When to start kindergarten??

[kim]

First of all, I just need to say I can hardly believe I have something to post in this section! There...got that out! lol

Ds turns 4 January 3rd. That means dh and I need to seriously start thinking about whether or not to put ds in kindergarten next fall. (This decision will determine what class we can enroll him in preschool this fall.) I'm just wondering what experiences/opinions are out there regarding when to start kids with midyear birthdays in school. As the youngest in the class vs the oldest. I did the math yesterday and if we put him in as the youngest, he will graduate high school at just 16yo!! TIA!

[Reneemomto5]

Hmmm for my 2 cents its awful young, 4.5.

Let's just say I am a "hold off as long as possible" type of mom. Especially in boys. I am holding back my daughter who will be 4 this coming March until she is 6 for kindergarten. One because she was a premie, #2 a cousin with extremely brilliant parents the same age, #3 I have lived and learned.

Do what you think is right for you, your son and your family, no pressure. But just from experience I am holding off. My son was 5 this Jan. and we just started him in Kindergarten, and I am so very glad we did. The later the better for me.

Even though my 3.5 can almost do as much as a kindergartener that is still no reason for me to send her. I figure since homeschooling I'll start her at a different level no biggie. And if she did need to do any subjects as a co-op in a Christian school she will have no problem fitting in there if need be as well.

[mamallama]

Hmmm for my 2 cents its awful young, 4.5.

Let's just say I am a "hold off as long as possible" type of mom. Especially in boys. I am holding back my daughter who will be 4 this coming March until she is 6 for kindergarten. One because she was a premie, #2 a cousin with extremely brilliant parents the same age, #3 I have lived and learned.

Do what you think is right for you, your son and your family, no pressure. But just from experience I am holding off. My son was 5 this Jan. and we just started him in Kindergarten, and I am so very glad we did. The later the better for me.

Even though my 3.5 can almost do as much as a kindergartener that is still no reason for me to send her. I figure since homeschooling I'll start her at a different level no biggie. And if she did need to do any subjects as a co-op in a Christian school she will have no problem fitting in there if need be as well.

[OK] I agree with Renee! Our dd turned five in April. Even though I felt she was a little ahead and she was anxious, I waited until this fall to start kindergarten with her. It was for the best imo. :)

[kanaclark]

okay, gonna toot my own wistle first, not bragging, just explaining. I was 16 when I graduated, tenth in my class with a 3.9 GPA. (out of 4.0)
Nothing wrong with that BUT, I was expected to be able to do everything. If I was so young and smarter than 90% of my class, you know, the whole doogie howser stigmata. I hated it. i just wanted to get it over with.

Now, here, you have to be 5 by september 1 to start kindergarten that. It alleviates a lot of the younger graduates.

So, personally, I would homeschool at that age if they were die hard to "go to school", and wait. I don't know the laws there, but wait as long as you can. Maybe, if you can afford it, put them in an active preschool. we have lots of great preschools around here that use abeka and are run by churches. (they're expensive, but they're worth it, imo)

but yeah, I'd wait. I don't regret it, but I was two years younger than everyone i graduated with, except ONE kid, and his birthday was two days after mine. Ha. At our ten year reunion, I'll still be the "kid" of the group. I don't know, i guess I just have a lot of built up resentment against the whole "youngest" thing. I mean, seriously, the "oh my god, you were 16 when you graduated" stuff, it wears off real quick, if you know what I mean. (and to add I've never been one to want to be the center of attention.)

[momofweewerfs]

This is the first year that we have a 'young one'starting school. Kim, she is only a few weeks older than your son ( she will be 4 on Dec 14) she will be starting junior kindegarten this year we were going to keep her home 1 more year. but even if we kept her home one more year, she would still have to go to senior kindegarten next year, and will still be the youngest in her class. ( in Ontario, it is the age that they are on Dec 31 of that school year, ie like G if you are 4 it is JK, if you are 5 it is Sk) ZI'm not sure where in Canada you are now? some provinces only have a senior kindegarten.( for age 5 children)

so ...she is going, but i am fairly certain she will be ok. she wants to go to school, and as for school work she is already sounding out small 3 letter words. And I think that being the youngest of 3 she is way more independent then her oldest sibling was at that age.

[Madre]

Two of our children were five when they started kindergarten. However they had late winter/mid spring birthdays so they had not just turned five. One of our boys bypassed kindergarten (not recommended) and started the first grade when he was six. Two of our boys had summer birthdays and we felt that it was best to wait until they turned six the following year to start kindergarten. Of course, every child matures differently, but I think it would be good to wait until the fall after your son turns five.

[danou]

From my classroom experience- in general- boys who have been 5+ when starting kindergarten typically do better than the youngers. That being said, you really need to make your decision based on your child- some are ready by 4.5 years. Questions I might ask myself:
- does he show interest in going to school?
- does he show interest in fine motor activities - colouring, cutting, glueing at home?
- how does react when in a large group?
- does he need constant interaction- does he like to play by himself?
- what are his peer interactions like?
As far as pre-schools go, I haven't been there with my kid yet, but I tend to think- they'll have 12+ years of schooling- why add another?

[Madre]

As far as pre-schools go, I haven't been there with my kid yet, but I tend to think- they'll have 12+ years of schooling- why add another?

This is my thinking as well. I also prefer half day kindergarten which gives a child an introduction to being away from home, but it's not all day. I know this is difficult if a mom works and that, probably most school districts are heading toward all day kindergarten.

[LadyLavender]

Everything I've read on this subject agrees with what the other ladies are telling you- better to wait. Take advantage of the extra time at home and do some fun workbooks, phonics stuff, extra library books, or a simple preschool curriculum. He'll be in great shape for kindergarten!

In the 1700s/1800s/early 1900s kids most often started formal schooling (if they got any at all) between the ages of 7 and 9, if that makes you feel any better! :-D

[Reneemomto5]

I forgot Kim you are in Canada. Not sure if its different there or not than the US, but you can hold off here in the US if you request it from what I have heard and experienced. We just wrote a letter stating we would be starting my second son at 6 when he went to public kindergarten. Not that is what your doing just stating what we did.

[kim]

Thanks for all your replies. First off, I didn't want to mention until I gave you all a chance to reply, but I have always leaned toward waiting until he is 5. Dh *may* take some convincing and there have been a lot of comments from family members that has brought this whole issue to the surface right now.

Kana, my mil graduated at 16 as well. Funny though it seems to depend on what day of the week we talk to her....she flip flops back and forth as to what she thinks we should do. But when she talks about graduating at 16, she always says she never really felt like she fit in the same way because of her age. (For her too, academics were never an issue. She graduated early because she was accelerated a grade early on.)

momofweewerfs....I am in Alberta. There is no JK here.

danou...I taught kindergarten years ago and I too have seen the difference in boys entering school as the youngest vs the oldest, hence most of my hesistation to put him in as the youngest.

Madre....I completely agree about half day kindergarten.

LL... I think that is a good idea. Having background in teaching both preschool and primary grades, we have already been doing some things as ds shows interest. The fact that he has picked up on so much so easily is partly what makes dh (and others) wonder if he would be better off in school right away. But I'm thinking there is lots of time for school.

Thanks again everyone! :D