Push Ahead, Leave Behind

This is the time of year when parents of many young children contemplate their child's educational future. These include the parents of children with special needs, unusual abilities, or fall/winter birthdays. I will discuss the last category, the ones whose class placement is a matter of choice.

How does one decide what to do? The first step is to ask the nursery school teacher how your child functions in comparison to others. Too often, however, the response is, "Your child is so smart. He/she should move on." What's the problem with this observation?

It doesn't take the whole child into account. IQ is just one parameter -- and by far not the most important one -- in class placement. The child's developmental, emotional and social functioning are a big part of the equation.

So ask for professional guidance and use your own knowledge of your child to help you make this all-important decision.