[Scatterbrain]

Our daughter was a 28 wk preemie. She weighed 2 lbs 9 oz and spent the first four mo. in the hospital. Because of this beginning she has mild attachment issues, but otherwise is remarkedly healthy.

My question is about school. She is a January baby, but if you count back she really wasn't supposed to be born until April I think. Even though she is older than some of the other students in her class she is a bit immature and lags behind, often displaying some needy behaviors. I am confused as to what category to put this in. Is it because she is my youngest?? Is it because of the mild attachment issues and tied to adoption?? Is it just her normal personality and would happen reguardless?? OR do children who were born prematurely develop at the stage they were supposed to be born if it had been a full term pregnancy and she may just be 3 mo. behind and be a young kindergartner??

[HappyTwinsMom]

Everyone has to make their own decision about when to start their children in school depending, of course, on where the child is at the time. We chose to wait until our daughters were 6 to start them in kindergarten. They are May babies, born at 31 weeks and weighing just over 3 lbs each (adopted at birth). Due date was the end of July. They are doing remarkably well this year in kindergarten and I don't think they would have done nearly as well had we sent them at 5.

[KarynB]

We made the mistake of sending our son early rather than a year later and I really regret it. Physically, he is the same size or bigger than most of the kids but emotionally/socially is farther behind which makes it tough for him. Every year I suggest holding him back for this reason, but the school disagrees. Now he is in grade 4 and it would be very hard on him to be held back - wish we had of done it at the beginning!

[peanutsrus]

My son was born at 32 weeks and was brought home 67 days after he was born. He is know 5 and I plan on sending him to kindergarten in August. I spent a lot of time w/ him from the day he was born reading and talking to him. I also had no other children and stayed home so I could give my full attention to him. He caught up pretty fast and is super smart. At times I do think he is needy and clingy. I don't know if a lot of that has to do w/ the fact that he was rarely seperated from me or if it is his personality. I sent him to preschool when he was 3 and he is finishing his second year. He loves it. If you haven't put him in a preschool you might look into that if you are not sure your child isn't ready for kindergarten. It would give them the social opportunities, but not an everyday all day school. I know for us sending him to kindergarten however, is a must cause he is already starting to read and will bored soon. I think it is a personal choice because you want your child to succeed and have confidence.

[Scatterbrain]

She is at the end of her kindergarten year. She went to pre-K at 4, but we did not do 3 yr. pre-K. She is behind and needy, but I have decided to send her on to 1st and do 2 yrs. of 1st if needed. Her kindergarten teacher would have liked her to do another yr. of kindergarten, but she is reading and writing and does not have behavior problems. She does not struggle socially. Her biggest problem is that she is very needy of the teacher's attention. If the teacher is at her side she can do the work. If the teacher walks away from her desk she does the work incorrectly.

At home I have found that she will pretend that she cannot do something in hopes that I will just give up. So--I usually make her sit in a chair until she does the work correctly. When she finds out she is not getting away with anything she does the work and moves on.