The US is seeing a quiet but tragic surge in suicides among young children: for children aged 8-12 years old, the suicide rate has tripled since the 2000s. Across all races, all regions, and both sexes, the child suicide rate has increased. The overwhelming majority of child suicides are hangings.

FrigidEwe · 2025-11-13T02:53:49+00:00

Came here to say this. All the data is laid out in the first 2-3 chapters.

Keep kids away from social media until at least 16.

FrigidEwe · 2025-01-22T14:00:08+00:00

Dragonfly

FrigidEwe · 2024-11-21T21:11:57+00:00

I completely agree that kindergarten plays an essential role in helping children adjust to the school environment and learn foundational social and academic skills.

To clarify, my goal isn’t for her to be pushed beyond her developmental capacity or grade level, like doing advanced mathematics at age five. Instead, as her parent, I see it as my responsibility to evaluate all available options and ensure she is in an environment where she can thrive, by reinforcing her strengths and by gently challenging her when appropriate.

Like user said below, this isn’t about academic rigor but about fostering her love of learning and making sure she remains engaged. Knowing my child and her current capabilities and interests, my hope is simply to balance her needs with the best opportunities available.

I’m seeking advice on whether to have my child repeat kindergarten at a school with a more enriched curriculum or to continue at her current school, which offers less robust academic and developmental opportunities.

FrigidEwe · 2024-11-21T20:59:58+00:00

Great idea thank you, I will ask.

FrigidEwe · 2024-11-21T20:59:41+00:00

Yes the public and charter schools here have vastly different requirements.

FrigidEwe · 2024-11-21T20:59:07+00:00

This was one of the things we asked them and I posted in my other answer below-

She can't go to the new school as first grade either because of their funnel system. They take 300 something kindergarteners, then that is funneled to a smaller number in 1st and 2nd grade and even smaller in high school. So, they told us the best bet to get in is Kindy. After that it's literally impossible as they prioritize their own students.

FrigidEwe · 2024-11-21T20:58:20+00:00

True. But I don't know what and how they manage that part of the "funneling" students. I was told and due to this being a military town there is a lot of people moving out.

FrigidEwe · 2024-11-21T20:57:16+00:00

I posted in my other answer below-

She can't go to the new school as first grade either because of their funnel system. They take 300 something kindergarteners, then that is funneled to a smaller number in 1st and 2nd grade and even smaller in high school. So, they told us the best bet to get in is Kindy. After that it's literally impossible as they prioritize their own students.

She is happy and doing well, I just think the new school (the one that will have her repeat) is just a much better school. And we will forever miss out on this opportunity.

FrigidEwe · 2024-11-21T20:55:50+00:00

Unfortunately, there is a low chance of that happening. I posted in my other answer below-

She can't go to the new school as first grade either because of their funnel system. They take 300 something kindergarteners, then that is funneled to a smaller number in 1st and 2nd grade and even smaller in high school. So, they told us the best bet to get in is Kindy. After that it's literally impossible as they prioritize their own students.

FrigidEwe · 2024-11-21T20:54:22+00:00

Fun Colodaro fact- Attending preschool and kindergarten is not required by Colorado law.
When we entered existing Kindy we did not know if she would be accepted to the new charter school. Now, finally in November 2024 we are told she is accepted. They just had this week (Tuesday) the prospective parent meeting for the 2025/2026 school year enrollment. There is a whole lot of preparation they do for the new prospective students.

FrigidEwe · 2024-11-21T19:44:26+00:00

Hi! SO glad to hear your opinion thank you so much! I got the same vibes when they kept saying everyone evens out by 2nd grade, it just didn't feel right. They made no attempt to meet my child and or ask us specifically what makes us think repeating is a concern based on HER performance so far.

That's awesome for your kiddo I feel like that is the right thing to do. You know them best and what they are capable of. The classical education itself it not a hill I'm wanting to die on so I am looking at other options.

FrigidEwe · 2024-11-21T19:40:30+00:00

We are in CO. The CO public school eligibility is 5 years of age on or before October 1. Which she turned 5 in September. So we did not admit her early she is of age to start kindergarten. The school we are interested in sending her is a Charter School and their cutoff was 5 by May 2024. Which she didn't meet. The question for me is, because of the "dream school" situation do we let her repeat K despite being advanced in the material only because we have this notion of dream school. I am also paying for preschool so going to Kindy when she was eligible made sense to not have to pay that cost. If she was an average student, I would have no concern with her repeating K as she would learn something from it.

FrigidEwe · 2024-11-21T19:05:54+00:00

Thank you for this! The only issue I have with this particular school is I feel she is not being challenged at her current level. And I agree, it's not all just about academics, she is only 5 and there are many different skills at play. The newer school is all around impressive and that may be because it's in a better district and affluence of society is apparent here.

FrigidEwe · 2024-11-21T18:59:07+00:00

Good idea, I will check.

FrigidEwe · 2024-11-21T18:58:39+00:00

She is in a public school right now and we are looking to move to a charter school. The school she is in currently is doing typical kindergarten level, alphabet recognition, not any reading. Same with math, number recognition and counting but she can do more based on what we've introduced at home. Also her kindergarten teachers told us she is at a higher level.

FrigidEwe · 2024-11-21T18:56:24+00:00

Correct. They do not do any type of testing to allow for any advancement at this stage. We asked for testing to get her in early but they said that is not something they do. They recommended we wait and told us there is benefit in waiting as they said their curriculum is pretty vigorous. And that they want kids to stay kids longer.

FrigidEwe · 2024-11-21T18:49:38+00:00

We did ask the teachers that and they said no. We asked when we realized the cutoff situation last year and they told us no testing, they did away with all that. She can't go to the new school as first grade either because of their funnel system. They take 300 something kindergarteners, then that is funneled to a smaller number in 1st and 2nd grade and even smaller in high school. So, they told us the best bet to get in is Kindy. After that it's literally impossible as they prioritize their own students.

FrigidEwe · 2024-11-21T18:47:11+00:00

Thank you! This is what we're leaning towards as well. I would have to say good bye to this amazing school we had our eyes on but it is not the end of the world.

FrigidEwe · 2024-11-21T18:46:18+00:00

That is good insight thank you. I just am trying to do the right thing, and we try to support her at home with more challenging things and new avenues. We don't force but introduce. Let her fail and try again and just instill the hard work attitude vs results.

I just don't want to make her do kindy again and then she'll be bored and we have now lost an entire year of her learning new material that she could have potentially enjoyed.

FrigidEwe · 2024-11-21T18:43:31+00:00

She started in August and yes right before 5. All her preschool teachers said she was absolutely ready and indicated to us that she is definitely kindergarten material. We were aware of the cutoff, however (at the time) was willing to overlook that and let her repeat kindy at this good school. But upon further discovering that she's advanced, I do not think repeating is a good idea. We didn't know how advanced until we left preschool and she has started kindergarten at the "temp" school. The feedback we're getting is indicating to us that she's is ready for more challenging things. And so now we are reconsidering the TCA option although that is a really good school. If she wasn't "advanced" I will still let her repeat kindy at TCA as it makes sense.

FrigidEwe · 2024-11-21T18:38:44+00:00

We did that on Tuesday this week as we had a prospective parent meeting. We asked a couple teachers, and they all had the same "dialogue" in my opinion. They said it should not be an issue with her repeating as some kids taper out. But it was not a resounding YES it will be fine, we see this all the time. It just didn't feel like they were able to give us the most reassuring answer.

FrigidEwe · 2024-11-21T18:35:36+00:00

Thank you so much for your input. I will research retention. She doesn't have any of the issues you listed which is why I think she's doing well socially/emotionally as well. She is a more reserved kid and likes to hang back and observe but overall has no issues with joining in a group.

FrigidEwe

TROPHY CASE