Advice sought: sending early Sept. 5 year old daughter to KG or keeping her in private Pre-K?

[dcsatsangi]

Hello! I was a long time DC and Silver spring resident before moving to live and work in the Middle East 9 years ago. I had my two daughters overseas, and I'll be moving back this summer to the area with the girls. I flew 14 hours back to DC last week, and did a whirlwind tour - seeing 12 schools (elementary and pre-schools) in MD and DC. Despite being busy, all schools I contacted except 1 gave me tours and talked with me outside of their usual tour dates/times, for which I am really grateful and impressed! I saw Mann, Eaton and Lafayette, and was really impressed by each.

However, my dilemma this: my daughter turns 5 in early September, thus making her eligible for KG in DCPS, where as in MCPS she would wait a year. I have never been in a rush and would love for her to take another year in pre-school, but the problem is obviously affording to live in these neighbourhoods and paying another private school tuition. I applied for out of boundary in the pre-K lottery for several schools, but we have no chance of course. I applied to a few pre-schools in Silver Spring, and also St. Columbas, United Methodist Chevy Chase, and the Metropolitan Community Church pre-school behind Mann. all seem great.

What I'm wondering is if anyone has been in a similar situation.. did you send them as the youngest in the KG, and how did the school help them? If you kept them back in the Pre-K so they were the oldest, were they bored?

Help!

[Anonymous]

You could send her to private K in the fall with a plan to do 1st in public next year if she is successful, or repeat K in public if she needs more time.

[Anonymous]

My mid September girl is the youngest in her class and it is fine. Some schools organize the classes in PK by putting all the younger kids together.

Tips:
Keep an eye on social issues. My daughter is not as sophisticated socially as many of the girls in her class. Check in with her teacher to see if she needs any support to develop social engagement strategies. Sign her up for team sports with other kids.

Academics haven't been an issue at all.

[Anonymous]

Posts like this make me laugh. Eventually the cutoff date will be moved even earlier.

[Anonymous]

Eaton K is great.
Teachers there, especially K, are very experienced. K is very hands on, lots of field trips, lots of crafts, lots of fun.
My two kids were fall/summer bdays and they were fine. Other kids with fall birthdays in their class, teachers that meet all kids where they are and help them move along.
I have seen kids do prek or k twice, maybe because of early birthdays. Teachers/admin will recommend repeating if they think a kid is not ready to move up but it won't be a surprise, you will for sure be talking to the teacher about it well before it's time to make a decision for the next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mid September girl is the youngest in her class and it is fine. Some schools organize the classes in PK by putting all the younger kids together.

Tips:
Keep an eye on social issues. My daughter is not as sophisticated socially as many of the girls in her class. Check in with her teacher to see if she needs any support to develop social engagement strategies. Sign her up for team sports with other kids.

Academics haven't been an issue at all.

I have a daughter with a September bday who'll be in K next year. She's pretty shy, but no major issues (and I don't think holding her back a year would "fix" that--it's just her personality). She's been in school since PK3 and is going well. I like that by virtue of her late birthday, she's challenged by the slightly older kids.

Interestingly, one of the most academically and socially advanced girls in her cohort is another September bday.

[dcsatsangi]

Very helpful all, thanks so much! Good points and lots to think about. Appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

My son is the youngest in his class. It's been awesome. It's much better for a kid to learn from older children than be the oldest.

[Anonymous]

There are a ton of K kids in Lafayette this year with September birthdays. Assuming next year's class is no different, your kid will be among many who start the K year at 4. No big deal at all.

[Anonymous]

I have a son who is the youngest in his K class in a DC charter school. He is thriving - socially and academically. There are at least 3 other September birthdays in the class as well.

OP, I don't think there is a wrong decision here - if your kid has had some preschool overseas, she should be fine to start now or to wait. I'm really glad I sent my September kid on time - but if circumstances were different (ie, we lived in MD), I'm sure he'd enjoy being the oldest as well.

[Anonymous]

DD has a late September birthday so she will just about always be the youngest kid in her class. She is also pretty bright, so it has never, ever been an issue.

[Anonymous]

I would definitely put her in public K. Our daughter has several kids with August/September birthdays in her K class, and they are doing fine.

[Anonymous]

I would send her in less you have a reason not to. We are in MC and went private for two year for our September child. If you go private for K and 1st, you can then transfer to public in 2nd.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone... seems like most folks are airing on the side of sending her in and that she would do fine. It's helpful and comforting to hear that this has worked out for so many people. I'll keep thinking about it, but obviously have to make a choice pretty soon, because it's driving a lot of other things and I want to get settled!

[Anonymous]

All three of my daughters have fall birthdays. All three started when they were four. All three have flourished. The youngest is nine, the oldest is 21.