youngest in class worries

zoesmummy_2006

my son started reception in september, 9 days after turning 4 so hes the youngest in his class by quite a mile, lots of them are already turning 5.

I know that hes going to be at a different stage as the rest of them given how much younger he is but I worry about him keeping up even though its only been a few months.

He doesnt seem to be interested in colouring or any of the crafty activities they have set up now, whereas at playgroup he was always coming home with things he's made/pictures he'd drawn. He loves the computers in class and is able to confidently use them which is great, and he loves the boys toys such as cars trains and bein at the sand/water table.

He does read his books to me, well with me still at the minute, and he can count and do his abc and has done for ages and he recognises words etc. But he doesnt seem to write much, or show any interest in learning to. I bought him some special christmas cards I knew he would love to hopefully get him to want to write his name on, but he wont/cant. I try and practise with him, and have some homework helper books which he likes to do but quickly gets bored of.

Hes also soooooo tired now, he looks exhausted all the time and ive been having to wake him in a morning, despite him going to bed at the same time as he always has, sometimes earlier. Cant wait for the school holidays so he can recharge his batteries a bit hopefully.

Am I worrying over nothing?????

thunderbird

Short answer - yes!

j.e.j.

One of my rellies has the opposite problem, - her son's birthday falls in September so he has to wait till he's almost 5 until he starts school. He is really ready to go now, and keeps asking when can I go to big school.

It's a bit annoying, but I guess they have to draw the line somewhere. But you're right there is so much difference in their size as well as in their development between a 4-year-old child and a 5 year-old. Thinking about it, although to us it's only a year, for them it's actually a 20% difference in age and maturity!

Sorry not much help, just wanted to say you're not alone.

go_cat

My son is 5 , the majority of the class have already turned 6. He has no problems at all.

The only time his teacher notices s his emotional intelligence is lower and he gets upset by some minor things occasionally then she remembers he is a lot younger, other than that she can't tell

minimoneysaver

Yes. My daughter was born at the end of August and was tiny when she started school. She did her year 2 sats and scored the highest in her class in all subjects. Just keep on reading to him and exposing him to the big world. He'll do fine.

mcflinders

My son is a May birthday & is one of the youngest in his reception class. He has settled in well & enjoys it but is shattered now at the end of this term. I'm sure it will all come together for them. He loves bath crayons & I have bought a post office set hoping we can write letters & have fun posting them! Also look at nurturestore website for ideas on spelling in sand etc to make it more fun.

balletshoes

i think most young children at school are exhausted at this time of year - they've just settled into a school day routine, but for the last couple of weeks (and the next one) they are doing different things, its dark when they wake up and nearly dark by the time they get home, leads to grumpy tired children. My colleague's daughter is exactly the same, she's an April birthday.

365days

You say he is tired, but you try to do more at home with him. Please don't push him he is still so young. Yes he is a 'summer born' but allowances will be made for that until he reaches year 3.

Boy's fine motor skills develop slower than girls. He needs to develop his hand muscles so he is physically able to master writing. I'll try to find a link and a sec for ideas on how to develop these.

For writing, those books you can get are sooooo boring. You say he likes cars/trains etc. Could he write roadsigns for a streetmat? Have a notebook to write down cars he sees. Tallys of how many 62 reg cars etc etc. Basically getting him to put pen to paper without mentioning the 'W' word.

Has he access to chunky markers, chalks, paintbrushes in water to 'write' on the patio (on a sunny day) scribbling on the condensation on the car window. All these are early writing skills, forget the workbooks please.

I'm a primary teacher with 18 years experience!

CH27

balletshoes wrote: »

i think most young children at school are exhausted at this time of year - they've just settled into a school day routine, but for the last couple of weeks (and the next one) they are doing different things, its dark when they wake up and nearly dark by the time they get home, leads to grumpy tired children. My colleague's daughter is exactly the same, she's an April birthday.

That is so true. Plus they are getting excited about christmas which (IME) leads to a huge flop the day after boxing day

zoesmummy_2006

thanks everyone, hes such a lil dinky thing in himself ( wears age 3-4 clothes still) though ive noticed hes become a lot more outgoing since starting school.

They have had christingle service, carol singing in town and then the school nativity and he cried through them all lol. well he started off smiley and happy at the nativity then slowly progressed to scowling at me and then crying for me.

Hes had a parents evening of sorts already and his teacher told me not to worry but I cant help it lol. Will just keep working with him on his writing etc xx

Gloomendoom

j.e.j. wrote: »

One of my rellies has the opposite problem, - her son's birthday falls in September so he has to wait till he's almost 5 until he starts school. He is really ready to go now, and keeps asking when can I go to big school.

My birthday is in mid September and I didn't have to wait. I spent all my school days as the youngest in class. In fact, I was younger than some of the children in the year below mine.

It didn't do me any harm.