WWYD: kids 2.25 years apart - start #2 early?

[Anonymous]

The 2.25 was just to grab your attention My first has a late summer birthday, my second just misses the cutoff. Since they are basically two years apart, I'd like them to be two grades apart. Would you do private k for #2 and then public first grade at age 6 or just suck it up?

[Anonymous]

It's hard to get exactly what you're asking when you don't put in the birthdates, but I wouldn't send one of my children early.

We have an early September birthday that we will be holding back, and another 2 years younger that is an early October (2 years 1 month apart).

October baby will be on the older side for his class but is technically going on time.

September baby will be held back but is barely before the cut off. They'll be two years apart in school.

[Anonymous]

Op here. August and November. I hate the idea of holding the first back because he is ready for kindergarten, and is already the tallest in his class.

[Anonymous]

Is your oldest born in August or November? When is your cutoff? August is usually within the cutoffs around here, but you're looking at being the youngest. NO WAY would I push a Nov bday into K early.

[Anonymous]

I'd send #1, and make a decision on #2 later. You don't need to decide now if you're just now sending #1 to Kindergarten. See where #2 ends up falling in terms of readiness. It's not unusual for younger children to be more advanced when they're around their older siblings, so it might be a slam dunk to send him/her early. Or it might be obvious #2 isn't ready.

It really isn't a big deal if they are 2 or 3 years apart in school, I think you're over-thinking this. Send each kid when they are ready.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd send #1, and make a decision on #2 later. You don't need to decide now if you're just now sending #1 to Kindergarten. See where #2 ends up falling in terms of readiness. It's not unusual for younger children to be more advanced when they're around their older siblings, so it might be a slam dunk to send him/her early. Or it might be obvious #2 isn't ready.

It really isn't a big deal if they are 2 or 3 years apart in school, I think you're over-thinking this. Send each kid when they are ready.

Yes. As it turned out, I sent #2 early, but that's because #2 was ready early. If #2 hadn't been ready early, I would have sent #2 on time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The 2.25 was just to grab your attention My first has a late summer birthday, my second just misses the cutoff. Since they are basically two years apart, I'd like them to be two grades apart. Would you do private k for #2 and then public first grade at age 6 or just suck it up?

why?

[Anonymous]

Send them when they are ready. Why are you so worried about them being 2 grades apart?

Our oldest has a late August birthday and we sent him on time because he was ready. No regrets.

[Anonymous]

Good luck trying to find a program that will take that November baby. We're in a similar situation, but reversed, with an older, early October child and an August baby. October child is ready to enter K but we can't even find a private K to take her.

[Anonymous]

I am in almost the same situation, with an August older child and an early-October younger child. We sent the older one on time, as she was ready. The younger one is four now and also seems ready, so we are going through the early entrance testing process.

I have spent way too much time agonizing over this decision in the last year. I completely understand wanting them to be two grades apart rather than three, for several reasons (e.g., preserving sibling closeness, family logistics, etc.). I also knew that none of those reasons were enough on their own to push the younger kid ahead, so I've been waiting to see whether I felt our youngest was ready and would benefit from starting kindergarten early. I am finally sure based on our child that starting early is a good choice, assuming that they pass the early entrance screening.

A November birthday is trickier -- will schools allow a kid with that birthday to start K early? In the end, I think you have to look at each kid individually and decide if they are ready and able to start, and let the grade difference between your kids be governed by that.

[Anonymous]

We ended up sending #1 (late August B'day) late, because that was the best decision for DC.

Don't know where you are. In MontCo EEK is limited to the 6 week range around 9/1 and 10/15. If you try for EE to 1st grade, your child must start in K and be evaluated for 6 weeks before moving up. The only private school "solution" requires both K and 1st grade, as they stop worrying about DOB for 2nd Grade enrollment.

[Anonymous]

Don't try to skew things to your kids advantage. I'd consider each child independent of the existence of the other.

And then, unless they are a significant outliner in some way, (and you haven't indicated this), send them when they are suppose to go.

Don't temp fate by over thinking this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since they are basically two years apart, I'd like them to be two grades apart.

This is the least important part of the equation (their relationship to one another). Mine are 27 months apart. One is a june birthday and I sent him one time. He's doing fine. The other is one day past the cutoff, still in preschool. If I send him on time, they will be 3 years apart. If he tests and gets in 'early' (by one day) then they are 2 grades apart. I looked at my son and what I think he needs (not the gap between the two). I think it's close call, but he will be better off if we send him on time. So that will be 3 years.

[Anonymous]

Do what is good for each child individually instead of trying to fit them into a 2-year apart time frame.

[Anonymous]

My bro and I were 2.5 years and 3 grades apart. It was great. Far enough apart to have separate lives. No one compared us.

You really are inviting trouble. Send each when ready and call it a day. What's so special about two years apart, anyway?