Charlotte DS1 is a late Jan baby and the thought of him starting school days after his 5th birthday just didn't feel right for me. He did 3yr old kinder when he was 4 and is now doing 4yr old kinder at 5. He will start PS next year. For me i'm extremely happy with my decision. He's a very clever and confident little boy but if things don't go his way he has some pretty major melt downs. It has turned out that this year we have been working on some speech therapy and he's just gotten glasses so i'm also really happy that we've been able to get a head start of him adjusting to this prior to school. Little things like that have helped me be even more confident in my decision.

Out of my mothers group 2 of us have held back and one went to school. She said he is doing really well but emotionally has his moments. She did say that he'd aslo been to about half a dozen 6yr old birthdays this year so far and he won't turn 6 until next Jan.

DS2 i have done the same with, he turned 3 in March. This term i have enrolled him into 1 day of care, just a play day for him and he has had his moments with it. He is my sensitive and not as outgoing. I think the extra year will be really beneficial for him also, he won't start 3yr old kinder until next year.

DD i'll wait and see, the option is there and i imagine i will more than likely do the same thing.

I'm not sure how it works for you but for us applications for 4yr old are given to the council and they make the placements as best they can going by our preferences. I had DS1 enroled and he got a place for 4yr old last year and i just didn't accept it. Maybe you could do something similar, have her name down incase places are hard to get at the last minute and then decide once you get a little closer.

I was working in a PS and i spoke to parents and teachers about this and i constantly heard that the kids may come across as ready academically but often could do with the extra year at home for a little more emotional growth. Also from my own experience i started school when i was 4 and didn't turn 5 until April and i definately struggled through school. This has a lot to do with my decision in trying to give that extra bit of time to my kids.

So i'm for holding back if it's possible and so far with my boys it has definately showed me that it's been the right thing for us. DD may be different but all we can do is go with what we feel is right for our children.