Hey... out of curiosity, what year are you guys gonna start your kids in 3yo or 4 yo kinder?
I was a feb bub and was sent to school when I was still 4 (turning 5 literally days into the start of school). Annnyway, I was always one of the younger ones in my class. I really think that socially and academically I could have done with another year under my belt. I wish Mum had started me the year after (so I would have been turning 6 at the start of Prep).
So,.... I could send Gabby to 3yo kinder next year when she'd turn 3 in the march or the year after when she'd turn 4... or do you reckon they wouldn't let me? That they'd make me send her the year she turned 3? 2008 rather than 2009. I'd like her to go to school in the year she turns 6. I personally think it's better for children to have that extra year at home... just from what I've seen.
What do you guys think?
Deb, in QLD as of this year, they have changed everything to match the rest of Aus (well in this small way anyway LOL!!). Kindy here is now called pre-prep and Jack will start that in 2009, and then prep at Primary School in 2010. Gaby would be the same as she is also born bw 01/07/04 and 30/06/05. Our kids will be in the younger half but not the youngest in the class. I don't think there is much flexibility for changing it.
Before the changes came in this year, Jack would have done kindy in 2009, preschool in 2010 and school in 2011 I think. That worried me as Jack will be better being the youngest rather than the oldest. He is developmentally the same as the older kids so gets along better with them. This causes a problem at day care actually. He wanted to be in the toddler room before he was legally old enough. Now the same thing is happening with his move to the next room. They say he is ready, when he spends time there he is happier than in his usual room, but they are not allowed to move him yet.
I am worried about the school thing too (which must mean we are both normal LOL!), but I am more worried about Jack being ready too early. Given that he can already read every letter of the alphabet, read some words, count to 10 (sometimes leaving out 4 though) and knows his shapes, colors etc, I am worried that he will be bored in prep. But I'm not sure that it would be good socially for him to start a year earlier so I'm not sure what I should be doing.
I am thinking that I will wait and see what happens in a year or so. I had no choice with booking him in for pre-prep (kindy) as you can only book them in for the year that fits the ages, so I guess I've done all I can do for now and will look at all the options down the track. This probably doesn't help you much, but I guess you at least know that you are not the only one worrying already!
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