Question for those who chose to start child at school later?

[Erin_25]

Hello all,

Simply looking for some suggestions, ideas etc as to what you did instead of sending your child to school the year that they could go (hope that makes sense).

My DS1 is at Pre-prep (QLD), he turns four 16 April, the teacher said he is one of the youngest in the class and is struggling with some things. He knows a lot she said but behind in speach and crying each time something doesn't go his way (thought that was typical little kid behaviour).

Anyway it is still early days, but she suggested we see how he goes and I might consider giving him another year at pre-prep. No worries, had thought I may do this already - my question is WHAT DID YOU DO?

Do you just send them back to the same Kindy and they realise they didn't move on with the other kids? did it bother them?

Did you send them to another kindy close by (this was suggested by teacher) so they feel they are still moving onto something?

Keep them home for the year?

Send them to school and see how they go?

Any thoughts, ideas appreciated...thanks.

[Ginger]

i haven't done it, but just thought i'd add my 2c
if it were me, i would just repeat him in the same kindy. yes he will realise that the other kids have gone up, but i would just explain to him that he is not ready. he will make new friends in the new year level and then they will all go up together. i would not change kinders as i think it is just too much upheaval.
have you considered pulling him out for the rest of this year and then starting fresh at the start of next year? just a thought....

[Olive]

i assume pre prep up there is our 4yr old kinder (primary school next year) if he were my child he would be in 3 yr old this year and 4 year old next year, id also be giving him a bonus year in preprep
ETA my DD2 is a feb baby and will be older rather than younger, so not going to 3yr old kinder next year but the year after

[~Kim~]

We call ours preschool in the NT and I have done that this year with DD. Her birthday is May and she just kept going to the same preschool. Now she's one of the older kids with more responsibility (or maybe she just has great teachers who are a bit forward thinking). When she realised some of her friends got to go to big school she was a bit put out, but soon got over it.

She wasn't ready for school this year. Crying at not getting their own way is a little kid thing, but maturity lessens it.
The thought of DD having to repeat a year of primary school put me off sending her. At least at preschool it's not big deal whereas at school I'd hate her to be wondering why all her friends moved up and she didn't.

[mummydreamer]

our pre school in NSW tends to have kids from years 3-5, so there are always kids going to school, and other kids that stay behind. TBH i never really thought that kids would pick up on it? i mean, at DS's school last year before he went, some kids did leave that he was friends with and told me they were going to school and i just kind of said 'oh yeh,that's cool. well you're going to school next year when you turn 6 and that's going to be fun!' and DS was happy to stay on at his pre school.....maybe you could try that? explain to your DS 'when you turn....you can go to school.'

your DS might not even notice, though i know every kid is different.....

[Mumma22beautifulgirls]

Here are just a few thoughts on this topic.
I agree with what others have said. If it was me, i would be letting him repeat Pre Prep. I think it would be very beneficial to be one of the oldest in the class. I can't see why your son couldn't stay at the same Kindy. The kids are not as aware at that age, but if he had to repeat at school it might be a more sensitive time.

[Gigi]

Here are just a few thoughts on this topic.
I agree with what others have said. If it was me, i would be letting him repeat Pre Prep. I think it would be very beneficial to be one of the oldest in the class. I can't see why your son couldn't stay at the same Kindy. The kids are not as aware at that age, but if he had to repeat at school it might be a more sensitive time.

totally agree. i think it would be too hard, for him to go to school when he's not ready.

[Kelly W]

My twins birthday is 4th April so they would just get in. they could have gone to school this year as they would turn 5 before the end of April. But we decided against that a few years ago, so they did 2 years of 3 yr old kinder (they started the first year in term 2 as soon as they turned 3, they loved, so I am glad I started them straight away) and they are doing 4 yr old kinder this year, they will be 5 nearly 6 when they start school next year so they will be the older kids at school

I am very happy with this decision I spoke to heaps of people and most said especially with boys it is best to start later. Not just now but for high school too.

I felt since we had made the decision earlier it was easier for them to repeat 3yr old kinder than 4 yr old kinder, also I doubt they would have been able to repeat 4 yr old as they didn't have any communication problems etc and unless their was a problem you can't always get funding to dod 4yr old a second time.

good luck with whatever you choose

[Gigi]

my child turns five in Nov 2011, and will start school (Reception) in Jan 2012.
well that's the plan so far.
i'd actually prefer her to start school in the year she turns six, which is 2012.
but by 2012, she will have had all of 2011 at kindy, that's her allowance of kindy.

i'm finding choosing a school for her so hard. especially around where we live (high crime rate).

[*Sparklez*]

I agree, having him start school and then be held back will decrease his self esteem
My ds turns 5 jan 3 and he will be starting next yr. I was thinking of holding him back but his rearing and ready to go, he is always asking me if it's his turn to be dropped off at school and can he have money to buy lunch at his school, some kids are ready some aren't, and that's neither good or bad, I can put him in thinking yep his ready and it can backfire or I can hold him back and watch him relearn everything all over again and watch him burn out in kindy Itms? I'm talking about my ds here, not yours lol.
I'm with Gigi too I live in apart of Sydney where drive bys, robberies, bashings, and gang culture is an everyday norm, which makes it harder to place my son where I feel it's safe and not negative vibes itms

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