When my daughter started moving and grooving as a toddler, I could see she was curious and full of energy. Right away, we began discussing what her schooling would look like since she was an August birthday. Would she be bored? Would she simply be ready? Would she feel out of place? I utilized all my resources – mainly my teacher friends – and the discussion concluded – she would wait to start kindergarten.

Now that she’s entering middle school, I can say with complete confidence: it was the best decision we could’ve made.

Trusting Your Gut

I remember my daughter starting a head start program for reading during her pre-K years, and her teacher voiced some concerns. We heard things such as “she’s doing great, but…” and that “but” stuck with me. She was capable, yet so much more was developing right at that moment. There were struggles, not big ones, but enough to take those gut feelings and put them in motion.

And as a parent, it’s easy to compare as I started to do looking at other kids in this reading program. It is so easy to get caught up in what age they “should” be doing this skill or that one. But deep down, I knew she needed more time to grow – and it wasn’t academic growth, it was the social and emotional she needed to experience to be fully ready.

The Gift of Time

That extra year gave her exactly what she needed. And her precious pre-school had a wonderful bridge program that I knew would help her soar. In a world that pushes our kids to grow up faster than ever, we gave her that gift of time. She grew confident; she began to feel secure in herself.

She started kindergarten at six, more self-assured and less anxious than she would’ve been the year before. While some kids were still adjusting to the routines and expectations, she embraced them. She was so ready, and that made all the difference.

The Payoff

Now, as she transitions to middle school, we can fully see the long-term benefits in ways I couldn’t appreciate back then. Academically, she is doing well; emotionally, she is resilient. She advocates for herself and has handled social pressures with a maturity that some of her young classmates are still developing.

Holding her back didn’t just give her a head start in school – it gave her a stronger foundation for life.

Every Child is Different

Please know that every child has his/her path to follow. Some will be ready for kindergarten at five. But for parents who are on the fence – who see their child may benefit from more time – please know this: it’s okay to wait. Waiting isn’t failure; it’s not “holding them back.” In so many ways, delaying the start to kindergarten sets them up to leap forward later.

She has never felt different for being the oldest. In fact, she has never mentioned it. What does she think about? Her friends. Her excitement. Her creativity. She is so confident in who she is, and I attribute that to waiting to start.

Sometimes the hardest decisions as a parent are the the ones that do not go with the flow. But even more so, they’re the ones that matter the most.

Houston moms, we would love to hear from you. These tough decisions can’t be made alone, but we hope the conversation and these words guide you to make the right choices for your sweet little ones.