Start Child Kindergarten Early

[Anonymous]

I have two kids ... my older has a late spring birthday, and my younger has a fall birthday (just missed the cut-off). I too had thoughts that the younger was going to be _so old_ when starting kindergarten, but now that the time has come, I don't feel that way at all. In my younger's pre-k class of fifteen kids this past year, there were four red-shirts, and my child was only the sixth oldest in the class (with other fall and winter birthdays). My child is definitely in the right cohort.

That being said, some private Ks will take very young kids (and after doing private K, you always have the option to then go into FCPS K the next year). But personally ... I would focus on looking for a good pre-k or junior kindergarten (or head start, if you qualify) that gives your child the challenge/stimulation needed but keeps them with their cohort, as a Dec. birthday (even in a non-Covid year) will likely be toward the middle of the class age-wise.

[Anonymous]

Do not do this!!!

[Anonymous]

I started at 4 and turned 5 in November of kindergarten. There were 4 other kids in my class younger than me (cut off was December where I lived). I don't remember it being a problem for me or the two girls younger, but the boy younger than me really struggled with maturity and size. He was left out of a lot, and it took a long time for him to catch up. I can still remember this 40 years later.

[Anonymous]

I know families who had October birthdays who put their kid into Private K, their kid had missed the cut off by a week. They did Private K and then moved to first grade in FCPS.

Every kid is going to be different. I was a younger kid in K and went to college when I was 17. It was fine for me. I had my social issues but I am pretty sure those would have been there even if my parents had waited a year because I have ADHD and LDs. Academically I did ok in ES but found my stride by HS, mainly due to LDs.

I would give a second and third thought to going early with a December baby but you know your child best.

[Anonymous]

You are going to be really hard pressed to find a private school in the area that will put a kid that young into their K class. In fact, many of the more “prestigious” privates like to redshirt their summer/early fall birthdays, so your child would be super young for the grade. I guess you could move to NY for a year and then move back, but that’s about the only way to get your child with a December birthday placed a grade ahead of their same age peers in FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Why would you do this, especially for a boy. He will have classmates who are 1.5 years older than him

[Anonymous]

You really don’t want your kid to be the youngest. It’s awkward all the way through college. Last to drive, start college at 17, can’t go out when their friends are celebrating their 21st, etc.

[Anonymous]

You will regret starting your child early.

[Anonymous]

I started my October son early at a private school and he was fine academically/socially. I did homeschool him a year before he started FCPS high school so he ended up with his “normal” class.

[Anonymous]

If you are still considering starting your kid early, think long and hard. With experience, I suggest you do not do it.

[Anonymous]

To be fair to the OP, the cut off rule is not so strict in other areas and many students even with December birthdays are allowed to start KG at 4. Fairfax was a surprise to me that it’s a very strict rule and appeals to start at 4 are not considered. You can debate if it’s the best thing for each child or not but it’s a strict rule.