5 yr old (early oct bday), how to get her in 1st grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I don't have an answer for you on whether pushing ahead is the correct choice for your child. But, to address some of the PPs who were concerned about college. I have an October b-day in a district where the cutoff was 12/31, so I started college at 17 and it was fine. I think it likely is easier to have a child start college at 17 than it is to have a child who turns 18 at the start of their senior year of HS and then you have to parent a legal adult through a full year of HS.

Same, but a December birthday. I survived.

Someone will always be the youngest in a class and that was me. I didn’t care that my friends could drive at 16 or drink at 21 before me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I don't have an answer for you on whether pushing ahead is the correct choice for your child. But, to address some of the PPs who were concerned about college. I have an October b-day in a district where the cutoff was 12/31, so I started college at 17 and it was fine. I think it likely is easier to have a child start college at 17 than it is to have a child who turns 18 at the start of their senior year of HS and then you have to parent a legal adult through a full year of HS.

Same, but a December birthday. I survived.

Someone will always be the youngest in a class and that was me. I didn’t care that my friends could drive at 16 or drink at 21 before me.

Yes. And, OP wants to ensure that her child will be the youngest. Remember, she wants to manipulate the cutoff age for her child.

I'd be curious to know why she wants to do this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I don't have an answer for you on whether pushing ahead is the correct choice for your child. But, to address some of the PPs who were concerned about college. I have an October b-day in a district where the cutoff was 12/31, so I started college at 17 and it was fine. I think it likely is easier to have a child start college at 17 than it is to have a child who turns 18 at the start of their senior year of HS and then you have to parent a legal adult through a full year of HS.

Same, but a December birthday. I survived.

Someone will always be the youngest in a class and that was me. I didn’t care that my friends could drive at 16 or drink at 21 before me.

Yes. And, OP wants to ensure that her child will be the youngest. Remember, she wants to manipulate the cutoff age for her child.

I'd be curious to know why she wants to do this?

Maybe her child's birthday is October 1st or October 2nd or October 3rd. You all can't seriously argue that a child born on September 29th or 30th is so much more mature now and in the future than a child born a day or two later. The cutoff is just a date. If you fall within a plus/minus of that date it makes sense to question what is right for your child.

[Anonymous]

The funny thing is, one of my daughters should have been red shirted, and one of my sons should not have.

It seems red shirting is a way to circumvent what used to be called "hyper" (now aspie) boys. ANY preschool teacher will tell you to hold back boys - which is just what it is. Preschool teachers will not necessarily say so about girls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I don't have an answer for you on whether pushing ahead is the correct choice for your child. But, to address some of the PPs who were concerned about college. I have an October b-day in a district where the cutoff was 12/31, so I started college at 17 and it was fine. I think it likely is easier to have a child start college at 17 than it is to have a child who turns 18 at the start of their senior year of HS and then you have to parent a legal adult through a full year of HS.

Same, but a December birthday. I survived.

Someone will always be the youngest in a class and that was me. I didn’t care that my friends could drive at 16 or drink at 21 before me.

Yes. And, OP wants to ensure that her child will be the youngest. Remember, she wants to manipulate the cutoff age for her child.

I'd be curious to know why she wants to do this?

Maybe her child's birthday is October 1st or October 2nd or October 3rd. You all can't seriously argue that a child born on September 29th or 30th is so much more mature now and in the future than a child born a day or two later. The cutoff is just a date. If you fall within a plus/minus of that date it makes sense to question what is right for your child.

Out of a class of 20-25, there are likely less than a handful with Sept birthdays. It is likely that there will be a span from the preceding October through September.
As a former K teacher, I would strongly consider redshirting late September birthdays. Of course, there are exceptions--but why send your child early?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good luck wading through all the “gift of time” and “don’t do it; they’ll be the youngest in class” posts, OP.

This area is ridiculous with wanting kids bigger, faster, older, etc… You know your kid and if they are ready socially, attention-wise and academically—best of luck to you.

Unless this parent is also a seasoned teacher in this school system, that makes zero sense

Bingo. All these parents who think they know their child so well and that their child is the special one born in Oct/Nov/Dec who is somehow so much more mature than all the others. Your fall birthday child is going to be in a class where likely more than half the class is an entire year older. If you are not spending a significant amount of time in a classroom, you have no idea what is the norm. There will be children who will turn six in January while your child just turned five 12 weeks prior. They haven’t even finished learning how to line up properly and transition throughout the building and sit still on the carpet 12 weeks into K while your child is barely five years old. There is a cutoff for a reason and there is always someone who is close to it and doesn’t make the cut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good luck wading through all the “gift of time” and “don’t do it; they’ll be the youngest in class” posts, OP.

This area is ridiculous with wanting kids bigger, faster, older, etc… You know your kid and if they are ready socially, attention-wise and academically—best of luck to you.

Unless this parent is also a seasoned teacher in this school system, that makes zero sense

Bingo. All these parents who think they know their child so well and that their child is the special one born in Oct/Nov/Dec who is somehow so much more mature than all the others. Your fall birthday child is going to be in a class where likely more than half the class is an entire year older. If you are not spending a significant amount of time in a classroom, you have no idea what is the norm. There will be children who will turn six in January while your child just turned five 12 weeks prior. They haven’t even finished learning how to line up properly and transition throughout the building and sit still on the carpet 12 weeks into K while your child is barely five years old. There is a cutoff for a reason and there is always someone who is close to it and doesn’t make the cut.

This. Plus, we are still months away from her turning five and beginning Montessori K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I don't have an answer for you on whether pushing ahead is the correct choice for your child. But, to address some of the PPs who were concerned about college. I have an October b-day in a district where the cutoff was 12/31, so I started college at 17 and it was fine. I think it likely is easier to have a child start college at 17 than it is to have a child who turns 18 at the start of their senior year of HS and then you have to parent a legal adult through a full year of HS.

Same, but a December birthday. I survived.

Someone will always be the youngest in a class and that was me. I didn’t care that my friends could drive at 16 or drink at 21 before me.

Yes. And, OP wants to ensure that her child will be the youngest. Remember, she wants to manipulate the cutoff age for her child.

I'd be curious to know why she wants to do this?

Maybe her child's birthday is October 1st or October 2nd or October 3rd. You all can't seriously argue that a child born on September 29th or 30th is so much more mature now and in the future than a child born a day or two later. The cutoff is just a date. If you fall within a plus/minus of that date it makes sense to question what is right for your child.

Out of a class of 20-25, there are likely less than a handful with Sept birthdays. It is likely that there will be a span from the preceding October through September.
As a former K teacher, I would strongly consider redshirting late September birthdays. Of course, there are exceptions--but why send your child early?

K teachers cannot predict the future so saying hold back, which is a life long and life-changing decision for no reason other than gender makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good luck wading through all the “gift of time” and “don’t do it; they’ll be the youngest in class” posts, OP.

This area is ridiculous with wanting kids bigger, faster, older, etc… You know your kid and if they are ready socially, attention-wise and academically—best of luck to you.

Unless this parent is also a seasoned teacher in this school system, that makes zero sense

Bingo. All these parents who think they know their child so well and that their child is the special one born in Oct/Nov/Dec who is somehow so much more mature than all the others. Your fall birthday child is going to be in a class where likely more than half the class is an entire year older. If you are not spending a significant amount of time in a classroom, you have no idea what is the norm. There will be children who will turn six in January while your child just turned five 12 weeks prior. They haven’t even finished learning how to line up properly and transition throughout the building and sit still on the carpet 12 weeks into K while your child is barely five years old. There is a cutoff for a reason and there is always someone who is close to it and doesn’t make the cut.

If kids went to a good preschool, they should know how to properly line up, transition, and sit on the carpet. Ever consider maybe preschools are the problem. Our preschool started that at age 3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good luck wading through all the “gift of time” and “don’t do it; they’ll be the youngest in class” posts, OP.

This area is ridiculous with wanting kids bigger, faster, older, etc… You know your kid and if they are ready socially, attention-wise and academically—best of luck to you.

Unless this parent is also a seasoned teacher in this school system, that makes zero sense

Bingo. All these parents who think they know their child so well and that their child is the special one born in Oct/Nov/Dec who is somehow so much more mature than all the others. Your fall birthday child is going to be in a class where likely more than half the class is an entire year older. If you are not spending a significant amount of time in a classroom, you have no idea what is the norm. There will be children who will turn six in January while your child just turned five 12 weeks prior. They haven’t even finished learning how to line up properly and transition throughout the building and sit still on the carpet 12 weeks into K while your child is barely five years old. There is a cutoff for a reason and there is always someone who is close to it and doesn’t make the cut.

If kids went to a good preschool, they should know how to properly line up, transition, and sit on the carpet. Ever consider maybe preschools are the problem. Our preschool started that at age 3.

And, some start it at 2. But, that does not mean they are ready for K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I don't have an answer for you on whether pushing ahead is the correct choice for your child. But, to address some of the PPs who were concerned about college. I have an October b-day in a district where the cutoff was 12/31, so I started college at 17 and it was fine. I think it likely is easier to have a child start college at 17 than it is to have a child who turns 18 at the start of their senior year of HS and then you have to parent a legal adult through a full year of HS.

Same, but a December birthday. I survived.

Someone will always be the youngest in a class and that was me. I didn’t care that my friends could drive at 16 or drink at 21 before me.

Yes. And, OP wants to ensure that her child will be the youngest. Remember, she wants to manipulate the cutoff age for her child.

I'd be curious to know why she wants to do this?

Maybe her child's birthday is October 1st or October 2nd or October 3rd. You all can't seriously argue that a child born on September 29th or 30th is so much more mature now and in the future than a child born a day or two later. The cutoff is just a date. If you fall within a plus/minus of that date it makes sense to question what is right for your child.

Out of a class of 20-25, there are likely less than a handful with Sept birthdays. It is likely that there will be a span from the preceding October through September.
As a former K teacher, I would strongly consider redshirting late September birthdays. Of course, there are exceptions--but why send your child early?

Of course teachers would want them older with the thinking that if they were a year older they would be more well behaved, more self-sufficient/need less help (they’re almost 6–should have their ABCs/123s/phonetic sounds down and working on reading), etc…

They need to pick an earlier cut-off date if having a 6yo kindergartner is the ideal “norm.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:6:41 back. And also the biggie. The mental health issues. You hear about it in the news but it’s more common that you think with teens. Even if it’s not your kid, it will affect someone they know. Kids are dealing with heavy stuff. Don’t make it all happen a year sooner.

Being old for your grade can also cause social and mental health issues. They can feel out of place and not find their group.

This has not been our experience. My kid wasn’t redshirted, just has a fall birthday. A lot of kids have fall birthdays. Being on the older side has been a positive in every way in elementary and middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:6:41 back. And also the biggie. The mental health issues. You hear about it in the news but it’s more common that you think with teens. Even if it’s not your kid, it will affect someone they know. Kids are dealing with heavy stuff. Don’t make it all happen a year sooner.

Being old for your grade can also cause social and mental health issues. They can feel out of place and not find their group.

This has not been our experience. My kid wasn’t redshirted, just has a fall birthday. A lot of kids have fall birthdays. Being on the older side has been a positive in every way in elementary and middle school.

+1 Another parent whose child missed the cutoff by a month.

[Anonymous]

What's the motivation? My DD has an October birthday and started as scheduled so she turned 6 a month after starting kindergarten. She's graduating from HS next month. It was never an issue that she's on the older end. FWIW she doesn't do sports. One place being older was valuable was that she was a bit slow to pick up reading. Got there eventually, late 1st grade when she was 7.5. We'd have been a lot more concerned if she'd been going into 2nd grade struggling with reading and likely would have felt the need to do a ton of intervention vs. as it was, just sticking with daily reading and reinforcing phonics until it stuck. We have learned over time that she is not one to be rushed, she comes to things in her own time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the motivation? My DD has an October birthday and started as scheduled so she turned 6 a month after starting kindergarten. She's graduating from HS next month. It was never an issue that she's on the older end. FWIW she doesn't do sports. One place being older was valuable was that she was a bit slow to pick up reading. Got there eventually, late 1st grade when she was 7.5. We'd have been a lot more concerned if she'd been going into 2nd grade struggling with reading and likely would have felt the need to do a ton of intervention vs. as it was, just sticking with daily reading and reinforcing phonics until it stuck. We have learned over time that she is not one to be rushed, she comes to things in her own time.

Also, my question.