S/O Kindergarten questions

*Amy*

Where I am in CT cut-off is Dec 31st.  Anthony will go at 4 turning 5 on October 27th.  He will one of the youngest, but I think he will be ready, by that point he will have been in half-day, 5-day preschool for the 2 years before.   He has done beautifully at his mixed age preschool this year.   Jackson will be 5.5 when he starts based on his birthday and this baby will fall into the category like Anthony and most likely start at 4 unless we see a need to hold him/her back.

MichelleWP

shouldbworkin:

omurray:

I agree with your point.  I also think its strange that people would not consider that there could be an equal disadvantage to being that much older than the rest of the class.  Kids who are bored often act out or disengage altogether, concluding that school is boring/useless. 

This is what I worry about.  And, I don't get the whole "I don't want them graduating when they are 17 argument."  I had a late birthday and was very happy to graduate college and grad school little younger than my friends.  I can't imagine if my parents had held me back a year.   

I have a gifted 13 y/o who has never been bored in school, his educators have always been willing to work with him, give him higher level work, etc (he was reading at a 12th grade level in 1st grade).

 I would prefer letting my kids begin school with an edge - it's easy to work forward, even skip a grade - being behind academically and emotionally is much more difficult, especially if they are held back, which is much more stigmatizing. 

MichelleWP

MommyofAlissa:

MichelleWP:

Wouldn't Sept/Oct birthdays still be 5 when they start, and turn 6 in the school year? 

Not  unless they were held back. If your cutoff date says that they must be 5 by, for example, Oct 15th, a kid turning 5 on Sept 10th would still be able to start school, and would be 4 when school started.

But she was referring to red-shirted kids - if they turn 5 this year and start next year they'll start at 5 and turn 6 in Sept/Oct, not starting at 6.

august06mom

MichelleWP:

shouldbworkin:

omurray:

I agree with your point.  I also think its strange that people would not consider that there could be an equal disadvantage to being that much older than the rest of the class.  Kids who are bored often act out or disengage altogether, concluding that school is boring/useless. 

This is what I worry about.  And, I don't get the whole "I don't want them graduating when they are 17 argument."  I had a late birthday and was very happy to graduate college and grad school little younger than my friends.  I can't imagine if my parents had held me back a year.   

I have a gifted 13 y/o who has never been bored in school, his educators have always been willing to work with him, give him higher level work, etc (he was reading at a 12th grade level in 1st grade).

 I would prefer letting my kids begin school with an edge - it's easy to work forward, even skip a grade - being behind academically and emotionally is much more difficult, especially if they are held back, which is much more stigmatizing. 

And it doesn't bother you that all these parents who want an "edge" for their kids are doing so despite the fact that it's detrimental to all the kids with parents who follow the rules? What's the point of even having a cutoff date? Shoudl parents just let their kids start kindegarten when they want?

Sure, a 7-year-old is going to be a wiz at things a 5-year-old can't do. Doesn't meant they shoudl be in the same class.  

shouldbworkin

august06mom:

MichelleWP:

shouldbworkin:

omurray:

I agree with your point.  I also think its strange that people would not consider that there could be an equal disadvantage to being that much older than the rest of the class.  Kids who are bored often act out or disengage altogether, concluding that school is boring/useless. 

This is what I worry about.  And, I don't get the whole "I don't want them graduating when they are 17 argument."  I had a late birthday and was very happy to graduate college and grad school little younger than my friends.  I can't imagine if my parents had held me back a year.   

I have a gifted 13 y/o who has never been bored in school, his educators have always been willing to work with him, give him higher level work, etc (he was reading at a 12th grade level in 1st grade).

 I would prefer letting my kids begin school with an edge - it's easy to work forward, even skip a grade - being behind academically and emotionally is much more difficult, especially if they are held back, which is much more stigmatizing. 

And it doesn't bother you that all these parents who want an "edge" for their kids are doing so despite the fact that it's detrimental to all the kids with parents who follow the rules? What's the point of even having a cutoff date? Shoudl parents just let their kids start kindegarten when they want?

Sure, a 7-year-old is going to be a wiz at things a 5-year-old can't do. Doesn't meant they shoudl be in the same class.  

Not to mention that "the edge" doesn't last long.  Personally, I don't believe in waiting to put my DC in school until school is easy for them.  I think it's good to work at something.  And, not every child who is academically advanced (or even academically on schedule) is mature.  Those are the ones that act out if they are held back b/c they're not deemed mature enough to start school.  I don't buy the whole, keep them in preschool and let them mature argument.  It makes no sense to me.  Why would a child magically mature b/c they're hanging out with preschoolers for an extra year?