To kindy or not to kindy

[toomanyshoes]

DD just had a 1/2 day at primary school for a "transition into kindy" program.

I was all prepared for her to start full time kindy at DS primary school next year but today after listening to what was said at the parents meeting I'm not 100% sure.

The teachers we're really trying to stress that if your child wasn't turning 5 before February to hold off for a year...DD is 5 in March.

She's never been to daycare so it's all new to her, she had a fantastic day today but as the teachers were saying once next years starts it will be more full on and they expect 75% of the kindy students to be writing and reading to a certain level by mid year. That in it's self..well how it was put across didn't sit well with me.

I'm so confused now! As far as DD is concerned she's going to "big school" next year and I think she would be disappointed if she didn't but am I harming her by sending her?

What did you do?

[Rach75]

ummm if she was in qld she would be going to prep next year full time 5 days a week so I wouldn't hesitate to send her

[Trillian]

If it hadn't been phrased the way it was, would you still have sent her to school with no hesitation? I know a lot of babies born in March and it would be half and half as to how many start the year they turn 5 and how many are held back and it is so individual - only you as her parent can know if she will be ready or not. FWIW, my eldest is a late Feb bub and only went to preschool 1 day a week for the year before he started school and is miles ahead academically than most of his peers who are often a lot older than he is. If you think she is truly ready, then send her

[toomanyshoes]

for the last 6 months DD starting school next year has been the hot topic in our house, everyone's been excited, it's been great.

It was just the way information was put across this morning that kind of stopped me in my tracks and started questioning everything! Wish I hadn't stayed for it!!

To me she's ready, she's intelligent, very very social, she actually wants to go, she got impatient waiting for it to start this morning and is now disappoint it's not on tomorrow. But now I'm questioning if she'll be ok once it's less about play and more about learning 5 full days a week!

Oh I don't know, it's doing my head in!

Thanks ladies

[*Ali*]

If you were in Perth you would also have your daughter starting 5 day a week pre primary next year- they start the year they turn 5 (if they are 5 before June 30, and if not they start the year after). Over here they do kindy at 4 (5 days a fortnight, then preprimary the next year, then year 1 the year after) DD was 4 in June and started kindy over here this year, she has just thrived, loved every minute of it.

Personally I would probably start her and see how she goes, if she is not coping you can also look at taking her out and starting her the next year.

FWIW- Children are absolute sponges at that age, it is one of the best ages for them to be learning, as they are so enthusiastic and keen to try new things. I think if your DD is excited to go, and you feel she is ready then send her. At the end of the day on you are really going to know if it is the right thing to do or not.

[krisp]

My DS turns 5 in March also. He will be starting school next year and like your DD is very excited. He can write and is doing OK at it. He is still deciding if he is left or right handed so his writing is a bit messy (there are many left handers in our family!). He hasn't started reading yet but asks constantly Mummy how do you spell...." So I am spelling things out to him 1000 times a day! He has been in daycare 3 days per week for 2.5 years so slightly different situation to yours.

The decision is totally yours. I've heard that girls mature more quickly and cope better but believe me my little man is so so so ready

[Liz]

Ds is 5 in march and soooo ready for big school. No way could I hold him back!

If anything, what they said would make me question the school rather than her readiness. Our school emphasised social/independence readiness over anything academic. They said some will start school reading and some won't. They have a reading level expectation at the end of the year but said reading abilities level out more in yr 1. There was no hint of pressure, more that they do what they can to accomodate each child's abilities in that 1st year. My understanding is that kindy is still somewhat play-based. Very hands on. Not sit down hard work. I'd be clarifying what their program entails and see if it feels right to you.

[~Kim~]

gah, this decision is the bane of my life ATM.
My DD isn't 5 until May. June is the cutoff here, but similar system.
We had her assessed at the local private school and they were astounded with her. Her preschool teachers think it would be a mistake as socially she just wouldn't cope. Also I have an issue with the fact that they are holding kids back as early as January birthday so potentially there will be kids nearly 18months older than her.

Like you I was thrown when they asked if she could use a computer....uh no....isn't playing outside and being creative and exploring more important? Apparently not.

[Emma1979]

hi there
i recommend doing some online research on what age to send kids to school and then make up your own mind on what you feel comfortable with... my dd is march 24 and after alot of consideration we are choosing to wait and send her the year after... nearly everyone i know is doing the same with their kids too, however i have two good friends with kids the same age who are sending them... its entirely a personal decision but the studies are showing that having an extra year to mature and develop and play without pressures of school etc is very beneficial.... the recommendation now is to hold off on sending them if you have a child with a birthday in the first few months of the year.... it isn't necessarily about whether they are 'ready' to go or not, it is more down the track when they are older how they will deal with peer pressure etc... apparently an extra year of maturity is beneficial.... anyways there is heaps of literature online on this topic...
i will also add that australia has one of the YOUNGEST school starting ages in the world, and many countries in europe don't start their kids until they are 7.... there are lots of other activities like swimming, kinder gym, dancing, playgroup etc etc that can give them a variety of social environments that is more than adequate for their age...

anyways i am sure you can tell where i stand on the subject from this post but it really is a personal decision and there is no right or wrong as such, just different paths your child can take. i had my dd enrolled to start kinder next year but then took her name off the list. the fact that she would be one of the absolute youngest kids with other kids being up to 15 months older than her did not sit well with me... she would be 11 going to highschool with girls 13 years old, its a huge age difference....

anyways good luck with whatever you choose! i have spent hours agonising over the same thing.

[Floweryfields]

ummm if she was in qld she would be going to prep next year full time 5 days a week so I wouldn't hesitate to send her

Yep that's what I was thinkingtoo.