6 Yr Old Kindergartener

N., I have a 7 yr old daughter (will be 8 on Aug 27th). We always said we would hold her back an additional year, unless she was just WAY advanced all the way around. Kindergarten is much more than being academically ready. There's the maturity and social aspect, not to mention a few others. One of the main issues we have (especially in today's society), is that we want our daughter to be a leader, not a follower. Could she begine to develop that as a 4/5 yr old kindergarten starter? I don't think so. Peer pressure has a huge effect on our teens, and I think the extra year will help out in the long run.
After talking to friends who were in the same situation, and a few teachers, I know we made the right decision for our daughter. She repeated PK 4 at preschool and never knew the difference. Two of my secondary school teacher friends said they can pick out the summer birthday K starter kids in a heartbeat, without glancing at their birthdates.
Don't worry about your daughter being too mature. There are a couple of younger girls in my daughter's class who are just way more mature than the others, so she fit in fine with them :) Every child is different, and you can only do what's best for your own.
It is such a personal decision!!! There will be those that question it, but only you know what's best. I have an acquaintance who sent her August 31st birthday boy when he was 4/5, and from what I gather, he's doing okay. It's just a matter of personal choice. Just find some peace with your decision. And keep in mind, it's much easier to hold her back now than it would be later. I don't think you'll regret holding her back, but you might regret if you sent her on.

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Hi N.,

My son was the oldest child in his K class and he loved it! He was the smartest one in his class was able to lead the others and help them learn to read, count, etc.

We were concerned because we didn't want him to be bored since he already knew the basics of reading, math, etc. when he entered. But he enjoyed the class and enjoyed being a teacher's helper.

Hope this helps.

A. S.

Also, just so you'll know, most of the time Christian schools teach at a higher level than a public school. What K kids learn in a private school is often 1st grade in public school. That could be one reason for the struggle.

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I'll be doing the same thing w/ my Aug. 26 daughter. She'll do a Pre-K 5/ Bridge Class this fall & start Kinder in '08. I just think it's the best thing for her. But nothing is ever a perfect solution! You do your best!

D

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I am originally from New York, where there are different rules for ages for Kindergarten. My son's b-day is 9/20, and he started Kindergarten at the beginning of September (right before he turned five). It was the worst mistake I could have ever made. He was not emotionally ready at all, and his time in that school was a nightmare. He was struggling and acting out almost every day. We ended up moving to Texas in December (3 months after his 5th b-day) and I decided to let him "start over" here in TX. The difference between his Kindergarten experience in NY and TX was like night and day. My son was 6, and there were a lot of others in his class just like him. Don't worry about your daughter, you know her better than anyone. Trust your gut. If you didn't think she wa "ready", she wasn't.

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My son's birthday is May 28th... and while I started him in K when he was 5... he didn't go to 1st right after, I had him in Fort Worth Christian because they have an "in between" grade called Developmental First. It was more advanced than kinder. but not as much as first. Lots of kids mature differently but I know boys mature slower... he was ready academically but NOT socially... I think it's just a personal choice as to what you decide to do.. and WHO CARES what anyone else thinks. :) YOu do what is best for YOU and YOUR kiddo! :)

My second has a July 13th birthday and I intend on doing the same with him too.

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As a Kindergarten teacher, I feel like you are making the best choice. I would do the very same thing every time for my own kids. You have to look at the big picture. It will benefit her all through school into the high school years. She will do great.

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N.,
While not quite the same my daughter turned 6 on October, so was older than most of her classmates. It was fine. It hardly ever came up!

D.

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As a first grade teacher I think you made a wonderful decision! The younger children always struggle when they get to first just because they are not developmently ready for the things we learn!

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I have a girl who turned 6 on June 9th. She'll start K this fall too! I held her back because the teachers told me that the older they are when they have to deal with per pressure the better they handle it. I thought it was a good decision.

K.

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Hi N.,

My stepson had the option of being in PreK, but his mother chose not to. School has been very rough for him. That extra year would really have helped. He's 13 and school is still a bit of a struggle.

My son's birthday is September 14, so he'll be one of the oldest in his class, too. And, I think that's a good thing.

As a teacher I only saw kids who could have used that extra year to catch up, not the other way around. What really hurt, was when they were in 3rd or 4th and their parents were struggling with the decision to repeat. Something I don't think any parents want to deal with.

I think you made the right decision. It never hurts to give your kids a little extra time.

C.

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N.

My daughter turned 6 right before starting Kindergarten in August. It was the best decision we made for her to send her to Pre-K when she was 5. She is getting ready to start middle school and she does great. She is a leader and has a very positive attitude about school. I have a friend who started her daughter in Kindergarten just as she turned 5 and she has struggled the entire time. She's going to high school in August and is scared to death.

I was told by a elem. school counselor that I would not regret starting her later..but I might regret sending her on to quickly.
I'm glad we made the right decision for her.

I have several friends that are teachers and they say they can go through the class and pick the kids with the summer birthdays. I also volunteer quite a bit at the elem. school and I can actually pick them out too.

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