School ? for parents of kids with b-days from Oct-Dec

Are you sending your child to kindergarten in sept? And if so why or why not? Not sure what to do. I don't feel my child is mature enough to go yet. But am getting a lot of pressure from friends and family. Some say yes and some say no way. Help.

Re: School ? for parents of kids with b-days from Oct-Dec

Lea was born October 25th ,and I also felt it was too soon, but I sent her anyway ,and she is doing great . I am very happy I sent her . She learned so much and made many friends

Re: School ? for parents of kids with b-days from Oct-Dec

I think September is so far off for you to even worry yourself over that decision right now (unless of course you need to register for provate shcool or something.) Kids change so quickly that there's no way to know what he'll be like in 9 months- that's almost a year away. DS is only 3, so I won't have to cross that bridge for a while longer, but I can't see myself keeping him in preschool for a third year. I am a January bday and my mom started me early and I did just fine.

Re: School ? for parents of kids with b-days from Oct-Dec

While I don't have to think about that yet (DS is 14 weeks old), he's an October baby as am I. I started kindergarten at age 4 and I did fine. There was an article in the NY Times a while back about this same thing, maybe you can find it and it will help with your decision.

Re: School ? for parents of kids with b-days from Oct-Dec

I have a few years before I have to worry about this, but I would go with my gut about how DS seems to be doing.

Two of my sisters went to school early, one was born in Oct and the other in Dec. The Oct. sister did fine and excelled, the Dec. sister really struggled for her first few years. Every child is different

Re: School ? for parents of kids with b-days from Oct-Dec

If it were October, I would send them, November or December, I'd hold them back. There are kids who will be turning 6 at the end of December in with kids who are 4. HUGE difference between a 4-turning-5 year old and a 5-turning 6 year old.

Re: School ? for parents of kids with b-days from Oct-Dec

My DD was at the cut off for our school and reluctantly we sent her and now she's in fourth grade and doing great!

Re: School ? for parents of kids with b-days from Oct-Dec

DD is 3 and will be turning 4 10/28- so she will be in pre-k.. in a few weeks I need to decide if she will go to full-day pre-k or half day pre-k... both are 5 days a week.

I'm leaning towards 1/2 day pre-K at this point.

DS is a 12/4 baby and I will probably hold him unless he's a big kid/advanced.. we'll have to play it by ear.

IMO i think it's better for the boys to be older

Re: School ? for parents of kids with b-days from Oct-Dec

My son is 6 yrs. old but his bday is the end of Oct. and he started school in Sept. at the age of 4.

Re: School ? for parents of kids with b-days from Oct-Dec

I have to start by saying every child is so different, so I agree with a pp who said to go with your gut. You know your child best. Some fall babies will do great being the youngest and others might struggle.

My nephew is a 12/3 baby and they are keeping him back. He seems like he would be able to handle it academically, but maturity-wise he could use more time.

My DH is a 12/4 baby - he was sent to school as the youngest in the grade. He says he always felt a little behind, espeically in sports. If we were to have a fall baby, (November/December) we would wait to send him or her to Kindergarten.

And one last thought - I work with K-2. When I am asked to work with a student, I always check their birthday first, and SOOOOOOO often they are children with late birthdays. They are functioning totally within the average range for their AGE, but the teachers notice that they are having trouble keeping up in writing, motor skills, etc. Imagine a child who is born in January in the same class as a child born the next Nov or Dec. There can be a HUGE difference in skill level. It SEEMS as if we are expecting more and more from our kindergarten students. We want them to read and write sentences, when in the past first grade was about reading and Kindergarten was still more exploring, etc. In many schools the expectations for kindergartners are too high, in my opinion - making it much more difficult for the younger child.

As I started my post with - every child is different... some might thrive and some might struggle....so go with your gut.

HTH!
(sorry this was so long!)

Message edited 1/13/2010 2:10:54 PM.

Re: School ? for parents of kids with b-days from Oct-Dec

My DD birthday is October 31st and she will start school when she is 4. That being said, she is doing very well in pre-K. From what the teacher tells me, she is her youngest and one of the most mature and smartest. But I think it totally depends on the child.

Also, I have a freind, who decided to send his son who is a December birthday, with the attitude if he can't handle it, he will pull him out and wait a year.

Re: School ? for parents of kids with b-days from Oct-Dec

We live in Ohio now and the cutoff for school is Sept 30, for the reasons that everyone has posted about younger kids going to school. But if your child is born between Oct-Dec you can test them in if the district feels they will be successful.

Being from NY and used to the Dec cutoff, I was torn as to what to do with my son (Oct 19th) and ultimately decided to just sit tight and go with the districts cutoff. Therefore he will start kindergarten in 2010 and will turn 6 the month after he starts.

The same will be true for my DD who is also Oct.

Re: School ? for parents of kids with b-days from Oct-Dec

I can't thank everyone who posted enough. This has helped so much. I feel he is smart enough, just not mature enough and is short for his age for sports. I know to many adults who wished there parents kept them back. And that was when kindergarten was much easier. Thanks again for all the advice.
Now I just have to see if I should sent him to pre school 5 1/2 days or only 3. Much easier.

Re: School ? for parents of kids with b-days from Oct-Dec

I'm holding DS out...he's a November b'day but was also born 10 weeks premature.

Re: School ? for parents of kids with b-days from Oct-Dec

My son's bday is Nov. 15 and he will be starting kindergarten in September. He is in pre-k now and is the youngest in his class and is doing great. It was hard for him in the beginning (behavior wise, not academically) but he's adjusted great.


ETA: I spoke to his pre-k teacher about this issue and she said he should definitely go to K in September. She believes he is ready.

Message edited 1/13/2010 9:38:31 PM.