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

[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.

[Phteven]

Can I ask if your in NSW babe??

We're in the ACT where kindy is the first year of compulsory education. They expect children to start kindy the year they turn 5 and they have to be in school when they turn 6 (I think - never 100% on the rules). My baby turns 5 in March so I might have been able to hold him back but he went to the pre-school attached to his big school so his teachers know exactly what is expected of him and they are confident that he'll thrive. I was concerned but his teachers put me in my place pretty firmly lol.
I know lots of his class and IMO he's pretty much on par with them socially.
His brother is at the younger end of his class but he's exceeding state and school expectations in some areas.

I really think that school readiness is about the child not some arbitrary date and that for some children holding them back just for the sake of it rather than because of a specific concern is not doing them any favours.

[Pretty Butterfly]

We're in the ACT where kindy is the first year of compulsory education. They expect children to start kindy the year they turn 5 and they have to be in school when they turn 6 (I think - never 100% on the rules). My baby turns 5 in March so I might have been able to hold him back but he went to the pre-school attached to his big school so his teachers know exactly what is expected of him and they are confident that he'll thrive. I was concerned but his teachers put me in my place pretty firmly lol.
His brother is at the younger end of his class but he's exceeding state and school expectations in some areas.

I really think that school readiness is about the child not some arbitrary date and that for some children holding them back just for the sake of it rather than because of a specific concern is not doing them any favours.

Completly agree!!!!

Here they are expected to start the year they turn 6, so sending my DS at 4.5, to turn 5 through the year, is still a year younger than most, but they can if parents want, and the school agree's.
The problem we find here is you have a 4.3 yr old in April, with a lot of kids turning 6 already... a pretty big gap. If we were to turn 5 in Kindy, it wouldnt matter.
But they should turn 6 in Kindy, and 18 in year 12 here.
And any kids only turning 5, cant play in the sports teams till the following year, and then they have to play with the year below. It all gets very confusing!!!

[Jennifer13]

I'm in NSW where K (kindy) is the first year of school (same as prep in Qld and Vic). DD is turning 5 mid March and she is definitely starting this year. She's had three years of preschool already and can hold her own compared to others starting.

I started early in Qld, back in the days before prep. I turned five a few weeks after starting in Yr 1. I was fine in every way (I was considered to be accelerated an extra year later in primary which didn't happen because I was already younger, this would definitely have happened had I been held back and would have meant adjusting up). I really appreciated finishing Yr 12 before I turned 17 because it meant starting and finishing uni earlier.

I don't get holding kids back, some are always going to be more or less 'ready' than their peers and most will settle in. Unless your child has a definitive issue I don't think it should be an age-based reason or a personality one. JMHO

[Pretty Butterfly]

I dont mean this at you Jennifer, but I have heard this SO much lately because I didnt send my 4 yr old to school this year, but.... when did sending your kids at the correct age, become "holding them back"?

They should turn 6 in Kindy. And my son will. I am more than happy for him to be 18 when he sits the HSC, like most kids up here. As there is no good uni for hours away, he will at least be an adult to move towns, not 17.

I have my Inlaws going on and ON about it.... and it drives me bonkers.
I chose to not send him early, not hold him back. There is a difference!!

[alioops]

PB in SA what you call Kinder is what we call reception, and kids have to be in reception at 5. Kindy (what you call preschool) is for 4yo and is subsidised by the state government, so very affordable. Most kids in SA graduate at 17 or having turned 18 in the later half of the year. But it is normal for there to be a mid year intake into reception here, and generally kids have friends in other age groups because many schools have combined classes. To me it is not about the social aspects of school, it is about where they sit academically. Many shy kids will never be truly socially ready.

[Beach Mama]

A bit OT but interesting food for thought HERE - mods I hope it's ok to post this article. Makes me wanna move to Finland!

[Phteven]

generally kids have friends in other age groups because many schools have combined classes.

^ after kindy our school has combined classes too so the age thing sort of ceases to be relevant after the first year but obviously not all schools do that.

ETA - interesting article Tan but I don't agree with the writer's contention that they start school later. If they are providing "high quality early education" then they are starting them at school, just under a different name.

[Beach Mama]

True that Onyx. I think the main differences are that they provide a wholly play-based child centred early education, which many of our kinders fail to do (I'm in Vic so kinder here is what Iz is starting this year - 3 yr old kinder then 4 yr old next year and then Prep at 5 in 2013. Confusing much?) Anyway I have done loads of reading recently on progressive and play based early education and it is so important. They don't even teach the kids to read in the first year that they start school. Amazing. Wish we had more progressive kinders and schools in Australia that didn't cost the earth. As a teacher and being a specialist who can pretty much run my own program I am trying to do my little bit in my own way though!

[Pretty Butterfly]

OOh, so you can start "reception" half way through?? See if we had that here I would prob send Za, he would be 5 by half year, and after 6 more months of 4 days a week preschool, would prob be ready. But he isnt just yet.

Here you either start at end Jan or not till the next year, so it does make it hard and confusing for before half year babies...

If your not 18 in year 12 here your the odd one out. Funny enough, none of the "older" kids stood out before yr 12, and they got their license/could drink early, but the "younger" ones stood out very early on because they were too young to do what we were allowed to do.
I had one g/f who was never allowed to do what we did because she was 18mnths younger. We thought it sucked at the time, but now I understand, I wouldnt of let her either!!!!

[Pretty Butterfly]

"In Finland, the focus for early education is on learning how to learn. Children are encouraged to experience, explore, and play. The Fins value the development of curiosity and social competency in the early years. They know that the “academics” will come more easily later if the foundation is there. "

I have read that before, and I love it. Exactly how I feel, I wish we had it here!!
Majority of our problem is that we dont lay down the foundation, just push them through fast as we can. And the social compentency here is far underrated.

I dont like that young kids are in "formal" school at such a young age, and have homework already..... but thats just me, and my opinion....... is it cheap to live in Finland??????

[LoveKnowsNoBounds]

We are in NSW. He went to daycare last year and is attending preschool two days a week this year. My sister in law is a kindergarten teacher and she initially got me thinking about this as she was surprised by what he was doing. He turns 4 soon and I wonder what he will be doing in a year, what he will be like.

I want the best for him and having him home another year would be fine and I'd send him to preschool 3 days that year. My mum is certain he should be going next year. I can see the point about the 6 year olds. I'm a high school teacher and know the difference a year can make in high school. I'm still leaning towards holding him back as I'm a cautious person but will speak to his preschool about it during the year.

[Crystalwings]

I work in early childhood and see the benefit of holding children back every year. Each year there is at least one child who is in that borderline group who could really benefit from an extra year. Of course every child is different but IMO 4 is way too young for most children to be sent to school. Developmentally their maturity levels are lower and alot of 4yr olds just want to play, they arent ready for structured learning. Then there is the issue of what will happen to that child in the playground. Often this is a time when a child who is younger can really struggle as they are usually behind their peers socially. I also don't think that it is age appropriate or right to force a child who isn't interested in writing and structured activities to go to school as they often end up struggling where as given the extra year they usually florish as they are ready and willing to learn by then.
Our daycare has strong ties to our local schools and the feedback we get is always the same. The children who we recommend stay behind or the very young children struggle and end up being labelled as the 'naughty kids' which is really sad.
There are definatley exceptions but i honestly think that most children are not going to suffer by being left to develop to their full potential before they HAVE to go to school. Why not let them be children for that little while longer and enjoy the benefits of play based learning.
There rant over. JMO

[Tanya]

Hi, I haven't read any replies so I applogise for that, but just wanted to add

I had this issue with DD#3, she is a March baby and we considered sending her to kinder and school early, she was ready and I still think she would have been fine. When we spoke to DD#2's kinder teacher about sending her sister to kinder they discouraged me, they tell me it can be quite difficult when you are the youngest with other children over a year older than you. This wasn't the deciding factor though. I think it just helps when it comes to the senior levels in High school, no doubt they will handle it ok, but will they excel? Will they be left out being much younger than the others and how will they feel about it? Will not having a license be something that will hinder them when they finish school? Sure being younger doesn't matter at the junior levels, but it may when it comes to crunch time at high school.

DD#1 is an October child and she turned 18 right at the end of the school year and to her this was too late and she didn't like it at all.

Good luck with your decision
xx

[Pretty Butterfly]

If your in NSW, your not holding him back, its the year he should start.

You shouldnt need a reason to send him the correct year, you need a reason to send him early.
And some kids are just ready earlier.
Mine isnt, but that isnt to say your son isn't! His preschool teacher would be the best indicator on how he would cope.

My son did 2 days of preschool last year, 3 days this year, and 4 days in term 4 to get ready for school. But that is the norm for his preschool.

It worked for my first 3, so I'm not messing with the system till it doesn't work!!

[Beach Mama]

"In Finland, the focus for early education is on learning how to learn. Children are encouraged to experience, explore, and play. The Fins value the development of curiosity and social competency in the early years. They know that the “academics” will come more easily later if the foundation is there. "

I have read that before, and I love it. Exactly how I feel, I wish we had it here!!
Majority of our problem is that we dont lay down the foundation, just push them through fast as we can. And the social compentency here is far underrated.

I dont like that young kids are in "formal" school at such a young age, and have homework already..... but thats just me, and my opinion....... is it cheap to live in Finland??????

Totally agree PB, we teach to data unfortunately, and with myschools etc. it's only getting worse, pity our big wigs look to the US instead of many countries in Europe that get it. I would send ours to Steiner if we could afford it but will have to settle for finding great public schools and spend the extra $$ on a house in an area with good schooling.
Sorry to hijack Jan, hope it has helped a little bit.

[Phteven]

True that Onyx. I think the main differences are that they provide a wholly play-based child centred early education,

If I was a cynic I might think that that sounds a bit like the experience provided by a SAHM (except with a much higher child:adult ratio)