My younger brother was born on 1 March and went to school at 5 turning 6 - 33 years ago. It was the best thing for him. Some of the kids in his class were up to 16 months younger than him, as the cut off at that time was 30 June. He is the third child - similar to your daughter, and just wasn't ready for school. If he had gone early, it potentially would have affected him academically and socially. As it was - he didn't learn to read properly until Grade 3 anyway.
My older brother was born on 30 April and started school at 5 turning 6 - 36 years ago. Again, it worked really well.
I'm a May baby and also was 5 turning six. My DS1 is a May baby - I could have applied for special early entry for him, due to his academic ability - but it would have been disastrous socially for him.
I don't think the new baby timing is something that can't be managed. If she prefers to stay home - do it!
My DS1 plays with kids older and younger than him at school, as does DS2. Kids find their own friends regardless of age discrepancy. My bestest girlfriend from school is over a year younger than me. Academically she struggled, but socially was fine. She would have been far better off staying home for that extra year, but her parents sent her anyway. Another girlfriend (March baby) did Year 6 twice, and says it was the best thing she did, academically and socially.
Slightly different situation, but my birthday is in September which means I did 5 terms of reception. I always thought it was the best thing ever as I do feel that that first term (in your DDs case first two terms) helped me to settle in and learn the routines of school and then I was more than ready for the academic side by the following year (if not before). School was always easy for me and I loved it. I don't think your DD will be teased. By the time the other kids really notice she is older they won't care - she will just be one of their friends!
My DD is now 11 and she did pre-school and then prep in QLD, which means she's a year older than most of the children in her grade. She's fine socially, but really struggles academically.
Kids develop and mature at really different rates. There are girls much younger than my DD who started wearing training bras last year, and some who look like they won't need them for some years to come
I know it's hard, but don't put too much on weight on worrying if she'll get picked on etc. It's really important that she gets a solid circle of friends around her by the time she reaches upper primary, and so if you think she needs a little extra time now to develop her social and emotional and other relational skills, then now is the time to do it. She'll make friends who'll be her allies and helpers and supporters and cheer squad all through school, and that's one of the "make your child bully-proof" strategies the experts are talking about these days. A child who is isolated socially can be a bigger, easier target unfortunately.
From a Mum who worried her way through a decision about whether or not to keep her DD back -- it was the best decision for my DD and I do not regret it at all.
You have to look at each child individually and decide what is best at the time. This feels right for her so go with it. My dd1 is a feb baby and turned 5 at the start of her first year at school, some kids in her class are over a year older than her, some the year below her are older than her so there is a big spread. The older grades are composites at our school anyway so she always has kids older and younger than her in her classes.
Nope not at all. DD's bday is april. She would have coped going to school last year. But dh and I didn't want her to just cope, we want her to excel. Now being a year older and more mentally and emotionall mature, realise what a really great decision it was. Not just for now, but also for when she's older. I also wanted to give her that extra year free from responsibility, and to be a 'baby' a little longer.
It's a tricky one but i think you may have made the right decision, that extra time with you at home could prove to help immensely especially if you feel she is still a little clingy.
I'm struggling to figure out what i'll do with DD also, i held my two boys back and i know it's been the best thing for them, i can see my evidence with both of them. DD is a confident little one who is really quite clever even still i thought i wanted to do as i did for the boys with her too. But speaking to a teacher friend she suggests not to in my particular case. This would mean DD would turn 5 in the Dec and begin Prep (Vic) the year later in Jan. Meaning she'll be more than likely one of the last ones to have a birthday in amongst the friends she makes. I'm not sure if what she is showing us now has a lot to do with her brothers being around and if things would change in her own space. I want her to be socially and emotionally strong, i wasnt and i want her experience to be different.
The challenge is trying to figure this out probably way before we need to be and with the ture signs maybe not showing as yet, but with waiting lists and times lines of when to enrol you have to be well organised.
Can i just sneak in a question too?? Olive would you say your DD who will begin at 6 is a confident little one or a little more on the quieter side?
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