kindergarden year early?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t do it. I started K at 4 (December birthday) in a private so I could do public 1st at 5. K was fine.

The real $hit$how was 4th-10th. Academically, I was fine. But it SUCKS when you’re behind physically and socially during adolescence. Stupid things like shaving legs, getting my period, going places alone, watching R rated movies, dating, driving, working... I was behind in all that stuff. My parents kept treating me like x years old and my peers were x+1 or for boys x+2. My parents would freak out when I was 13 in 9th and had a 16 yo boyfriend who had a job and a car. They didn’t think that far ahead when they decided I was “ready for k” at 4. I also think being 17 going away to college was fine but not something I’d repeat. I never felt fully “caught up” until I took a year off between junior & senior year of college.

Your parents should be concerned if you are 13 and dating a 16 year old. That has nothing to do with what grade you are in. Even if you are 14, you should not be dating a 16 year old. Sound like good parents.

NP. That sounds like a nice rule but try arguing with your 14 yo freshman or sophomore daughter about her junior boyfriend that she knows well because they have been in the same class together all year and they are in the same club together. Yes, as a parent you can say no to whatever you want. She’s still going to date him behind your back.

Sounds like you have given up on parenting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sent DD on time but she’s a young one (August bday). She’s been 6 for all of first grade. She had kids in her class turn 8 toward the middle to end of this year. I hate that she’s so much younger. She’s academically advanced but I think she’d be even more so if she was with peers closer to her actual age.
Don’t rush her into K.

But your daughter isn’t the odd kid out—it is the kids who are turning 8 in middle to end of the school year in 1st grade that are not with their peer group.

Fairfax parents and teachers love the kids bigger, older, faster, etc… So ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

OP, I haven’t read all the replies but I am sure they are full of people telling you that you shouldn’t do this and should “give the gift of time.”

That’s not what you asked. Virginia law requires a kid be 5 by September 30 to enroll in kindergarten. There is no such cutoff for first grade. You can enroll your kid in a private kindergarten or final year of Montessori and then have them evaluated the spring or summer before the next school year. If the child isready, the school will allow your child to enter 1st.

I am so glad we did this for my high schooler who missed the cutoff by a few days. She would have been bored academically and socially had she been in the younger grade.

[Anonymous]

Depending on where you are, however, it can be difficult to find a private school that will accept a four year old for kindergarten. It is in the DC area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Professionally, I am in risk management -- ask yourself looking at your kid, how much risk is there is sending them when they'd be the youngest vs oldest. How much risk are you willing to take to get to your goal.

We have a DS with a November birthday and one with a late August birthday. After seeing older son (now finishing his Freshman in HS year) be one of the oldest, wasn't a question about holding our other DC. He did K in a Montessori and then K at the neighborhood elementary school. He's "graduating" 6th grade this week and while definitely advanced academically, socially, and physically, I am still so so glad we gave him an extra year. Between the pandemic and everything else in life, I'm glad that he will be starting 7th in 10 1/2 weeks instead of 8th.

It's not really K readiness -- as other posters have said -- it's 4th grade, it's 7th, it's HS and beyond. We are in such a race to nowhere, if you can give your kid the gift of time, do it.

Your child isn't advanced, he's older. I don't get why people pretend their kid is advanced when they aren't. My kid started Algebra in 6th with a fall birthday (so started a year before yours did). That is advanced. So glad we helped with academics early on and saw his potential vs. holding him back. However, for the November child, no place would take your child early so its a non-issue but if you held back the August one, that would mean they aren't advanced and they are actually behind their real peers.

Yeah, you are probably right - his straight As his freshman year while doing two sports, speech and debate, and Model UN etc is totally b/c he's a November birthday. Duh. And my 6th grader who never studies, is given extra work to do (b/c of his ADHD - gotta keep that kid busy say the teachers!), has had a magazine interested in publishing his poetry, had the lead in the school musical, and excels in two sports? Totally behind his "real peers." Neither of my kids we've ever had to "help with academics" even "early on" -- totally b/c they are older and not advanced. Appreciate the clarification! Guess my Master's in Education led me to believe they were advanced and not just old! GAH! So much for top 10 education programs in the country -- geesh! What did I learn??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t do it. I started K at 4 (December birthday) in a private so I could do public 1st at 5. K was fine.

The real $hit$how was 4th-10th. Academically, I was fine. But it SUCKS when you’re behind physically and socially during adolescence. Stupid things like shaving legs, getting my period, going places alone, watching R rated movies, dating, driving, working... I was behind in all that stuff. My parents kept treating me like x years old and my peers were x+1 or for boys x+2. My parents would freak out when I was 13 in 9th and had a 16 yo boyfriend who had a job and a car. They didn’t think that far ahead when they decided I was “ready for k” at 4. I also think being 17 going away to college was fine but not something I’d repeat. I never felt fully “caught up” until I took a year off between junior & senior year of college.

Your parents should be concerned if you are 13 and dating a 16 year old. That has nothing to do with what grade you are in. Even if you are 14, you should not be dating a 16 year old. Sound like good parents.

NP. That sounds like a nice rule but try arguing with your 14 yo freshman or sophomore daughter about her junior boyfriend that she knows well because they have been in the same class together all year and they are in the same club together. Yes, as a parent you can say no to whatever you want. She’s still going to date him behind your back.

Sounds like you have given up on parenting.

Not at all. My kids aren’t the young ones. I’m a different poster. I’m speaking from experience and was a young freshman with a fall birthday dating the upperclassman. My parents gave my strict rules about when we had to be back on prom. I didn’t listen. Nothing bad happened but they were mad as hell that I didn’t come home and was out all night with an older guy and his friends. As a parent, I understand that now.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know of any way around this. So it goes.