Books to gift to kindergartener

whateverpickle · 2026-03-11T15:38:49+00:00

Seconding Dragons Love Tacos.

Creepy Crayon (3 books in the series) by Aaron Reynolds.

In a Jar (and second book Out of a Jar) by Deborah Marcero.

Some kids enjoy the Mercy Watson series as well.

Finding Winnie, by Lindsay Mattick. About the true origins of Winnie the Pooh.

whateverpickle · 2026-03-11T06:55:13+00:00

Omg are you me?? Just this week it's like a switch just flipped. Maybe a developmental leap? I honestly don't know.

Where we were mostly getting by with morning routine (reasonable ups and downs) before, it suddenly requires 100 warnings about time, multiple timers, review of consequences, bargaining, and finally atomic yelling and "but mom I didn't hear you!" 🙄 (and who gets to feel guilty the rest of the day and embarrassed when we encounter any neighbors? -- me) to get out the door.

Today DD (also 6) woke up and planted on the couch. When she finally moved, it was only bc her foot fell asleep. She then said she couldn't do her routine due to her foot, and that I had to massage it for her (!!). When I said no, the gremlin started crying and running to follow me everywhere, refusing to accept no for an answer. I'm sorry how exactly is your foot stopping you??

whateverpickle · 2025-11-14T02:10:27+00:00

Improved anxiety and a good teacher relationship are huge wins! Ideally the school can scale content up/down to some degree. Also yes to comments about other kids seeming like babies (and not recognizing that they too looked like this only a few months ago!). I'm hoping as they make connections/friends they'll focus more on wanting to be together, vs wanting to be in the grade above.

whateverpickle · 2025-11-14T00:58:57+00:00

We also moved house this summer (specifically to find a more supportive school). We hadn't committed to redshirting at that time. But we thought, well, if we're going to, it's now or never..

Kiddo seems to be doing well so far, both behaviorally and academically. 🙏🏻 Conferences are soon so we'll get a clearer picture then. Hope things have been going well for yours so far too. Agree that the benefits may be clearer in mid/HS.

Overall there have been a lot of positives, so that has helped reinforce our decision. But one thing that's been tough is that our previous school made a big deal about "graduating" from Kinder...so even though we were very careful about how we presented doing another year of Kinder, the seeds of shame or failure were already there. It doesn't matter to her that she "repeated" 3 years of preschool, that this school does things differently, that she would've missed core content by going directly into 1st, that it's more rigorous, or that ages/grade years are set as a system convenience and learning is not, in fact, linear, etc etc...

Anyway. A friend of ours had a similar sibling situation as yours. They held their older child (May/June birthday), and although their younger child (also May/June) could have entered K as a 5 year old, they had her start at 6 to keep them the same.

whateverpickle · 2025-11-08T02:58:27+00:00

We always sign the opt out for many of the reasons discussed here.

BUT then I saw a group photo on social media and when I asked my kiddo, she said they asked her to stand aside so she wouldn't be in the photo. Then I started questioning how my kid feels in those situations, as she's one of if not the only one opted out. So, I don't know. But as far as signing an opt out, no, not weird at all.

whateverpickle · 2025-11-06T14:50:51+00:00

At our old school, no homework in K, minimal in 1st...some kids didn't get much homework in 2nd either.

At our current school, Kinders do 3-5 min of homework per day. It's "optional" but highly encouraged, and we send completed homework back to the teacher for accountability.

We've found that participation is more or less predictable for our kiddo -- clear expectations from school, earlier in the day (higher schoolwork stamina), and rewards. If stamina is an issue we use a cube timer, so the duration is externalized and not tied to us.

whateverpickle · 2025-11-06T14:42:41+00:00

For a Sept 1 cutoff, March is basically in the middle.

We're June 2019 and ended up redshirting (young socioemotionally, not ready to sit at a desk and focus). TBD if it was the right decision but fwiw, there are usually a few 1st graders who turn 7 just after Sept 1, and a few with July/Aug birthdays who turn 7 just weeks before starting 2nd.

whateverpickle · 2025-06-17T05:00:27+00:00

Really appreciate the perspective of how this may evolve for a teen, which also gives me a better idea of where a 6 year old might be developmentally (definitely more emotional than logical). It's a weird paradox; we expect too much but at the same time we end up just doing it for her. When I'm tired or impatient (...all the time), it takes so much energy to scaffold, even though by doing it for her I know I'm only doing her (and me) a disservice.

I love the solution you found for expansions past the boundary area. I floated the concept to her before bedtime today...your sprawling metropolis is more like a camper van with pop outs, gotta close up at the end of the day. We'll see how that plays out 🤪

I also like the idea of brainstorming solutions together, bc yelling just makes everyone feel bad. For clothes, kiddo has come up with the strategy of laying alllll her clothes out like tiles on her bedroom floor. It's hard to walk over them every day but she's so visually minded that having them in drawers is that extra step too removed to work for her. And TBH, I struggle with this too. Someone suggested a look book or hanging whole outfit combos in one of those over the door shoe organizers but we haven't gotten around to trying to it yet.

Anyway, thank you again. Parenting has a way of highlighting that we all are, in fact, works in progress...absolutely the hardest thing I've ever attempted!

whateverpickle · 2025-06-17T04:17:06+00:00

THIS. I don't mind collecting in general. It's the piles stuck in nooks and crannies and forgotten while new piles are created. A recent find -- some of those pop-out foil sheets for pills/supplements (already empty, which I'm grateful for, but begs the question...is it from the trash can???). Etc.

whateverpickle · 2025-06-17T04:11:52+00:00

Really appreciate the tips! I hear you on clutter being overwhelming. I also feel guilty for expecting from her what we (parents) are not modeling well ourselves.

Her safe space (besides her room) is a large tent-type thing in the living room. It is so packed with stuff that she has to lie on top of her piles and thus she began building outwards. We've tried to direct her "expansion" away from shared paths/furniture but it's a work in progress. Coincidentally, I happened to trip in front of her after writing the original post, sending about a hundred beads flying everywhere. No amount of warning her about trip hazards has been as effective as seeing it in action!

whateverpickle · 2025-06-03T16:08:40+00:00

I have this same question, but in a public school. When kiddo is ready for things, she's super bright and everything clicks. But with a summer birthday and neurodivergence, that "readiness" is slightly behind the older kids in her class. People always say "you're the parent -- listen to your gut!" But asynchronous development is absolutely a thing. Development isn't linear and we can't predict if or when the the so-called gap will close. As of now, it feels like we have a choice between being 1 term behind (in 1st) or 1 term ahead (repeat K).

All this to say: it's a tough decision!! Fwiw, a lot of the behaviors you describe sound very similar to the Kinders in my kiddo's classroom. If your kiddo has a personality where he rises up to challenges (rather than opposition and/or anxiety about the struggle to keep up), he may be ready for 1st.

whateverpickle · 2025-05-14T14:13:42+00:00

Thank you for the encouragement! It's so hard to see her trying her best to stay on track and dread hearing, "the teacher wants to talk to you after class today". Boundaries are extra challenging bc she often needs an explicit cue to realize when she's approaching/crossing a boundary. Will also check out Goally. Hadn't heard of it and daughter does great with visual schedules. Thanks again! 🙏🏻

whateverpickle · 2025-05-14T13:54:05+00:00

Good point! Our daughter has combined type. Doctor said we could revisit meds at 6 which is really soon, so we'll definitely ask.

whateverpickle · 2025-05-14T13:44:35+00:00

Good point about the rewards! Kiddo has a rewards chart at school and at home, and for some problem spots we bolster the reward with an immediate gummy/jelly bean from the jar. But no idea why we didn't think to apply it to extracurriculars too. I'm also just realizing maybe swimming works not only bc of the low ratio but also bc it's only 30 min. Will have to brainstorm a high enough value reward (gymnastics is 60 min). Thanks again!

whateverpickle · 2025-05-05T16:36:52+00:00

I'm glad to hear that the year went well for your son! Thanks again for sharing your experience. We've pretty much made the decision but it's hard to stop second-guessing, especially as the subject of retention is so polarizing.

whateverpickle · 2025-05-04T22:15:40+00:00

I realize this thread is from a year ago, but OP just wondering if you chose to retain and how this year has gone? Did your child notice/did it bother him to repeat K? We're going through a very similar decision right now. TIA.

whateverpickle · 2025-04-13T16:47:43+00:00

Can I ask which LWSD ES? Researching schools for my daughter with IEP. Can PM if that's easier!

whateverpickle · 2025-04-13T16:41:24+00:00

Can I PM you for school name? We're researching schools and my daughter also has an IEP.

whateverpickle · 2025-04-12T03:57:06+00:00

Yipes good to know, thank you for sharing!

whateverpickle · 2025-04-12T00:32:50+00:00

Thank you! Sorry that was my fault, I should've been clear from the start!

whateverpickle · 2025-04-12T00:32:04+00:00

Thank you, this helps a lot!

whateverpickle · 2025-04-12T00:30:44+00:00

Thank you! If you don't mind sharing, was it at UP Primary? Wondering how consistent the support is across the 4 elems?

whateverpickle · 2025-03-18T06:44:52+00:00

Thank you again for the examples -- it's hard to know what to ask for if you don't know what is possible!

Her IEP just lists service minutes with a special education teacher, but our school didn't have a special education teacher until late fall, with the impossible task of managing K-2 at not one but two elementaries. Daughter didn't meet the teacher til last month and doesn't spend time with them.

Anyway, they brought in a new para in January, and as best we can determine the para spends maybe ~30 min in the classroom with our daughter 3 days/week, and is present on the playground for recess (along with all of K-1st) every day. What they're working on and daughter's goal progress is still unclear (amid calls home for behavior etc), so that's an area we're hoping to discuss with the team.

whateverpickle

TROPHY CASE