What age did your preemie twins go to K? How are they doing now?

My boys are turning 4 in May. The following year, they will turn 5 in May, then be scheduled to go to kindergarten in July (we have year round schools here). So they will just be over 5 years old. I have one son that is verbally apraxic. Both boys are in speech twice a week and one will be starting OT next week. If I don't put them into kindergarten when they are 5, the county will drop all of their IEP services (ST, OT, and itinerant teacher). As it stands, I have to figure out how to pay for ST and OT (if I can) over the summer because the IEP doesn't pay for services over the summer. I figured that it will be $260/week in copays if both boys have the ST and OT they need. I'm not sure how I can afford that over the summer, much less for the entire next year (if I don't enroll them).

I also fear if I enroll them in kindergarten, one child will move onto first grade, while the other child will be held back in kindergarten. It just seems like that would increase the competition among two twin boys, nevermind the one held back would feel always "behind".

I just wanted to see how other kids were doing (based on their age) in kindergarten. I know with the average child, those right around the age cut off date for kindergarten tend to have a more difficult time because they are younger and are less mature.

So I have to decide between services and maturity/development.

Any opinions are welcomed!

 

Here in Florida, the cut-off date for birthdays is Sept...our boys' bday is in Oct. They had speech and OT therapy at home until they turned 3, then the school system took over and they went to pre-k at one of the local elementary schools. They are 9 now and in 3rd grade. When they started pre-k, Isiah was still not talking and Michael was just starting to talk and would talk for Isiah...we kept them in the same class and they started out going to speech therapy (at school) together. They are now in separate classes and Isiah still goes to speech therapy once a week, he prob won't be going next year tho, even tho he still has trouble with (mostly just) his 'R' sound. I did the math before I responded and if I did the calculations right (it IS almost 2am right now...LOL), they started kindergarten at age 5 but turned 6 a couple months after it started.

 

My boys turned 5 in late June and went to K in Sept. In first grade they are both doing great. We always knew Jon was at the top of the class--BTW, he is the one who had a speech problem and was in the special needs preschool program. Marcus, was the opposite and not reading at all entering K, now, a year and a half later, he has just about caught up to his brother

If I were you, I would go ahead and send them, especially since it means retaining services. Your son cannot be held back for a speech delay. There is one set of twins in M&J's grade who were Sept. birthdays. Their parents sent them to K for 2 years, since they didn't feel they were ready to go on to 1st after doing the one year of K. Now in 1st grade, the girl is doing great, but the boy is struggling. They just discovered the boy has a medical problem which can effect his learning, so he is probably going to get special ed services, and will go on to 2nd grade next year.

There are plenty of ways to help your son who you feel may be behind. And you can always send them with the intention of retaining them in K if they aren't doing well.

 

I was like you when it was time for the boys to go to K. I really did not feel like they where ready, but would have lost all of my services if I didn't send them. I went ahead and sent them to K and while they have been behind most of the class, they are doing great. They neither one knew there alphabet or knew how to count when they started. They also could only write the first letter of their name. They are both writing their name, know their alphabet and are continuing to improve on their counting. Their speech has also improved tremendously from just being around friends and playing. So, I say go ahead and send them, you can always have them repeat K if needed.

 

We are not *there* yet with my girls (32 weekers) but we will be- they have an Oct B-day and the cutoff is Dec. I am a former Spec.Ed. teacher and my most freqent recc. for similiar situations would be to send them - if you need services- you dont want to lose them and/or you can call for an IEP and ask for summer services (if you are a year round school, why not?). You could also look into an early 5s program if it is available or see what alternatives there are in the community. Does your area have a speech K class? Do they qualify for a developmental preschool? Would they get services outof school or during school hours?

Our area has lots of support activities for children of all ages-- if cost is a problem talk to the county/provider- often they have a sliding scale and/or discounts for families paying for the services out of pocket.

Retention in K is not uncommon and is often done for younger children (many of them boys). You may also be surprised at the growth that occurs in a classroom setting, exposure to other kids often helps some children with speech and communication skills. The exposure to other skills as well is great for kids this age- waiting in line, working in a group, experincing other 'authority' figures (teachers/principals), and developing independence.

Have you done any alternative communication? That may also be helpful (picture board, Dynavox, PEGS system) etc. Not to discourage speech, but they will alleviate some frustration with trying to communicate while he has OT & SP and may help prevent behavior problems.

I would also convence an IEP meeting and talk about what to expect for K- what services they will provide, what support is available when school is out of session, what they recc. for your boys.

Good Luck

KC

 

My boys will be the oldest in their grade due to the cutoff so I'm not concerned (geez, we have a ways to go anyway), but I wanted to comment. I was a kindergarten teacher in NJ where the cutoff was Dec. A little less than half of my class was 4 when school started. I had twin girls in the class who turned 5 in Nov. They did great, but one would always talk for the other. In their case (and I think every case is different) I suggested the mother separate them for 1st grade so the other one could "show her stuff". Do you think your boys would do well in different classes? I also wanted to mention a little boy who turned 4 in Dec. His mother was very worried about him being socially immature and after the first month of school asked me if she should pull him out and start over the following year. I told her that her son's social growth and maturity had improved so much in just the few short weeks that I thought it would be a mistake to pull him out. He is now in Jr High and is in the upper half of the class. (Yes this makes me feel old!). Anyway, like pp said, you'd be surprised what being in the classroom setting can help a child with. They are not just learning to read and write. They learn so many social skills that year.

 

Aaron and Connor started Kindergarten this past August. They were 5, but turned 6 the end of November. They have done very well. No problems at all. They were 31 weekers. There is no way I would have held them back, they were not only emotionally ready, but my boys are very very tall for their age. They already are at least a head taller than most of their classmates!

 

My twins are young K's. They turned 5 at the end of June and started K in August. They both are doing very well, my daughter who needed speech therapy is at the top of her class, especially in reading and does not have a problem with anything her teacher asks her to do. She also speaks very well now in front of the class. My son is reading on target for K, doing well overall but has some problems with understanding directions and staying focused on tasks if there is a lot of other stuff going on. His teacher isn't worried about it though. He just started PT again so he does miss 30 minutes of class each week but his teacher feels it is important for him to do that too because she was noticing that he was holding up those behind him going up/ down stairs, etc. I will say that both teachers do forget that my two are one of the younger ones in their classes because of their sizes!

 

I am glad I am not the only one thinking ahead!!! Mine will be 4 in April and I have wondered what to do with them as well. Our cutoff is Sept which seems like more than enough time but I am worried about Mitchell. He is more behind than Kenna and I am afraid of him getting held back and her moving forward. They are both in preschool now and the teachers said Kenna is advanced but Mitchell, you still have to hold the pencil with him to get him to write and that he doesn't recognize his own name just yet (he looks for the M but thats all). So I have just been thinking about it all. Mine are super tiny too so it probably wouldn't hurt to hold them back, but then Kenna doesn't need to be held on another year....I guess I will see how this year goes...

 

My boys were 35 weekers (so they hardly even 'count' as preemies around here ). They were born August 8th and the cutoff for school is Sept. 1. I opted to hold them back this year since they were early and their birthdays fell so close to the cutoff. I am pleased with the decision, and I believe they will both excel in Kindergarten because of the extra year. However, your situation is so different because for you it means retaining services. I think that if my decision were being swayed by that factor, I would have sent them to K. As for one moving ahead and one staying behind........ that's a difficult thing to predict! I don't think I would *not* send them based on what might happen in the future, KWIM?

 

My guys were 29 weekers with a 4th of July Birthday. The cutoff here is December 1st. I sent them the September after they turned 5. They are in first and are doing very well They are still among the smallest size wise in their classes, but academically are advanced and testing above grade level in most areas. Nathan had a grade IV brain hemorrhage in NICU and has Left Hemi CP he did get therapies in K, but none this year. He does have some classroom issues none are academic or behavior though, more time management type that they are working on motivation techniques with him.

 

QUOTE(CCJN @ Mar 10 2009, 09:31 PM) [snapback]1222776[/snapback]
My guys were 29 weekers with a 4th of July Birthday. The cutoff here is December 1st. I sent them the September after they turned 5. They are in first and are doing very well They are still among the smallest size wise in their classes, but academically are advanced and testing above grade level in most areas. Nathan had a grade IV brain hemorrhage in NICU and has Left Hemi CP he did get therapies in K, but none this year. He does have some classroom issues none are academic or behavior though, more time management type that they are working on motivation techniques with him.



That is wonderful!!

 

Guys - Thank you very much for your input. I truly appreciate all the opinions and points of view!!!