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

[Jennifer13]

Isn't QLD a year ahead of us? So are supposed to start the year before?

Its too confusing!! LOL

QLD used to not have prep/kinder so while technically not a year ahead it was a different system, the southern states had an extra compulsory year. It's now been somewhat standardised, but since the starting age cut offs are all different and the national curriculum not agreed to it's not 'standard' just yet!

Bringing home beginner readers sounds very much like kinder so maybe the school is giving them the same kind of learning opportunities without the official title.

[mrsmac]

Thanks for all of the replies ladies It made for interesting reading. I brought it up with my brother and he pleaded with me not to send him until he is 5! He was a June baby and didn't cope well at all with school for the first two years. I think I want him to be bigger than the rest of the pack, not one of the smallest.

Very sensible. As a kindergarten teacher for the last 2 years (and before that a few times too) I have seen many boys snet too early who really suffer later. Its not just about being ready now its about will he be ready for the HSC at a year younger than his peers, how will he cope when his friends are 18 ages before him and have a different social life etc.
I know its easy to think thats miles away but having had a DD doing the HSC in 2009 I really noticed the difference in both maturity and coping ability of those of her peers who were May/June/July babies who had been sent young.
I would much rather my child be one of the older ones than one who has to repeat!! Thats far harder on the ego than being older and TBH the kids don't give a toss who is what age in the classroom. Last year my class ranged from some who turned 6 in Feb/march etc onwards and some who turned 5 in May/June/July and to be honest the July boy was way too young and did not vcope at all.
I would always ask the preschool teacher's advice because they usually have a good idea, if they say send them they are usually right.

[Pretty Butterfly]

Your right Jen, been talking to Ad about it a lot today... the school readiness program acts like school.. they teach them to be able to do their own shoes, cut with scissors,light reading etc.. along with running in school hours, no nap times, and we have to send food they can open themselves, and they wont reheat stuff like last year.. they run it like school, but only for 3 days, then 4, then real school.

We get a folder half way through, and then one at the end of the year, with a report that shows what each kid can/cant do.. it covers everything from counting, alphabet, reading, cutting examples, colouring in examples and one on one work sheets done with the teacher.. its actually bigger than the school one!! lol

That might account for why we dont see the 4 yr olds here?
I know 2 other preschools, linked to primary schools, that do the same thing.

[maz]

I kind of feel sorry for the old kids in the class, it must be a bit of a blow to the ego to be in a room with children over a year younger who are at the same level as you and at the other end of school to be pretty much an adult and stuck in a routine designed for children seems a little unfair too.

I understand what your saying but sometimes the choice to send your child at certain age may be taken away and there for s/he may be older. Sadly not all children are ready mentally at the 'correct age' and as Ive seen in my son's classes they these children tend to be in composite classes so that they still can socialise with children their correct age.

We had always thought that we would hold DS back as many people we know seem to do that to give their child a better opportunity at school socially and for his education.

Now I'm not so sure. He is my first so I have no idea what to expect. I think he is above average. He talks very well and has a huge vocabulary. He has memorized most of his books. He can't write his name but is starting to trace. He makes friends fairly easily from what i can see.

My second eldest could spell ANY word (stilll can) read at age 3, write better then his brother in grade 2 BUT I waited the extra year.....he was not ready socially. It was an extremely hard choice to make, yes he has special need's and this to is a factor but I done regret doing it now. He is a January baby and yes he's in grade 3 this year and 9 BUT he is in a composite class with grade 4's and yes, they are 9 so he get's to 'hang' with kid's his age.
DS3 will turn 5 in the January when he is ment to start prep, if he starts at 5 or 6 doesnt really worry me....Id be more happy that he feel's comfortable to go, has the ability to concentrate, be social with his peer's and enjoy starting school.
Good luck

[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.