Social Anxiety in a Young Child

Question:

My son has just turned five, and I am trying to decide whether it would be best to send him to Kindergarten next year as the Kindergarten teachers and his pediatrician suggest, or follow the advice of his preschool teachers, and give him another year in preschool.

He is smart, but I find that he is emotionally sensitive. He has a lot of anxiety regarding new situation where there is a crowd of people. He will talk to any single stranger out in public, but if put in a new place with a crowd, he shuts down. He will act out before the encounter, and often behaves inappropriately after (or during if he ever gets over his anxieties). Is this a reason to keep him in preschool an extra year, or is this him regardless of time? I fear that he will be bored in school if I keep him in preschool. What do I do?


Answer

Wow this is a very difficult dilemma. I did some research and what I can tell you is most of this research is done on the effects of retaining a child one they are in elementary school. SO research is not going to help us here.

Unfortunately I can’t make this decision for you. I think it is a personal decision, and it has to be made on the basis of whether or not you think your child is socially and academically ready for Kindergarten.

I can tell you if your child is experiencing anxiety now, it is something to get treatment for. Most kids who have anxiety will turn into adults with anxiety. Getting him evaluated and some help now for this issue, I believe, is the most important thing you can do regardless of whether you are sending him to kindergarten or keeping him out for another year.