Starting Kindergarten - Oak Lawn,IL

I agree - there's no law that a child can't start K when they are 6. On the other hand, since she is a girl she will already have a maturity jump on the boys. You might check with the district and see if they can give you an idea of how closely parents stick to the guidelines. The age range in my son's k and 1st grade classes has been pretty big (he has a July birthday, so like your daughter will be, is one of the youngest.)

On the other hand, our relatives in Michigan have a Dec. 1 cutoff, so lots of 4yos starting in K - I think it's really about what your child is ready for and what you feel good about.

Hi!
I waited one more year with my son. He has a July birthday. I didn't feel he was emotionally ready, even tho he had been in preschool 1/2 days 3 days a week. He knew his letters, colors, numbers etc. but the maturity level just wasn't there. He was definitely one of the oldest kids the next year but he "fit in" much much better and has not had to struggle academically as much as I think he would have had I started him a year earlier. I would suggest starting her in some sort of preschool just to get the routine down and get her used to interacting etc. You need to look at the "whole picture" for her. You know her best and where is she emotionally as well as intelligence. Don't worry about whether or not she is the "oldest" or "youngest" because by Jr. High age it makes no difference except maybe with how you set curfews etc. :) Something you'll not be thinking about for awhile but lots and lots of parents nowdays are NOT letting their kids get their driver's licenses at 16. Probably only 1/2 of my kids friends had their licenses at 16 and the others got them some at 17 some not until 18 when their parents felt they were responsible enough to get behind a wheel! So really, what is age? Look at her maturity and social skills. Good luck.
K.

I agree with Regina. My son's preschool has a class just for the five-year-olds who are really too young or otherwise not ready for kindergarten. I would enroll your daughter in a preschool program. She needs the routine. Preschool really is a transition between various early childhood classes and kindergarten. If you find a good program for her, it should serve her well. Otherwise, entering kindergarten can be a real shock.
Amy

I don't have a kindergartener yet! But i do have preschool experience through my former job. Chances are that she'll be fine, however, even though you are a SAHM, I would still enroll her in some sort of preschool since she'll be a young 5 yr old when she starts school. She needs the "practice"--not for the academic nature, but just for experiencing how "school" runs. That way, she won't be so nervous about it. Good luck!

I am the mother of twins (now age 7) who were born one month early in late July (their due date was late August). Even though they were among the youngest in their class when they started school (they went to 3 and 4 yr preschool before kindergarten), I am so glad I did not hold them back. They flourished immediately, and are now in 2nd grade and doing extremely well. Unless your child has developmental delays that you think would warrant holding her back, I say, send her to school in August. The cutoff date has to be somewhere, and someone has to be the youngest, right? Besides, I heard that by the time kids reach 3rd grade, all that age difference stuff pretty much balances out.

A little about me: SAHM M. to a 9 yr old daughter and 7 yr old twins (boy and girl).

My older son was an August birthday and I sent him when others were turning 6 - he is in second grade now and doing just fine. There a lot of people I see who don't send their child and hold them back a year, but in most situations I don't agree with that. Someone is always going to have to be the youngest. And while it may show (the age difference) the first few years, it all evens out (I believe studies show by 3rd grade - even those children who are pushed to read at age 4 are more on a level playing ground after a few years.) I am also speaking as a former first grade teacher - I taught before my oldest was born. Unless your child has some social or emotional trouble presesntly, I'm sure that he will be fine.

Good Luck! M.