My sister in law(a teacher) held all 3 of her boys back and they didn't start kindergarten until they were 6. I didn't and still don't understand her reasoning but all 3 are thriving and doing very well. Mine all went to all day pre k and did well too so who knows.
@BooBear:
I understand holding a child back not because I did the same but because it's a parents prerogative & as long as they've got the child's best interest at heart in their own heart, more power to 'em. I think it largely has to do with the parents. If a parent works with their kids at home, they should be fine if they start later. The unfortunate thing is that some people tend to get so busy these days that priorities shift & education is put off entirely until the child goes to school rather than working with them at home leading up to schooling. Those are the kids that tend to struggle. That's just SOME people though. I don't know about an overabundance because there are SOOO many sweet, bright, creative kids at DD's school. You also have to take learning disabilities into account, because they are acknowledged a lot more now than they were when I was a kid, which I think is a good thing. I think that every child & every circumstance is different, & that's cool with me. I just know that pre K worked for us & helped DD thrive. 4951