First time....pre-school or Kindergarten?! HELP!

I don't know what the rules are in Florida...but here in Washington State you need to be 5 before Sept. 1 to start kindergarten. My son turned 5 on Sept 1st and the other one turned 5 on Sept. 19. They both started school as 6 year olds. There is a HUGE maturity gap, I think, between 4 and 6! I would wait until your daughter is at least 5 to start her in kindergarten. Especially if you think about her jr. high and highschool years. Do you want her to be 14 and hanging out with 15 1/2 or 16 year olds? Probably not. Let her be a bit older and enjoy preschool this year and kindergarten next.
L.

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The best thing you can do is find out the laws of your state. Each state has their own laws. When my kids were little, Connecticut would allow a child to attend kindergarten through a cut-off date of Dec 31st. That meant they could actually start school when they were 4 years old (which I have to say, I think is just crazy.) And PA didn't require a child to start kindergarten until they were 7. So just think of that huge spread differential.

Next, think about how you'll feel with her being the youngest in her class. Talk to the school's counselor about this. She can tell you where your child will stand in the class. She should do a school readiness test so that she can give you her expert opinion as to whether or not your child should be starting school.

Don't be too quick to put your child in kindergarten. Going to school is a big step for her, and social maturity will be so important in the years to come.

All my best,
D.

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In almost every state in the USA a child must be a full 5 years old to begin Kindergarten. So your child will be old enough for Pre-K this Fall/August but not Kindergarten in any way. She will be way too young.

Check with the local school administration and see if you can get her on a waiting list for their Pre-K classes, most had enrollment in March or April for Fall.

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My daughter is the exact same age and they start kindergarten in august of 2012.

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Usually it's 5 by Sept 1st, and there is an option for them to test in if they are past the cut-off. But I think there is stil la cut-off for that and Feb is no where close. She wouldn't be 5 until the year was 1/2 over. Definitely too early - I am guessing you don't even have an option.

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Your school district website should have some info on their requirements for K.

In FL, they need to be 5 by Sept 1.

http://users.stargate.net/~cokids/kindergarten_cut-off_da...

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My oldest daughter is a feb baby too (although she's 12yo now), but she started after she was 5. Most school districts want the kids to be 5yo when school starts in sept, but the district my kids are in the cut off date is in dec. Still for Feb... i think you're going to end up waiting.

My youngest is an oct baby and since the cut off date is dec, i went ahead and enrolled him. Found out that many of the kids in his class were turning 6! and he was turning 5! So... if you even suspect that your daughter could do better with an extra year at home or in preschool, do so. This year he's in first grade and his entire class is currently reading out of the 2nd grade books - and beginner chapter books (we're a few weeks to the end of the school year)!! But we're talking my youngest child who had bookworms for older siblings! So yea, he REALLY wanted to be reading like the older kids and had no trouble/disabilities holding him back.

Find out what your local school district is - they will have a website. I'd be willing to bet that you'll have to wait regardless until she's 5yo before you can enroll her, if for no other reason then because she's a feb baby and after the cut off date.

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As everyone said she most likely needs to be 5 to start kindergarten. You need to look into your options for pre-k or preschool now. It is getting late, this is usually done in late winter/early spring. Check first with your school district to see if they have a pre-k program.

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Children should be a full 5 and a half when they start K, boys or girls! The closer to 6 they are, the better it is. You NEVER want your child being the youngest in any group. It catches up to them sooner or later in not so good ways. Chill and let her be a toddler before she is ready for the demands of school.

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as others have said, usually the cut off is in december, like your kid would need to be turning 5 by some day in december. so it looks like it will be another year before you can send her off. but i would strongly reccomend a preschool. no, you dont HAVE to, but preschool has so many benefits. your daughter will get a chance to be in a somewhat structured envrionment with activites, which will prepare her for school. also most kids come out of preschool knowing there ABC's (*if she doesnt already) also most kids leardn how to write there name, share with other kids, things like time concept (days of the week, months, years.) as well as small life lessons and usually about the different seasons/holidays. i would really take advantage of the extra year, think of it as her getting a head start! i would start looking for a preschool now, spots fill up quick!

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She will be in pre-k this year and you need to go ahead and get her registered. check for a free program at your local school first. There are some great church based pre-k programs, even if you don't go to that church or go to a different type of church.

Gook luck!!

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She is eligible for VPK this fall. It's a free pre-k program in the state of Florida. However, you might be late in signing her up, we had to sign our son up by May. Try googling it and you should be able to find the information as to where to sign up for your area.

Florida's cut off is Sept 1st to be eligible for VPK. SInce your daughter is already 4, she can go to VPK this year, kindergarten next year.

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She must be five before school starts. It is not good to start them too young, she will be in Pre-K this year and start Kindergarten next August.

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Hi L.,
In Florida public school will not let them start Kindergarten unless they are 5 by August 31. No matter what. You could try and find a private school but they also use that guide line. It is not a bad thing for her to wait- my birthday is September 9th, I was 9 days too young for Kindergarten and had to wait an entire year! But it made me very confident and a leader and I always had great grades- I now have 2 masters degrees and will start my PhD in the Fall.
She will do fine waiting until she is old enough.

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If she has not been to pre-school, my guess is that Pre-K this coming fall will be the best thing for her. That will get her ready for school - getting used to following classroom rules, working with adults other than you, making friends, etc. Going straight into Kindergarten not ever having been to school before would probably be a bit much for her to take on as a 4 year old. She will love preschool though!

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She will be in pre k this year and will be able to attend the free VPK program offered through our state. My son just did this at a local daycare and we both loved the program! And next fall she will start kindergarten. The cut off is 5 by Sept 1st of that year.

S.

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By oldest was born in Jan so this year she turned 5 in VPK. She was the first of her classmates but not the first in the school. Adacemically and socially she was right with most of the class. The other students that werent was cause they were the youngest and had some catching up to do.

She starts kindergarden this fall and is ready for it thanks to VPK. It was GREAT! It was just like school but for only 3 hrs. Not too overwhelming. After a week she wanted to go everyday and see her friends. She and I have the same personallity so trying to teach her stuff at home was pain. Now she knows her ABCs, months, days of week, songs, can write, and jsut WOW! Her whole family cant believe the change in her, not a baby anymore but a independent big kid.

VPK challenged her but not to the point of overwhelming. VPK was designed to be an into to school and have the kids better prepared for Kindergarden. Plus its free. Go with the VPK, alot of places also do extended daycare too. I took her to IVY LEAGUE ACADEMY

For a list in your area, I typed in VPK in holiday, fl and got alot. Most daycares can direct you to a link as well

Here's pasco co provider list
http://www.phelc.org/downloads/vpk/2008-2009%20Pasco%20VP...

a link from Google
Tarpon Springs vpk Reviews - Find vpk in Tarpon Springs, FL
phoenix.arizonahighways.com/tag/vpk/tarpon-springs/fl

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Dear L.,

You are fortunate to be in Florida where we have a free Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program for 4 year olds. Your child must be 4 by September 1, 2011 to qualify this year. I believe Holiday, FL is in Pasco county? If so, then you can find all of the VPK information needed here:

http://www.phelc.org/vpk.html

Here is the application: http://www.phelc.org/downloads/AWI-VPK%20application%20fo...

Here is the list of Pasco County providers:
http://www.phelc.org/downloads/vpk/Providers%20for%20Pasc...

Basically, what happens is you apply (just a formality) and then you receive a voucher which you take to the preschool you wish to enroll into. Most of the preschools are private - not associated with the public school system so you will probably want to look at several to determine your options. Some may be religious affiliated or for profit as well. Regardless, there is no charge for VPK. Your daughter will start kindergarten in August 2012.

My son is in VPK this year (he graduates on Friday!) and starts kindergarten this fall. VPK is fun, be sure to ask about parental involvement. We really enjoyed it! C.

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In a regular school system... yes, her kindergarten will be 2012 and so on. This is actually a REALLY good thing! She will have the perfect age to handle those grades. If you start her out in PK 4 she will be well adjusted to the school environment and right on track to start a positive learning process. If you wait, most of the time children take a long time to adjust (socially mostly but also academically), are behind on what is expected of them at the very first day and the concept of homework can be overwhelming. I'm a preschool teacher and a mother of a toddler who is going into PK4. My friend waited until Kindergarten and they had such a HARD time...her daughter's birthday was December.

You can try to find a private school that does testing and can assess what level she is at as well. Some schools take children at a younger age but this birthday is special and think she will do very well. My b-day is also in Feb. and I had to repeat Kindergarten because of the age thing.
Have fun! Whatever is best for your daughter and the family.

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Each school state or district has their own age cut-off established. Typically they require a child to be 5 sometime between Aug 30 & Dec 31. Here in DE it is Aug 30 but used to be Dec 31 (about 20 years ago). I know others are by Sept 30 so it does vary...you should definately check w/ your district but I would suspect that with a February birthday, she would go to pre-school this coming school year and start kindergarten in the 2012-2013 school year and move to 1st grade the following (just like my daughter who is 4 now with a December birthday).

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