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Although Hamlet surprised us this year by being ready for preschool sooner than we thought, we're still considering leaving him back: postponing his entry into kindergarten for an additional year.

A July baby, he'd be one of the youngest children in his class. He'd likely be less mature than the others, especially the girls. Additionally, he's small for his age: 25th percentile for height, 10th percentile for weight. He's strong, but how strong compared to a peer in the 95th percentile? Would his size make him slower and less coordinated on the playground, and in gym class--the way I was?

It may not make a difference. Hamlet is an extrovert; he likes new people and situations. We've noticed that when other kids don't want to play, he makes his own recreation. In addition, when he's 5, he'll already have been in preschool for two years. This risks that he'll grow bored with the academic material (a letter a week, followed by a number a week). And that he'll wonder what happened to his friends who moved on--unless, of course, one or two also stay on. Parents who keep their younger-age children for an extra year do appear to be part of a recent, larger trend.

Most of all, what may make the biggest difference is the way we approach the subject with him. IronJessica wrote about her strategy--an eyeopener for me, who did not grow up in a competitive family and thus never learned what I would call "social survival" skills.

So, we'll keep an eye on Hamlet and ask his teacher to do the same. With any luck and hard work, he'll learn the skills he needs to overcome any physical limitations.