End of April boy - hold back or send to school?

[RhiChiChi]

You could send him to school and see how he goes? If you find him struggling, maybe give him two years in prep?

FWIW - My brother was in the same boat and mum did send him to school. He struggled right through to yr 12. A teacher told mum when B was in year 8, that he would have been greatly benefited by staying back for that extra time. But I don't know where he was at developmentally before mum sent him to school. Good luck

I was sent to school at 4.5 yo & IMO it was too young - socially immature and struggled throughout school. Sounds like your son however would cope well? Don't worry about him not being able to write his name yet - my sister is a primary school teacher and some can, some can't but she says that is what they are there for

[Beach Mama]

It's a really tough one hun, has he been going to kinder/child care? How does he cope with those? The jump to school is quite a bit one and the expectations teachers place on Preps depending on the school are quite big (sitting still, hands up, listening, writing etc, conforming etc) and I am a teacher so I know how concerning it is. I'm kind of glad Iz missed the cut off by being a May baby actually but it's hard to say without knowing your child who you know best. Maybe talk to the school - ask them what sorts of things they are specifically looking for in school readiness, and do a bit of reading yourself, there are some wonderful blog posts about school readiness around, will hunt them down for you if I can find them, I had a few on my FB page. Good luck hun it's a tough one.

[diannescruffy]

Just saw on your sig that your DS is turning 4 this year so is he going to kindy? He could always do 2yrs if he is not ready for school next year.

Regards,
Dianne

[berrme]

I would be sending him to school. I don't understand this notion of keeping children back just because they will be younger than other kids at school. There are always some kids younger than others. The prep year is designed to teach through play, it is especially for young children. Some kids will be starting school coming from homes where noone has ever read to them or taught them anything. Prep is supposed to help level those differences out in a more relaxed environment. If your DS struggles then he can do a second year of prep, but I just can't see how keeping him away from the other kids will help his social or academic development.

For what it is worth both my DSs (born Feb and April) will start prep in the year they are intended to, and unless there is some very good reason for her not to, then my DD who will be a June baby will too.

[Jellybean29]

For myself...

I am born 29th July and my 3yr older sis 28th July.

We both wernt held back, but then in year 2 Mum made me repeat due to a perceived literacy issue I supposedly had at the time (so guess I got held back in the end).
I ended up being dux of English in highschool in the end, and in the top 5 of all my other classes. But socially, always hung out with older kids and didnt relate as well with kids in my grade - so didnt enjoy that aspect of school at all. Would of rather been top 10 or 15 in my class and have an enjoyable time at school then number 1 or top 5 and hate it...

My sister, wasnt held back and didnt repeat, and she ended up going to an academic selective highschool and had a great group of friends she is still close with, and apart from the annoyance of not getting her driving licence same time as her friends, or being legally allowed to drink on schoolies... she didnt suffer for it.

I think my sister had the better time at school, so I wont be holding my child back when the time comes (he's due 21 May).

[mrsmac]

I would be sending him to school. I don't understand this notion of keeping children back just because they will be younger than other kids at school. There are always some kids younger than others. The prep year is designed to teach through play, it is especially for young children. Some kids will be starting school coming from homes where noone has ever read to them or taught them anything. Prep is supposed to help level those differences out in a more relaxed environment. If your DS struggles then he can do a second year of prep, but I just can't see how keeping him away from the other kids will help his social or academic development.


Its different in NSW, our kindergarten is the 1st year of school where they learn to read and write etc, its formal schooling.


You can't really say its black and white to send or not to send when they are later babies as it is a very individual thing, girls are usually far more ready than boys to start school and sometimes siblings are more ready as they have had the influence of the older ones. When DS was born I thought I would send him at 4 (so this year) but as he grew up I realised he would not be ready and am very happy in my decision to leave him until next year.
For what it is worth both my DSs (born Feb and April) will start prep in the year they are intended to, and unless there is some very good reason for her not to, then my DD who will be a June baby will too.

[berrme]

I agree that it isn't black and white. Obviously you know whether your child would cope or not, I just think that if there are no apparent social or developmental issues with your child then they should start school with other children their age. Prep is also a 'formal' year of schooling, they start reading and writing, it is just learning through play which is the most effective way for children that age. I just looked at the kindergarten syllabus in NSW and it looks like very similar goals. It isn't rocket science, it is the very basics required for a student to be able to cope with year 1.

[diannescruffy]

Just saw on your sig that your DS is turning 4 this year so is he going to kindy? He could always do 2yrs if he is not ready for school next year.

Regards,
Dianne

[Pretty Butterfly]

See, this is where the state to state thing, and "kindy" confuse me!!!!

Here you couldnt legally enroll a 3 yr old to Kindy, BUT Kindy is the first year of school here, so formal education.

Is Kindy what we call preschool in NSW??
Preschool is for 3-5 yr olds here.
School is for 5-6 through to 17-18 here.
We have no "formal" schooling required till 5.