Should we start kindergarten under 5?

[Legolas]

yup, it's a boring parental type thread.

Our cupcake is 5 next April and we just don't know whether to send her to school next year.

Socially fine, academically fine. She will, however be the second youngest in her year...

Love any experiences, recommendations or thoughts.

Legs

[Bear]

I got put forward a year so I was the youngest in my year. It blew a bit as I'm a bit of a jock and the year difference meant that I never got to play in the first XV for rugby for my school.

[karen97]

Ask Yeti, he went through early

[skimax]

no right answer here , my mates girl is 5 and born in april , also given tall parents not small and way up there on the smart scale, yet her parents decided to hold back .
I dont really think there is a wrong answer . Good luck legs

[The Frog]

Don't know why they hold kids back longer than they used to. I turned 5 in kindy at the end of march and there would have been a dozen or more kids younger than me.

The tadpole is about to finish his first year of pre-prep at school and he turned 4 last week (only does Mon/Tues). He still has another year at prep before he moves up to the kindy classes although academically he's already at kindy level.

The only benefit I see of being held back is that you turn 18 in year twelve and won't have ID hassles at the end of school.

[Legolas]

Frog, it will never be a prob for tadpole then, as he is easily within the range to go.

It's exactly because so many people hold kids back that we hesitate.

I am certain that given an even age distribution, she would be fine, but she will be one of the youngest, up against kids who will turn 6 in February before she has even turned 5!!

She is tall and academically ready, but the social stuff is what gets them in the end.

Crystal ball please!

[TB]

I dont have kids so like Id know. Easy answer to me, she's a girl and an April birth?? My answer would be sure send her. Feb girl ,March brother, april sister and May best mate. We all went early, all have worked out fine, one repeated.

Honestly I did school, Uni, post grad and all in all happy with the result but hated it. I would have had an issue with my parents if they added a year to all that.

[Officer Schmenz]

i could have gone but would have been the youngest (july) but i wasnt such a fan of sitting still for hours.. but was acedemically there..

i was held back at it was the best ever... id hate to be the runt of the year.. always getting everything last.. l's, p's etc..

and theres a maturity that isnt quite there either.. i dunno. i guess. i just liked being in the older group...

[Paul Oberin]

My best friends daughter , Meg, was more than ready to attend school the year she was to turn 5 in February but she decided to hold her back . The mother talked to "alot" of people prior to deciding including a kindergarten teacher . Teacher had a daughter who went through as the youngest in the class and it was felt that the age / lack of maturity really makes a big difference in the upper years of high school,16 year old girl trying to deal with boys in the same class turning 17 or nearly 18. Meg is only in year 2 next year and is doing brilliantly, the extra age means stronger at sports and is blitzing her school work ( she is a very clever and extremely artistic little girl).
I thougt my friend was nuts to keep her home the extra year but :inaveryquitevoice: may have to admit to being wrong ... first time ever


Frosty graemlins/snowman.gif

[skichic]

Depends on the child. I had to make that decision this year. Moving schools meant that my youngest would have been by far the youngest in her year, and given that she's already smaller than kids 2-3 years younger than her, we decided to hold her back a year. Academically would have been no problem at all, but socially she has fitted in really well with a bunch of kids that are closer in age to her.

My oldest is one of the youngest in his year, but it hasn't caused any problems.

If little Legs is ready for school then let her go. Worst case scenario, she repeats a year at some stage.

[BrumbyJack]

I started school when I was 4, my birthday is in July, so turned 5 half way through the year.

I had to repeat year 6 due to my age...

I'm glad I repeated, but not from Academic points of view, I was actually bored stiff and that probably set up some bad habits, but socially I'm glad I repeated.

In my experience with teaching little children sport, the younger girls seem to cope better than the younger boys. I think this is reflected in school as well.

You know best, each child is different and nobody knows better than Mum (or Dad).

[Legolas]

thanks everyone.

graemlins/big_laugh.gif w TB. I had thought the same thing about adding a year. I'd never forgive my olds!!!

I think that I believe in my heart she should stay back based on everything I hear and read...but my head says I'll kill her if I keep her with me for another year graemlins/outtahere.gif

[Polaris]

I was the 2nd youngest all the way through my school years.

Those that know me would probably say that is an excellent reason why you should hold back cupcake smile.gif graemlins/cold.gif tongue.gif

but then seriously, I found that although I was a lazy so and so and just did enough to get through, there was always the threat of repeating that keep things in control
I certainly told feel like I missed out on any social stuff because of the yr age difference but things were a bit different back then

[SnowSnow]

I got held back a year. And it made me the oldest kid in school. so it probably can be an advantage. but who knows.

[karen97]

SS, I hope you weren't 17 in Kindy :eek: graemlins/outtahere.gif tongue.gif

[ 02.12.2008, 08:32 AM: Message edited by: karen97 ]

[SnowSnow]

lol no by the time i reached year 10 graemlins/big_laugh.gif

[SnoWhite]

Lots of pros and cons and so much depends on the individual child.

My birthday is in April, my sister's was May and my brother's is July. We all started at the age of 4 and had no problems. In fact, my brother and sister both excelled at sport and were above average students. I was an above average student, but crap at sport. I think the only time I had an issue with being younger was at the age of 12 being teased by a few so called friends about my flat chest. I certainly made them look extremely silly 12 months down the track. ;)

I have a friend who held their child back and said it was the worst decision they'd made. Child turned out to be very bright and was bored and disruptive. He didn't come good until about year 10 when his intellect was challenged. On the other hand, I have a friend who sent their kid too early and they ended up repeating a year.

Now where did I put that crystal ball?

[Straight_Line]

I think there are some difference in how each state handles kids when they move to secondary school, ie I believe in NSW I think you will have to repeat a year (may be different now). If you have a choice then I would definitely hold her back. She may be ready now but will be so much more ready the following year. We held my son back, he was ready academically but not socially.... best decision we every made as he wouldn't have coped well.

My wife was sent to school a year early because of her mum's health. She still talks about how bad it was for her having to repeat a year.... all her friends moved on.

[HelsSA]

There are so many things to consider. Does the child attend childcare? A lot of children who attend a good centre are more emotionally ready than those who do not. Is the kindy supportive and what are the class sizes? Why not go to the school and have a chat to them. My children moved from QLD to SA and my son moved when in year 4 in QLD came in at year 5 in SA. Now youngest in year 9 at local high school and is fine, academically and emotionally better than most. Daughter struggles daily and is in year 7. Its important that children achieve certain milestones along the education path. If they skip a milestone its very hard to pick it up later.

[Tobi]

The sooner you send her to school the quicker she'll go through school, uni and be out of the house as an independant young adult.

;)

[Podlettte]

I am a november baby, so not much use as I was always last for everything in the year, one of the last birthdays of all kids in my year at primary and high school!

In year 4 my best friend repeated a year as she was started at 4 etc and it was really hard at the time, she ended up getting such a hard time from some of the boys that her parents switched schools, and we lost contact, so she lost all her friends. That's the bit that effected her and us the most, which is what you're suggesting about the social side of it.

[spaz]

Pink Princes starts kindy next year, We could have sent her last year but decided we wanted to have that extra time with her.
She is only attending school for the social aspect as we could home school. If she is like me (or others here), she will get bored at school so it will be up to us to exercise her brain. She already has a strong apatite for sport and competes with children much older than her (8yo's). She may well leave school early to pursue an active lifestyle. (skiing I hope)

My girlfriend in y11/12 was the youngest while I was the oldest, looking back her maturity did become an issue, while she did very well academically, socially she suffered. Maybe because she couldn't go out as much gave her more time to study. While I had my license, car, turned 18 and had my own place. I really didn't do very well with my marks.

[HelsSA]

Legolas what sort of school are you sending her to? Montessori, Reggias, Private, public?

[Polaris]

Originally posted by HelsSA:
Legolas what sort of school are you sending her to? Montessori, Reggias, Private, public? Halfinger driver school

[Legolas]

don't laugh. If they exsist, I have no doubt Mr Legs would think it best for her!!!

She is off to a regular ol public, but booked in to private high school.

[TC]

my little girl turns 5 this month
She is going to school next year
It will be hard compared to the holiday camp called day care
but
she has no choice

[Tobi]

What is prgress in NSW??

Is it Kindy, then prep - grade 6 at primary & year 7 - 12 at high school?

[skichic]

NSW is kindy (1st year of school - year kid turns 5) followed by yrs 1-6 (primary) and yrs 7-12 (high)

Qld is Prep (1st year of school - year kid turns 5) followed by yrs 1-7 (primary) and yrs 8-12 (high)

Vic - I have no idea.

Be nice if they really did standardise it all :rolleyes:

[Officer Schmenz]

in my final year at pre school, coz i got held back to keep me challenged i actually went to 2 different ones. .2 days at 1, 3 at the other.. (one in epping, one in pymble)

strangely enough,.. when i went to my second high school.. there were a heap of girls that i went to preschool with and was apparently best friends with! (although i dont remember, there was photos and birthday video to prove it!)

[Tobi]

Vic is Kindy, then prep - 6 at primary school & 7 - 12 at high school.

I started Kindy when I was 3 & prep when I was 4. Turned 5 in May.

As far as I was aware (well for Vic) the cut off is turning 5 by June 30th for prep. This may have changed though.

[skichic]

With Qld now having a Prep year as the 1st year of school it pretty much is all the same...they just use different terminology!

Qld - kindy (non compulsory, not part of school, from 3...Prep part of school, turn 5 by June 30)

NSW - pre-school (non-compulsory not sure of age,...Kindy part of school, turn 5 by June 30)

[tambo]

Hmm, Raindeer started school, ie 1st grade the yr she turned 7 and she had an August Birthday. Munga did the same, with a December birthday. Wildman started the year he turned 6 with a november birthday. Different kids of course, but it is really clear that the later starters are streets ahead with their maturity as opposed to their peers in their classes. They write differently, think differently and don't get so involved with the peer group stuff. If you asked them, they would say they hated it in primary school, and love it in high school.
And I might add they started in a Steiner school, and it was great.

[Snow Yeti]

I was in pre school when I was 3 and just turned 4 half way through

and then went to Uni when I was 15, I don't see any problem with that Legs !

[Snow Yeti]

Oh and then Kindy when I was 4/5 I guess!

[Polaris]

Originally posted by SnowYeti:
I was in pre school when I was 3 and just turned 4 half way through

and then went to Uni when I was 15, I don't see any problem with that Legs ! and wearing fairy wings at 25 :D tongue.gif

[skichic]

Originally posted by SnowYeti:
I was in pre school when I was 3 and just turned 4 half way through

and then went to Uni when I was 15, I don't see any problem with that Legs ! I was in year 1 at age 4, started uni at 16. I looked about 12.

Academically I did fine, socially...I think I'm just starting to grow up now graemlins/cold.gif

I wouldn't want any of my kids to be in a similar position.

[Podlettte]

were you a smarty pants academic nerd skichic?

[skichic]

nah, a bit of a maths nerd that's all. Think my mum just wanted to get rid of me graemlins/cold.gif

[skichic]

kinda like

I'll kill her if I keep her with me for another year [out of here]
:(

[ 02.12.2008, 08:30 PM: Message edited by: skichic ]

[Legolas]

graemlins/cold.gif

[skichic]

It's hard being the 3rd child :(

[Podlettte]

I'm the 3rd child too!

[Polaris]

^^^^^^^^^ explains alot from those two tongue.gif

[Old Boarder]

JB started kindergarten at age 4 turning 5 in May.
The only real problem she encountered was when she got to year 12. Most of her friends could enter pubs & clubs legally but she had to wait until she had been at Uni for 3 months before she turned 18.

Other than that she did fine.

Age shouldn't be the only determining factor. Like everything else, some children are more advanced than others. I've seen children that started at 5 who should have waited until they were 6 while others could have started at 4.

[tim]

Hi

We have 2 girls 8 and 10, the eldest born end of April and youngest end of June.

We sent the eldest when she was 4 3/4 and she never had a problem, we felt she was ready academically and socially.

The younger one we held back and she didnt start until 5 1/2. We thought she was too young/immature to send early. Half way through kindergarden the principal of their small school called us in and suggested she should move to year 1, we werent sure, but trusted their judgement and she skipped the rest of kindi and moved up. It took her a couple of months to catch up/settle down, but it was it was the best thing for her.

The kids have sinced changed schools and both are doing well,even though they are young for their year (although neither are the youngest).

It is a hard decision, as at 4 1/2 our youngest was too young for school, but at 5 1/2 probably too old, but in the end it depends on the kid>

Good luck in your decision

[Silverwitch]

As a teacher (20 years experience) and a mother of two totally different children I see children entering kindergarten ( first year at big school) at many different stages.
The ones that do the best in kindergaten have three quaities:
1. Ready to learn and can concentrate on small tasks (at first) and who have an interest in learning. For example: they have begun to learn the sounds and identify letters of the alpahebet.Also have an interest and can remember some numbers. They are curious about things and want to learn- not just ask for the sake of asking!!
2. Good /beginning fine motor skills- holding a pencil/ tracing letters/ are beginning to control their fingers with beading etc.
3. Socially and emotionally ready for group situations and interactions. That they express themselves and interact cooperatively in a group. Also they have some form of self-control and are beginning to be independent.

If a child does not have these characteristics things can be very challenging for them in a school situation.
Hope this helps and from the above you can see I have not mentioned age. Some children do this well at 4 and a bit and some a lot later. The children in the ACT/ NSW have to 5 before the cut off period too.
Hope this helps!

[BLB]

OK, putting my teacher hat on smile.gif

The Fed gvt has introduced legislation that sets the age requirement for kids to be at school. Currently all states have a different "sstem" for what they call the years at school.
Some Prep (1st year non compulsory) then 1-6 and 7 - 12, others kindy (non compulsory) then 1-6 and 7 - 12. In Tas it is different again.
We start with Kinder, the year they turn 5, the Prep, 1-6, 7-10 and 11-12 (which is atually non compulsory as well but much prefered).

Having taught kids who started kinder in the year they turned 4, socially they struggle a lot in the early years. Some catch up a bit through primary school, but then find it difficult when leaving college (11-12) and their friends are all turning 18 and they are still only turning 17.

There are many pros and cons for sending them early, however depending on their pre school experiences, some don't need it where as others definately do.

Best thig to do is to talk to the school as there may be specific guidelines as to at what age the chld is 'required by law' to be at school.(It keeps changing)

[Silverwitch]

Just found this:
It is generally desirable for schools to adopt a cut-off enrolment date whereby children commencing in Kindergarten should be five (5) years of age by 30 April of the year of enrolment. This is for NSW and ACT dont know about the others.

[Legolas]

wow, thanks guys.

After today...she's going!

sigh...

that aside...

Silverwitch. Cupcake is all those things. The first time she picked up a pencil she held it properly! She recognises regular words plus a few extra e.g. all our names, house, chair, the, etc. She has even started stringing sounds and letters together with magnets on the fridge (e.g. s, a, t...look mum, sssaaaatt, SAT!). She can count and recognise to 20 etc etc

Socially, all adults adore her (except me). The only reservation from the preschool is that she is a real follower. If someone snatches something from her she just picks up something else, if someone tells her to jump off a cliff...she doesn't assert herself at all there (though she certainly does at home!!!). They worry that she might not have the social skills to express her own needs well e.g. she stuck up for herself the other day and refused to hand over a pencil. The other kid was so surprised (used to just walking all over her) that they bit her!!! The next week, the same kid punched her in the stomache, so...cringe this week when her very very bossy best buddy took her smiley sticker at ballet elke came back with a thump in the arm for her (a few mums quietly whispered "well done" to me, but the point is she hasn't mastered her own self control or ability to say "no, I won't be walked over").

She also gets very tired and chucks a wobbly every afternoon at about 4.

Back in the old days, I'd have thought these issues would be dealt with in kindy, but now, when a teacher is catering to a class with kids who will turn six before mine even turns 5...

sigh...

one more day like today and we'll be investigating boarding schools in Perth!!!

I spoke to the high school today that she is booked in to. They say March is usually their youngest and she would be the very very youngest...

again


sigh

[The Frog]

Originally posted by Tobi:
Vic is Kindy, then prep - 6 at primary school & 7 - 12 at high school.

I started Kindy when I was 3 & prep when I was 4. Turned 5 in May.

As far as I was aware (well for Vic) the cut off is turning 5 by June 30th for prep. This may have changed though. Tadpoles school has:

Pre Prep 3-4 years old
Prep 4-5 years old
Kindy 5-6 years old
1st
2nd
etc

[Bear]

Originally posted by BLB:
but then find it difficult when leaving college (11-12) and their friends are all turning 18 and they are still only turning 17.
I was 16 1/2 when I finished grade 12 lucky for me I had a good fake IDs from the age of 14 so could socialise with my peers at the pub. :D

[Polaris]

I was also 17 when I finished school but that was in an era when the bouncers used to go "stay out of trouble and we won't worry" type attitude
No photo id's back then so we had some pretty random ones we used to use ;)

[BrumbyJack]

I didn't ever have fake ID, only ever got asked for ID when I was 19 graemlins/big_laugh.gif was going to the Pub at 14 and Leagues club at 15, never asked for ID once.

The funniest thing was when I was in NZ when I was 16.

I assumed the drinking age was 18, so that's what I would have said if I was asked... The only time I got asked was by a barman who had just finished his shift... his jaw hit the ground when I said 16 (I don't think he was checking for the work ;) ) and I realised why a few weeks later when I found out the drinking age at that time was 21 graemlins/big_laugh.gif I couldn't work out why you had to be 21 to be in the Gondola in Queenstown redface.gif

Completely off topic graemlins/big_laugh.gif

[ 03.12.2008, 02:07 PM: Message edited by: BrumbyJack ]

[pbd]

We have 2 sons one with a June and the other a March birthday. Sent the one with June birthday the year after he turned 5, now is is 18 and just finished HSC. Being older he had the maturity to handle year 12 - well most of the time!!!

Younger one sent early but repeated Yr 4. At the time of kindergarten is was more than ready and at Yr 4 he was doing well in class but was a follower and needed more maturity socially. It was the best thing we ever did. He is now 16 and will turn 17 in the Mar of Yr 11 so will be getting his 'p' plates etc quite early. He is not the oldest in his year but has been school captain, vice captain of Jnr campus etc and is glad we made the decision to repeat.

[Snow Yeti]

BJ I get asked for ID here in Revelstoke! lol

[BrumbyJack]

I got asked in the US when I was 24 :D

[Tobi]

I got asked at the pub on Sunday.

[bdenny4]

I don't get asked anymore :(

[SnowSnow]

mm i never got asked at 16 0r 17 but i did on my 19th bday. *laughs*. But always get asked when i go to the casino.

[Polaris]

Originally posted by Tobi:
I got asked at the pub on Sunday. So did I, but it's more along the lines of "what the hell is an old fart like you doing out drinking at this time of night" :D ;)

[Podlettte]

I was asked at the burliegh heads pub when I was 24 :D Got refused service and so did the others I was with who tried to buy me a drink graemlins/big_laugh.gif

Got refused entry to the Lake jindy hotel in 03 as I didn't have ID, tried to tell them I was 31 *sigh*

[Silverwitch]

Legolas, The sort of social issues and self control issues that she is experiencing are normal pre-kindergarten ones. In kindergarten ( I mean the first year at big school) good teachers help all the children to communicate with each other and express themselves in acceptable ways. So I would just make the teacher really aware of your concerns and work together with the teacher to help your little girl settle in as best you both can. We recommend role playing different situations and practicing the ways she can respond to these situations - so that when something does occur ( like the 'pencil' and the 'ballet' oncident she has the words to be able to express herself and knows what to do to deal with conflict in the best way possible.
Good luck and sounds like she is a bright little spark!

[Polaris]

Originally posted by Podlettte:
I was asked at the burliegh heads pub when I was 24 :D Got refused service and so did the others I was with who tried to buy me a drink graemlins/big_laugh.gif

Got refused entry to the Lake jindy hotel in 03 as I didn't have ID, tried to tell them I was 31 *sigh* That all stops once you have kids Pods graemlins/cold.gif

[Snowpuff]

Originally posted by Polaris:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Podlettte:
I was asked at the burliegh heads pub when I was 24 :D Got refused service and so did the others I was with who tried to buy me a drink graemlins/big_laugh.gif

Got refused entry to the Lake jindy hotel in 03 as I didn't have ID, tried to tell them I was 31 *sigh* That all stops once you have kids Pods graemlins/cold.gif </font>[/QUOTE]I was going to ask if she was drunk. but it's much nicer to say you didn't look your age. tongue.gif