January - April children: start kinder/school earlier or later??

[Ginger]

My ds2 was born feb 27 2009 and he will be starting 3yo kinder in 2013, 4yo in 2014 and prep 2015. He's just way too young to be starting next year so we have made the decision to keep him back and do lots of activities with him next year- eg. Playgroup, swimming, soccer.

[minimatron]

DD1 is April 1st.... shes turning 4 on Friday. I am keeping her home this year (she does do occassional care 8 hours a week). Next year shes off to 4 year old kinder and she will be turning 5 at the start. Its been a long thought out decision.... I just thought whats the hurry? and if she started school next year it just seems to me she would be so young. Im glad I am keeping her home this year, she doesnt quiet seem ready. Good luck on your decision

[megs]

I too am another one who thinks the extra year at home is more beneficial.

At lot of the children in my sons kinder group are all turning 5 around now. In fact one little girl turned 5 in December. She comes across as a very mature and social little girl, but the year prior she was anything but so her parents kept her back the year and I think it benfited her greatly as she certainly has a lot more confidence.

My other son started Prep this year and the teachers have actually acknowledge that they have had a fairly smooth transition with all of the prepies and they said that part of that was due to having so many kids turning 6. Socially it must have its benefits.

[mummydreamer]

well im going to say hold him back....when he's at school, he'll be at school till he's nearly 18!! cherish that extra year at home. but i also say that because i do think that kids tend to go better at school when they're held back that little bit. if he's at a pre school with a good education program, he will be getting all he needs until he starts school. i held DS back a year (he will be turning 6 in may) he was soooo not ready last year, but this year, he is going so well at school. he's just picking everything up right away, and he is absolutely loving it. but i know that's just my son, every kid is different....if you're still undecided by the end of the year,take him to orientation at the local school and see what they say?

[Amity]

My parents are both teachers, and my two brothers and I are all born in the first half of the year. We could have gone "early" but my parents, as educators, believe that the extra year at home is far far more beneficial than heading off to school early.

Good luck in making your decision!

[Phteven]

My little guy started at 4 years and 11 months. He would have gone crazy if he had an extra year at home. He was so excited about going and he was so ready for it. He's settled in really well and he's pretty much the same age as all the other little folk in his class. He was in pre-school last year and when I asked his teacher about holding him back for a year she had a bit of a giggle at me and told me that he was ready so I went with her judgement since she's the professional. My other little guy was one of the youngest in his class because he started under a different system and he has had no trouble. On the contrary, his teachers have never had anything that wasn't positive to say about him, he's excelling in maths and public speaking and he takes a leadership role whenever he can. Another little girl that was in his class who is older than him has been held back to repeat kindy so really it comes down to the individual child.
I think that holding a child back who is school ready just because you want them to be the oldest is silly. There isn't much benefit in being the oldest and it would be a bit depressing being the same level as kids who are a year younger. That said I think sending a child who isn't ready just because they are eligible is silly too.

The NSW education department used to have a school readiness check-list. It was stuff like being able to put their shoes on and their own clothes and being able to raise their hand to ask a question if they needed to and cutting in a straight line and so on. IMO if they tick all the boxes on the school readiness then you send them and if they don't then you keep them back.

[Kailani]

Thanks for all your replies!

I didn't realise how common it was to wait! It's good to hear that others are thinking the same things. I'm so glad I asked now, because I was actually in the process of looking at kinders and filling out applications for 3yo next year.

I am now convinced to hold him back. DP has wanted to anyway, but it was the other mums I know that have confused me. In my mothers group and playgroup, the kids are also feb babies and their mothers don't want to wait an extra year because they fear their children will be the eldest and stick out like a sore thumb - physically and intellectually. They are mostly girls though, so maybe it's different? It's a shame that DS's play mates are all going to go off to school before him though.

Onyx, your DS sounds like an independent and confident little boy! The complete opposite of mine! Haha. You're right though, that it really depends on the individual, and if he flourishes in the next year or 2, I'll reconsider.

DS is only 2, but I know that he is very shy and reserved (like me) and he is very soft spoken as well. He is super clingy and whiney and it's "mummy this, mummy that". We do playgroup and gymbaroo and I can tell from observing the others that are his age, that he is no where near as mature as them socially/emotionally. I wonder if he will change dramatically in the next year? But I doubt it. He has also never been away from me so I think 3 yo kinder next year would probably stress him out too much.

It's hard to imagine, but when DS is in year 12 he will be 18 at the beginning of the year so I hope he doesn't get carried away with being "legal" and forget about school!

[Astrid]

It's hard to imagine, but when DS is in year 12 he will be 18 at the beginning of the year so I hope he doesn't get carried away with being "legal" and forget about school!

Would not worry too much, there are kids that do and kids that don't. I turned 18 in year 12 and it did not even cross my mind to go out drinking. Those that were drinking were already doing so when they were 17. So age does not stop them if they want to.

DD2's birthday is 28th April, so if she was born 3 days later, we would have no choice. I am leaning towards sending her to Kinder the year she turns 5.

[Liz]

DS is only 2, but I know that he is very shy and reserved (like me) and he is very soft spoken as well. He is super clingy and whiney and it's "mummy this, mummy that". We do playgroup and gymbaroo and I can tell from observing the others that are his age, that he is no where near as mature as them socially/emotionally. I wonder if he will change dramatically in the next year? But I doubt it. He has also never been away from me so I think 3 yo kinder next year would probably stress him out too much.

FWIW my March boy was exactly the same. In fact at the age of 2, he would refuse to have anything to do with other children his age LOL. He would wait until play equipment was clear of children before venturing in there. At music he would cling to me, not participate in singing etc.. he would play the big drum tho Then at the age of 3 it was like a switch was turned on. And he started to open up socially. 2 days of 3yo preschool did him wonders. He started Kindergarten (big school) this year, and there is just no way he could have been held back (just like Onyx). I've had a chat to his teacher about various things, he was definitely very ready for school, so no issues there, he did say that we might hit a few bumps along the way socially because he's one of the youngest, one of those bumps at the moment is the tiredness that comes from the effort of school. There are 6 yr olds in his class and he's only just turned 5, but he's doing just fine Going by the birthdays at preschool, majority of the kids were turning 5 in the 2nd half of the year, so really were probably only 6mths older than him.. not all of them are going to be significantly older, if that makes sense. I completely agree that the decision needs to be made closer to the time rather than now at the age of 2. When you think about it, all the Nov/Dec babies won't have a choice of when to start.. that's only 2/3 months older than your DS. So I wouldn't go in believing that he'll be completely surrounded by 6 yr olds if he starts at 5

[Shanti]

My little guy started at 4 years and 11 months. He would have gone crazy if he had an extra year at home. He was so excited about going and he was so ready for it. He's settled in really well and he's pretty much the same age as all the other little folk in his class. He was in pre-school last year and when I asked his teacher about holding him back for a year she had a bit of a giggle at me and told me that he was ready so I went with her judgement since she's the professional. My other little guy was one of the youngest in his class because he started under a different system and he has had no trouble. On the contrary, his teachers have never had anything that wasn't positive to say about him, he's excelling in maths and public speaking and he takes a leadership role whenever he can. Another little girl that was in his class who is older than him has been held back to repeat kindy so really it comes down to the individual child.
I think that holding a child back who is school ready just because you want them to be the oldest is silly. There isn't much benefit in being the oldest and it would be a bit depressing being the same level as kids who are a year younger. That said I think sending a child who isn't ready just because they are eligible is silly too.

The NSW education department used to have a school readiness check-list. It was stuff like being able to put their shoes on and their own clothes and being able to raise their hand to ask a question if they needed to and cutting in a straight line and so on. IMO if they tick all the boxes on the school readiness then you send them and if they don't then you keep them back.

Yep I agree with Onyx. I think it depends on your child and sometimes some boys aren't ready til another year later due to how they develop differently to girls too. I really think it's a very individual basis and decision only a parent can make and at the age of 2, we don't really know when our child is going to be ready just yet kwim?