s easy to make friends when they’re young but adding the whole “why are they in different classes” side of things would be difficult too

I feel like this is more of a fault on the education system than you. While I know the moms upset, you have too many kids to yourself and weren’t able to give this child the one on one time they needed. Some kids do need more one on one attention to topics they’re having trouble grasping (which I’m not indicating means they have a learning disability just to be clear. It’s just they need a little help) and that’s hard to give when you have other toddlers who also need you. Maube this is an opportunity to shift focus on her since the other kids are on track. Give the mom tips for home as well too. There’s still some time, as there’s so much advancement between 2 and 3 years old.

@Sharnee yes of course I’m able to talk to mom about why. Would she want to hear what I have to say? Not 100% sure. But we shall find out soon! I’m more than happy to explain why I feel the way I feel.

Yeah honestly sounds like she isn’t really going to listen/care and from get go (regardless of when you told her) that she’s just gonna push her child to the next group. You sound like an awesome educator with the child’s best interests and it’s sad but I don’t know what more you can possibly do - especially with 13 other kids in your care. At the end of the day at least you know that you have taken the right steps ❤️

@Sharnee thank you. I appreciate it