It's really nice to have a professional (although I am an early childhood teacher myself) say the same things I have said all along about sending children to 'big' school so early. Particularly when I was met with a lot of surprised 'really??'s from friends and family, because DDis bright and would have been ok at school this year. Her b'day is in mid April, so she is a good few months off the age cut off for school.

But IMO, kids are little for such a short time, I think we should keep them little for as long as it's possible, and by keeping them home, not going to formal school institutions at 4 1/2 or just 5 years old, they remain that little bit more innocent and 'baby' for a little bit longer. A year is nothing in the grand scheme of their lives, but at this time of their lives (when they are 4 and 5) it could be everything.

I think I have given my daughter a leg up. I think she will have the upper hand at school now, because she's a whole year older (in some cases more than a year older) than many of her peers, who in reality, she will be 'competing' against. Plus she is so much more emotionally mature and will be able to cope with the challenges of school more readily. She would have coped this year had she gone to school, but I don't want her to cope. I want her to excel. As parents we try to provide the best for our children, I think in keeping DD home for an extra year, I have done that for her.