Start Kindergarten at age 5 or age 6?
I have a dilemma. Ok, I have all kinds of stuff going on right now in my mind but one of the biggest things on my mind is whether to start my son in Kindergarten this year or wait until next year when he will be 6. The hubs wants him to start at 6 so that he will be bigger and more mature. Plus we would be in a more permanent settled location this time next year and we aren’t so sure about where we will be this year because of the hubs grad school. Our now 5 year old is small for his age. He is 90% shorter than other kids his age but he is smarter than many kids his age. So I think he is ready NOW but I also refuse to put him in a school system if we will be moving halfway through the year.
I’m also not sure whether I am going to home school, send him to Montessori or public school. I’ve never wanted to send him to public school but if I could find a GOOD public school then I would consider it. I’d rather him be in Montessori but I don’t know if we will be able to afford Montessori this year since the hubs is still in grad school. All of these options will ALSO depend on where we relocate to in the next few months.
Home school seems like the best option but I’d like for him to get a chance to make more friends and for me to be able to spend more time on my home Internet business. If he went to school during the day, then I would be able to spend a lot more time expanding my home Internet business. This makes me realize that my reasoning for wanting to send him to school this year at age 5 is kind of selfish of me. If I home school, then I will have absolutely no time to spend on my businesses and will have to settle for what I have now. Or if we could come up with a good plan and schedule, it is still possible that I could home school, expand my business and I wouldn't have to worry about pulling him out of a school half way through the year. At the same time, I’m starting to question my ability to home school successfully. I'm sure I can get over this part.
So my questions to be answered are: When did you know it was time for your child to start school? How did you determine what kind of school they went to and what age they started? Would you start your child in school if you knew that they may have to change schools in the middle of the year? Was this decision as hard on you as it is on me?
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I have a dilemma. Ok, I have all kinds of stuff going on right now in my mind but one of the biggest things on my mind is whether to start my son in Kindergarten this year or wait until next year when he will be 6. The hubs wants him to start at 6 so that he will be bigger and more mature. Plus we would be in a more permanent settled location this time next year and we aren’t so sure about where we will be this year because of the hubs grad school. Our now 5 year old is small for his age. He is 90% shorter than other kids his age but he is smarter than many kids his age. So I think he is ready NOW but I also refuse to put him in a school system if we will be moving halfway through the year.
I’m also not sure whether I am going to home school, send him to Montessori or public school. I’ve never wanted to send him to public school but if I could find a GOOD public school then I would consider it. I’d rather him be in Montessori but I don’t know if we will be able to afford Montessori this year since the hubs is still in grad school. All of these options will ALSO depend on where we relocate to in the next few months.
Home school seems like the best option but I’d like for him to get a chance to make more friends and for me to be able to spend more time on my home Internet business. If he went to school during the day, then I would be able to spend a lot more time expanding my home Internet business. This makes me realize that my reasoning for wanting to send him to school this year at age 5 is kind of selfish of me. If I home school, then I will have absolutely no time to spend on my businesses and will have to settle for what I have now. Or if we could come up with a good plan and schedule, it is still possible that I could home school, expand my business and I wouldn't have to worry about pulling him out of a school half way through the year. At the same time, I’m starting to question my ability to home school successfully. I'm sure I can get over this part.
So my questions to be answered are: When did you know it was time for your child to start school? How did you determine what kind of school they went to and what age they started? Would you start your child in school if you knew that they may have to change schools in the middle of the year? Was this decision as hard on you as it is on me? >Go to the Mom blog Homepage
I’m also not sure whether I am going to home school, send him to Montessori or public school. I’ve never wanted to send him to public school but if I could find a GOOD public school then I would consider it. I’d rather him be in Montessori but I don’t know if we will be able to afford Montessori this year since the hubs is still in grad school. All of these options will ALSO depend on where we relocate to in the next few months.
Home school seems like the best option but I’d like for him to get a chance to make more friends and for me to be able to spend more time on my home Internet business. If he went to school during the day, then I would be able to spend a lot more time expanding my home Internet business. This makes me realize that my reasoning for wanting to send him to school this year at age 5 is kind of selfish of me. If I home school, then I will have absolutely no time to spend on my businesses and will have to settle for what I have now. Or if we could come up with a good plan and schedule, it is still possible that I could home school, expand my business and I wouldn't have to worry about pulling him out of a school half way through the year. At the same time, I’m starting to question my ability to home school successfully. I'm sure I can get over this part.
So my questions to be answered are: When did you know it was time for your child to start school? How did you determine what kind of school they went to and what age they started? Would you start your child in school if you knew that they may have to change schools in the middle of the year? Was this decision as hard on you as it is on me? >Go to the Mom blog Homepage
14 Comments:
Ok, this is just my opinion here. So don't get offended! lol If I wasn't sure that he would be finishing school where he starts, I would wait a year to start him unless it was homeschooling. I had to switch schools in the 1st grade and it was so hard on me. I know other people adjust well, but it was just hard. I'm trying to be honest without scaring you. Also, we started our daughter at 5 because she was very smart and was ready. But, and a big but here, she was average height. Our son as you know, isn't. He also has no interest in learning. So, I don't know if he will be going to start at 5 or 6. He will be a young 5 also because of how his birthday is. Here though, if they start at 6, they have to skip Kindergarten I think. I may be wrong, I will check into that. But, my main thing is, if I didn't know for sure that he would be able to stay in a school, then I would either homeschool or start next year. I hope that I have been of some help and not totally confused you!
That is alot to consider. I am starting Ben at 5 in Kindergarten because I guess it is just the norm around here.
He is in preschool this year, and that is just the next step.
Can't wait to read the other comments and I hope they help with your decision :)
I didn't even know you had those kind of choices. Tyler is starting Kindergarten because he is at the age to do it. SO that is the best time for me. I am like you in not wanting to pull him out in the middle of the year, but if I HAD to I guess I would. WE have always been in a situation of choice so I can't really answer that. WHere I am from they would hold him back from first grade because to het in first grade there are some things they need to already know how to do...like write their name and read, but those are things you could teach him at home. What does HE want to do? Have you talked to him about going to school? I was faced with decisions....well not homeschooling but I didnt know if I wanted him in a Montessori school or not but everything just kinda falls into place. I guess you will definately know what is best when the time comes. I was sad that Tyler started school but then at the same time I was excited because he is starting his education....it's kinda like a milestone to me:)
Here from Michele.
My daughter turns 20 on Monday. She is a sophomore at Willliam and Mary doing a double major in English and Geology.
I was a single mom after a divorce. We moved to Mississippi and they have one of the worst public school systems. So she went to a preschool for two years and then to a private Christian school that had a 4yr and a 5yr old kindergarten. They taught phonics using the A Bekka system. By the middle of her first grade year she read on a fourth grade level. Because it was a small school she got to play basketball and other extra-curricular things she wouldn't have in a large public school.
When she was a sophomore she took the ACT and applied to the Mississippi School for Math and Science. They have a residential school for Juniors and Seniors. They apply just like they do for college, have essays, recommendations and interviews. This school only takes 150 students each year, the top 5% of the state. She got in and did her last two years there. The teachers all had PhD's in their fields of study and colleges wanted them.
If your son is smart, don't hold him back, but a small private school might give him the best head start.
Good luck.
There are a lot of things to consider for you. I am guessing that Justice will be in the same boat as your son when he reaches that age. He is only in the 3-5th percentile for his height at his age of 8 1/2 mos. and he is a late birthday, so my thought right now (might change), but personally for my son I think I would start K at age six. I am planning on homeschooling as well. I was homeschooled for K-2nd grade and started 3rd grade ahead of my peers. If you want to have time for your business you might send him half days to a preschool class and get some time to work and give him some time to socialize and get prepared for K the next year. But ultimately you need to do what makes you feel most comfortable. Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Hi,
I just went through the same thing. Our state recently changed the law, so that a child must be 5 by Sept. 1st in order to enter Kindergarten. At first, I was upset because all three of my children's birthdays fall after that deadline. My son had to wait a year and was almost 6 when he began Kindergarten this year. I think it was the best thing for him. If you have a child who's a little bit smaller, maybe a little bit shy or whatever, the extra year for maturity REALLY makes the difference. Besides, they are in school for the next....12 to 16 or more years....what's the rush?
It would be hard to make a decision about schools without knowing where you are going to live. Some places have outstanding public schools, and some are awful. Montessori schools are always a great option. I don't know much about homeschooling myself.
Good Luck with your decisions. There's alot to think about.
This is the hardest decision I ever made.
My son is the oldest in his class because his bday is just past the cutoff line.
He was smart enough that we could have put him in a year earlier. In fact it was recommended that we do because it was feared that he would be bored otherwise. He was way past kindergarten intellectually.
However, he's a very small boy. Always the smallest. If we put him in early, he'd not only be the smallest boy, he'd be the runt.
So we just put him in on time and it worked out. He's still the smallest, oldest, smartest kid in the class. But I figured it was better than the average sized, youngest kid who struggles just a little bit.
Good luck with your decision. You're the mom and whatever decision you make will be the right one.
Thanks everyone for your kind words and help.
My son will be 5 1/2 in August when school starts so he is the right age and he certainly wouldn't be starting early. If we waited one more year, he would be starting kindergarten at 6 1/2 and I know he would definitely be the oldest and still probably the smallest. He would be anymore from one year to one and half years older than everyone in his class if he started next year so that could also pose a problem. I am still torn not knowing what to do.
I have much to say on this topic. My son was 5 1/2 when he started Kindergarten, like most of the other kids. He has trouble w. one subject but overall does well w. school. He is 13 now.
The twins just made the cutoff and started when they were 4, turning 5 in a month.. After talking to everyone, we decided to send them. We should have waited until they were 5 turning 6. They are always the youngest in the class. Socially, they are fine. Academically, it is always hard. That extra time in pre-school or at home would have made all the difference. Now to keep them back would be a nightmare to their self-esteem. They are 10 now and in 5th grade, everyone else is turning 11.
My two cents is if you have any doubts, WAIT!
All my kids were born in the winter (December and February) so this was easy for me, they had the extra months before September to mature. August is a hard month, I would wait, but you know you son. If he's ready this Setemper you'll know, especially by the end of this summer. Good luck!
My son's birthday is mid July and he very well could have gone to kindergarten when he was 5 years old but in speaking to friends who are teachers along with his preschool teacher my husband and I decided that keeping him back one year wouldn't hurt him -- actually he wouldn't even know the difference really.
So we didn't start him in school until he was 6 and honestly we are very happy with the decision.
Hello,
I feel for your situation. We had to make that decision this past September. Our son turned 5 in late Sept. (cutoff is Dec. 1st)
He was also 3 months premature. He had two years of preschool, was/is very smart, in the 95% percentile and outgoing. We felt that is was not necessarily how well he would do in K, but in middle school and beyond.
We also felt that he has so many more years of education, and the bus comes at 7am. We wanted him in our nest for another year. I am a sahm, and dad is very family oriented and loves being at home.
So we enrolled him into a wonderful advanced pre-K private school that he loves. He goes every day, 4 hours per day.
He has matured and excelled in so many ways. He will most likely go into K reading. He already writes very well.
Do not feel it is holding your child back. It is giving your child another year of love and support.
If you can, invest in a great preschool, and work on skills at home. We do a lot of reading and writing at home. He/she will do wonderful.
This was a very hard decision, but one that we are so happy with. Best wishes.
Check out http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080818184420.htm. It talks about whether starting Kg. later makes much difference or not. But as others have said, you know your child better than anyone, so whatever you decide will work out. Another idea would be to take your child to Kg or preschool screening to see if he is ready or not.
just found this from a google search. My son just turned 5 on Aug 11, he has been in preschool since he was 2 and now he will be starting K in the DODS system in Okinawa, Japan. I feel he is ready but I have the concerns that he is a boy and what it will be like later on. If it gets to the end of the yr and I am still concerned I will apply for him to repeat. I hate the so-called 'redshirting' though, it is really unfair and schools should put their foot down...
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