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questions on starting a kid in school


The_buster

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The oldest will be just old enough next year for school, barely. Her birthday is September 3. We were looking into starting her next year, but are worried about her being too young. But then if we wait she will be among the oldest in her class. Also we were thinking about future problems, as in she would be 17 when she would go to college if she wants. Any thoughts? She really smart for her age just has normal 4yo listening issues and bored with some group activities. Shes been in informational soccer classes twice now, spring sessions and now fall, she likes them but there are more kids now and when they split into groups she kinda wanders between the two.

 

Please keep this serious, were both stuck and im looking for outside advice. Thanks in advance.

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Put her in school. You're only holding her back by keeping her out, if she's developmentally ready.

 

One of my best friends (Morgan on here) has a birthday in September (worst.birthday.ever.) and he did pretty well in school, even though he was a child at graduation. :p

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Being the oldest kid in class is a tremendous advantage. always more mature... better at sports as she will have an extra year to grow...

 

Go check out the book Freakonomics... there is a much better explanation with statistical data to back up the claims..

 

http://freakonomics.com/2011/11/02/the-disadvantages-of-summer-babies/

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If she's in Preschool, just wait to see how she finishes up the year. You'll be surprised how quickly they grow. If they don't think she's ready they'll let you know. Plus with progress reports, you'll be able to help her in areas she needs more assistance in.

 

The going to college at 17 vs 18 by a few months doens't make a difference. I think your putting too much thought into this. She'll be fine!

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My birthday also falls in September. I was started in kindergarten when I was 4. When growing up it always sucked being one of the youngest in my class. Especially senior year when all the cool kids could buy black n' milds. Now that I'm older I wouldn't have it any other way. Especially now that my 10 year reunion is coming around. I can laugh at all of those old people.

 

In all seriousness though. If you feel that she is already smart for her age, why not make her smarter! They learn more earlier, I would imagine that earlier exposure to actual curriculum could only be beneficial. Not to mention you will save money on child care. Keep in mind that I have done ZERO research on the subject.

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Honestly I would put her in as soon as she can go in. I was offered a spot back when it was my time to start, but my parents said no and keep me with my friends at the time. It might of been great thinking, but at that age we all can make friends pretty easy I feel. I was only offered a spot due to classes sizes being low at the time I think. I don't know how that works, but I remember it and enjoyed the extra time to do kid things. Only thing I liked about starting late was getting to be the first to get the car in my class. If I could pick today I would of started early and enjoyed doing things early in life instead of waiting. I don't feel like I missed out on things, but I think today having one year more under your belt early is a nice things. Don't know if I'm making since today, but there is my .02.
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She'll be 16 before all her friends. She'll be 18 before all her friends. She'll be 21 before all her friends. Don't rob her of popularity.

 

This.

 

 

I drank more before 21 than after 21. Thankful that I was older than everyone. She could end up the life of the party if you hold her back.

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My neice (sisters daughter) started school a year early and she's at the top of her class. They noticed at a young age that she was "gifted", so they gave her some test to see if early enrollment was a smart decision, thus far it has been. She will be 17 when she graduates, so are people who are born in June-early August most times.
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Your kid should be in preschool, right? Ask the teacher how she compares to other kids. September is the cutoff here in Wisconsin for school. You have to test out to start early. Our girls just turned six, and they are in kg. our boy turned 4 in June, and he will do kg next year.
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I held my son back a year, he just started kindergarten this year at 6. It was a decision we made with his doctor about his developement. He's very small for his age. Most boys in my family have huge growth spurts between 15-18. For this reason we held him back so help him if he's still interested in sports and it'll help with maturity. I was one of the older kids in my glass.
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She'll be 16 before all her friends. She'll be 18 before all her friends. She'll be 21 before all her friends. She'll be pregnant before all of that matters. Don't rob her of popularity.

 

Fixed.

 

Being 21 before all your friends just means they're always hitting you up to get booze for them and you have no one to go to the bar with when you turn 21.

 

I'm a June birthday and was always younger than my friends. Being able to have my 21st birthday at a bar with ALL my friends able to attend without having to worry about fake IDs (basically useless in MA, they're good at busting them) was fantastic. All my friends who turned 21 early complained that their bar crawls sucked because 2 people attended.

 

 

Back to the main question; if she's ready for school, put her in school.

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We didnt do preschool because we thought she was too young/small. So we bought her some of those preschool learning books and she loves them.

 

then the answer is to do a year of preschool and kindergarten to follow. no point in rushing into things if the kid is on the borderline, and you haven't done any schooling yet. september is a grey area. i'm no developmental specialist and take my advice with a grain of salt. kids need socialization with peers to develop, especially if its your only child.

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We didnt do preschool because we thought she was too young/small. So we bought her some of those preschool learning books and she loves them.

 

 

Right, pre-school is expensive. I'm not believing that at all. Priorities, dude.

 

My daughter went to daycare at 18 months and continued through pre-school. At first I felt like shit, then you see how awesome it is for the kids and their social development. My daughter is so out going now. Kids need to be around other kids to develop, when they are surrounded by only adults all the time, when school time comes it's awkward for them. Too-small is a cop-out. Quit posting here about the cost of race cars, and get your kid in pre-school it's what you should be figuring out how to pay for. Not cars and race cars. Call me an asshole, but I'm being blunt and honest. If you haven't seen what the state is pushing for curriculum in kindergarten now, you better. Kindergarten is not what I remember it to be when I was a kid. My daughter had homework every day. 1st grade is crazy with reading because of the 3rd grade mandate of reading level by the end of 3rd grade, if they don't pass the reading test in 3rd grade they are held back, no exceptions now. It's automatic.

Edited by Benjamin
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