My son's kindergarten class has several 7 yr olds in it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The cut-off in our area is September 1st, and DS was born September 9th. At first, we were somewhat relieved that he would have to wait till he was almost 6, but in the months leading up to his 5th birthday, it was very clear that he was ready for K and that waiting another year would drive him crazy. So we had him take an early entrance and he passed with flying colors, so he started kindergarten right before he turned 5. So technically, we didn't follow the rules either. Why? Because if we had just blindly followed the guidelines, he would be bored to tears. He's now 8 and in 3rd grade, reading at a 5th grade level, gets his work done early, and his teacher still has to find extra work to give him. I can't imagine what it would be like if he were in 2nd grade. The bottom line is that not one size fits all. If we had a child who made the cut-off, but had not been ready for K, we would have held him or her back. Kids need to be grouped by ability, not age. Just because a child misses the cut-off does not mean that he or she isn't ready for K, and just because a child makes the cut-off does not mean that he or she is ready for K. It all boils down to the individual.

And my DS missed the cut-off by just enough that he couldn't test in early. Guess what? He's an 8 year old 2nd grader, reading at a 5th grade level, and his teacher finds him extra work just fine. Amazingly, there are others in his class (who are also the right age for 2nd grade) in the same situation!

[Anonymous]

Just appalling that parents want their kids to live their entire young lives leaning on a crutch. What will these kids to when the remedial advantages expire out? There comes a day when being 1-2 years older than everyone else you are competing with does not mean you're materially more advanced in the classroom or bigger on the sports field. It's a cop out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Her redshirted child was rejected at the first choice school but admitted at the second choice school. It's a little awkward, because her DC is currently in K and doesn't understand why he will be in K again next year. He may be young, but he's smart enough to know that his classmates are going onto first grade.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A very close relative redshirted her (May birthday) DC this year--WPPSI score in the high 90s and no developmental delays. She just thought that in this competitive admissions process, her DC would appear to be a stronger, more mature and more compelling applicant if compared to "younger" kids. So for those of you pretending that anyone who redshirts must be doing so for "honorable" reasons, you can drop the Pollyanna act.

Did it work? Why do schools go along with this? Can't they push back? At our school, I know of at least one case where the parents would have liked to redshirt and the school insisted on placement in the higher grade.

My friend did this to her child. She couldn't understand why she was repeating K either. Some people want to game the system. Others want to play by the rules. It's a choice. IMHO it is unfair when kids like these (smart, capable) are held back for an edge. They do have the advantage academically and often make the regular aged childten look dumb by comparison. It's too bad the teachers forget the age spread.

The cut-off in our area is September 1st, and DS was born September 9th. At first, we were somewhat relieved that he would have to wait till he was almost 6, but in the months leading up to his 5th birthday, it was very clear that he was ready for K and that waiting another year would drive him crazy. So we had him take an early entrance and he passed with flying colors, so he started kindergarten right before he turned 5. So technically, we didn't follow the rules either. Why? Because if we had just blindly followed the guidelines, he would be bored to tears. He's now 8 and in 3rd grade, reading at a 5th grade level, gets his work done early, and his teacher still has to find extra work to give him. I can't imagine what it would be like if he were in 2nd grade. The bottom line is that not one size fits all. If we had a child who made the cut-off, but had not been ready for K, we would have held him or her back. Kids need to be grouped by ability, not age. Just because a child misses the cut-off does not mean that he or she isn't ready for K, and just because a child makes the cut-off does not mean that he or she is ready for K. It all boils down to the individual.

Thanks for resurrecting this thread to tell us about your little genius!

I do not think of him as a genius at all. I think he's smart, but he's nowhere close to being a genius. There are other kids in his class reading at a 5th grade level(or even higher). If he were a genius, he would be in high school right now(at least).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Her redshirted child was rejected at the first choice school but admitted at the second choice school. It's a little awkward, because her DC is currently in K and doesn't understand why he will be in K again next year. He may be young, but he's smart enough to know that his classmates are going onto first grade.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A very close relative redshirted her (May birthday) DC this year--WPPSI score in the high 90s and no developmental delays. She just thought that in this competitive admissions process, her DC would appear to be a stronger, more mature and more compelling applicant if compared to "younger" kids. So for those of you pretending that anyone who redshirts must be doing so for "honorable" reasons, you can drop the Pollyanna act.

Did it work? Why do schools go along with this? Can't they push back? At our school, I know of at least one case where the parents would have liked to redshirt and the school insisted on placement in the higher grade.

My friend did this to her child. She couldn't understand why she was repeating K either. Some people want to game the system. Others want to play by the rules. It's a choice. IMHO it is unfair when kids like these (smart, capable) are held back for an edge. They do have the advantage academically and often make the regular aged childten look dumb by comparison. It's too bad the teachers forget the age spread.

The cut-off in our area is September 1st, and DS was born September 9th. At first, we were somewhat relieved that he would have to wait till he was almost 6, but in the months leading up to his 5th birthday, it was very clear that he was ready for K and that waiting another year would drive him crazy. So we had him take an early entrance and he passed with flying colors, so he started kindergarten right before he turned 5. So technically, we didn't follow the rules either. Why? Because if we had just blindly followed the guidelines, he would be bored to tears. He's now 8 and in 3rd grade, reading at a 5th grade level, gets his work done early, and his teacher still has to find extra work to give him. I can't imagine what it would be like if he were in 2nd grade. The bottom line is that not one size fits all. If we had a child who made the cut-off, but had not been ready for K, we would have held him or her back. Kids need to be grouped by ability, not age. Just because a child misses the cut-off does not mean that he or she isn't ready for K, and just because a child makes the cut-off does not mean that he or she is ready for K. It all boils down to the individual.

Thanks for resurrecting this thread to tell us about your little genius!

I do not think of him as a genius at all. I think he's smart, but he's nowhere close to being a genius. There are other kids in his class reading at a 5th grade level(or even higher). If he were a genius, he would be in high school right now(at least).

Same PP as before. By the way, I didn't resurrect this thread to brag about my son. I was trying to make a point. Just because the district deemed him as not ready to start school because of his age didn't mean that he wasn't. Conversely, someone who is deemed ready to start because of their age may not be.

[Anonymous]

I think our area is crazy. Kindergarten is now a full on academic program instead of a year for getting used to school and learning the alphabet, hence high achieving adults hold their kids back so they will be able to handle the pressure of having to sit still all day etc. How about going back to an easy going play oriented K and send kids at 5. No reading until first grade. Sweden does this and they have 100 percent literacy and high achieving kids with great test scores. This would be less stressful for everyone, and less expensive for working parents. BTW many new studies show that pushing academics too early actually harms kids later in life, even if they are very bright. The five year old brain needs play, rest and snacks regardless of IQ.

[Anonymous]

Well said PP.

[Anonymous]

I think the people on this thread who have seven year olds in kindergarten need to form a club with the people on the thread who use strollers for their six and seven year olds. This kids are probably still breast feeding too! It's not the curriculum that is a problem, good teachers in the lower grades incorporate plenty of play and down time while learning, yes, even in "gasp!" Public school. Your precious snowflake is going to be fine, if. You. Let. Them. And love them and stop this insistent infantilism. I'm not advocating that seven year olds become chimney sweeps, but a little challenge here and then and "gasp!" Failure, is okay. Bring on the double strollers and the "kindergartener led weaning" for all of your precious seven year old dummies!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the people on this thread who have seven year olds in kindergarten need to form a club with the people on the thread who use strollers for their six and seven year olds. This kids are probably still breast feeding too! It's not the curriculum that is a problem, good teachers in the lower grades incorporate plenty of play and down time while learning, yes, even in "gasp!" Public school. Your precious snowflake is going to be fine, if. You. Let. Them. And love them and stop this insistent infantilism. I'm not advocating that seven year olds become chimney sweeps, but a little challenge here and then and "gasp!" Failure, is okay. Bring on the double strollers and the "kindergartener led weaning" for all of your precious seven year old dummies!!

You are awful. You should be ashamed of yourself.

[Anonymous]

My son entered kindergarten in a public school at age 4. He is a Nov. birthday. He transferred to a Big 3. He is now a senior and just turned 17. There are two girls in his class who are one month younger. He is by far the youngest boy. His best friend is turning 19 in January. It all seems to be working out for both the older kids and him. His only complaint was that he had to wait until his senior year to drive to school because of his age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think our area is crazy. Kindergarten is now a full on academic program instead of a year for getting used to school and learning the alphabet, hence high achieving adults hold their kids back so they will be able to handle the pressure of having to sit still all day etc. How about going back to an easy going play oriented K and send kids at 5. No reading until first grade. Sweden does this and they have 100 percent literacy and high achieving kids with great test scores. This would be less stressful for everyone, and less expensive for working parents. BTW many new studies show that pushing academics too early actually harms kids later in life, even if they are very bright. The five year old brain needs play, rest and snacks regardless of IQ.

The majority of kids should be ready for school in this area. Most attend some kind of preschool or day care, even with a SAHP. Something is wrong if your child needs rest time in K. Something is wrong if your child does not know the academic basics. Here's an idea. Stop ranting and teach your child the basics - letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and basic reading and math. My five year old knew it all with developmental delays. He missed the cut off by 2 weeks and we had to hold him back. He was miserable as he learned nothing as in his 4 class the kids were learning basics when he was reading several grades above. There is a difference between pushing and teaching and it makes no sense to me to wait. Their brains are forming when they are young and waiting only makes it harder. I love how many people justify all this with useless studies that are only published to justify that school of thought. My kid was reading by 3 and it was mainly self-taught. We read to him but one day he told us he could read and did. I handed him a new book he'd never seen and he read that too. If Sweeden is so great, move there. Then you can delay your child's education as much as you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think our area is crazy. Kindergarten is now a full on academic program instead of a year for getting used to school and learning the alphabet, hence high achieving adults hold their kids back so they will be able to handle the pressure of having to sit still all day etc. How about going back to an easy going play oriented K and send kids at 5. No reading until first grade. Sweden does this and they have 100 percent literacy and high achieving kids with great test scores. This would be less stressful for everyone, and less expensive for working parents. BTW many new studies show that pushing academics too early actually harms kids later in life, even if they are very bright. The five year old brain needs play, rest and snacks regardless of IQ.

The majority of kids should be ready for school in this area. Most attend some kind of preschool or day care, even with a SAHP. Something is wrong if your child needs rest time in K. Something is wrong if your child does not know the academic basics. Here's an idea. Stop ranting and teach your child the basics - letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and basic reading and math. My five year old knew it all with developmental delays. He missed the cut off by 2 weeks and we had to hold him back. He was miserable as he learned nothing as in his 4 class the kids were learning basics when he was reading several grades above. There is a difference between pushing and teaching and it makes no sense to me to wait. Their brains are forming when they are young and waiting only makes it harder. I love how many people justify all this with useless studies that are only published to justify that school of thought. My kid was reading by 3 and it was mainly self-taught. We read to him but one day he told us he could read and did. I handed him a new book he'd never seen and he read that too. If Sweeden is so great, move there. Then you can delay your child's education as much as you want.

(Not PP). There is solid academic research suggesting that early introduction to schooling is associated with higher incidence of ADHD diagnosis. Kids learn through play at age 3-5/6. Learning to read early does not translate into better academic achievement down the road. Here is an idea. Go and do your homework before venting!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think our area is crazy. Kindergarten is now a full on academic program instead of a year for getting used to school and learning the alphabet, hence high achieving adults hold their kids back so they will be able to handle the pressure of having to sit still all day etc. How about going back to an easy going play oriented K and send kids at 5. No reading until first grade. Sweden does this and they have 100 percent literacy and high achieving kids with great test scores. This would be less stressful for everyone, and less expensive for working parents. BTW many new studies show that pushing academics too early actually harms kids later in life, even if they are very bright. The five year old brain needs play, rest and snacks regardless of IQ.

The majority of kids should be ready for school in this area. Most attend some kind of preschool or day care, even with a SAHP. Something is wrong if your child needs rest time in K. Something is wrong if your child does not know the academic basics. Here's an idea. Stop ranting and teach your child the basics - letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and basic reading and math. My five year old knew it all with developmental delays. He missed the cut off by 2 weeks and we had to hold him back. He was miserable as he learned nothing as in his 4 class the kids were learning basics when he was reading several grades above. There is a difference between pushing and teaching and it makes no sense to me to wait. Their brains are forming when they are young and waiting only makes it harder. I love how many people justify all this with useless studies that are only published to justify that school of thought. My kid was reading by 3 and it was mainly self-taught. We read to him but one day he told us he could read and did. I handed him a new book he'd never seen and he read that too. If Sweeden is so great, move there. Then you can delay your child's education as much as you want.

(Not PP). There is solid academic research suggesting that early introduction to schooling is associated with higher incidence of ADHD diagnosis. Kids learn through play at age 3-5/6. Learning to read early does not translate into better academic achievement down the road. Here is an idea. Go and do your homework before venting!

You cannot prevent ADHD if it is a real medical issue. Older kids are easier for teachers. Many kids are already at 4-5 to have stronger academics. No, it does not mean that it may be better down the road but why discourage kids who are ready and able to learn, to learn. Your comments make no sense when all the studies are so skewed. My kid learned early and does not have ADHD nor do any of the other kids I know. Maybe you can help your kids with their homework and they'd be at the same level as the rest of the kids rather than justifying it and waiting till the school teaches them. Kids are ready when their preschools and parents prepare them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think our area is crazy. Kindergarten is now a full on academic program instead of a year for getting used to school and learning the alphabet, hence high achieving adults hold their kids back so they will be able to handle the pressure of having to sit still all day etc. How about going back to an easy going play oriented K and send kids at 5. No reading until first grade. Sweden does this and they have 100 percent literacy and high achieving kids with great test scores. This would be less stressful for everyone, and less expensive for working parents. BTW many new studies show that pushing academics too early actually harms kids later in life, even if they are very bright. The five year old brain needs play, rest and snacks regardless of IQ.

The majority of kids should be ready for school in this area. Most attend some kind of preschool or day care, even with a SAHP. Something is wrong if your child needs rest time in K. Something is wrong if your child does not know the academic basics. Here's an idea. Stop ranting and teach your child the basics - letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and basic reading and math. My five year old knew it all with developmental delays. He missed the cut off by 2 weeks and we had to hold him back. He was miserable as he learned nothing as in his 4 class the kids were learning basics when he was reading several grades above. There is a difference between pushing and teaching and it makes no sense to me to wait. Their brains are forming when they are young and waiting only makes it harder. I love how many people justify all this with useless studies that are only published to justify that school of thought. My kid was reading by 3 and it was mainly self-taught. We read to him but one day he told us he could read and did. I handed him a new book he'd never seen and he read that too. If Sweeden is so great, move there. Then you can delay your child's education as much as you want.

(Not PP). There is solid academic research suggesting that early introduction to schooling is associated with higher incidence of ADHD diagnosis. Kids learn through play at age 3-5/6. Learning to read early does not translate into better academic achievement down the road. Here is an idea. Go and do your homework before venting!

You cannot prevent ADHD if it is a real medical issue. Older kids are easier for teachers. Many kids are already at 4-5 to have stronger academics. No, it does not mean that it may be better down the road but why discourage kids who are ready and able to learn, to learn. Your comments make no sense when all the studies are so skewed. My kid learned early and does not have ADHD nor do any of the other kids I know. Maybe you can help your kids with their homework and they'd be at the same level as the rest of the kids rather than justifying it and waiting till the school teaches them. Kids are ready when their preschools and parents prepare them.

Here is the link to a paper that comes as close to a pure experiment as you can possibly get:

http://www.nber.org/papers/w21610

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think our area is crazy. Kindergarten is now a full on academic program instead of a year for getting used to school and learning the alphabet, hence high achieving adults hold their kids back so they will be able to handle the pressure of having to sit still all day etc. How about going back to an easy going play oriented K and send kids at 5. No reading until first grade. Sweden does this and they have 100 percent literacy and high achieving kids with great test scores. This would be less stressful for everyone, and less expensive for working parents. BTW many new studies show that pushing academics too early actually harms kids later in life, even if they are very bright. The five year old brain needs play, rest and snacks regardless of IQ.

The majority of kids should be ready for school in this area. Most attend some kind of preschool or day care, even with a SAHP. Something is wrong if your child needs rest time in K. Something is wrong if your child does not know the academic basics. Here's an idea. Stop ranting and teach your child the basics - letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and basic reading and math. My five year old knew it all with developmental delays. He missed the cut off by 2 weeks and we had to hold him back. He was miserable as he learned nothing as in his 4 class the kids were learning basics when he was reading several grades above. There is a difference between pushing and teaching and it makes no sense to me to wait. Their brains are forming when they are young and waiting only makes it harder. I love how many people justify all this with useless studies that are only published to justify that school of thought. My kid was reading by 3 and it was mainly self-taught. We read to him but one day he told us he could read and did. I handed him a new book he'd never seen and he read that too. If Sweeden is so great, move there. Then you can delay your child's education as much as you want.

(Not PP). There is solid academic research suggesting that early introduction to schooling is associated with higher incidence of ADHD diagnosis. Kids learn through play at age 3-5/6. Learning to read early does not translate into better academic achievement down the road. Here is an idea. Go and do your homework before venting!

You cannot prevent ADHD if it is a real medical issue. Older kids are easier for teachers. Many kids are already at 4-5 to have stronger academics. No, it does not mean that it may be better down the road but why discourage kids who are ready and able to learn, to learn. Your comments make no sense when all the studies are so skewed. My kid learned early and does not have ADHD nor do any of the other kids I know. Maybe you can help your kids with their homework and they'd be at the same level as the rest of the kids rather than justifying it and waiting till the school teaches them. Kids are ready when their preschools and parents prepare them.

Here is the link to a paper that comes as close to a pure experiment as you can possibly get:

http://www.nber.org/papers/w21610

p.s. My DD1 did not start reading until the summer between K and 1st grade. She is in 2nd grade now and has read all 7 Harry Potter books. She is starting Little Women. I let her play and never pushed anything academic. Don't assume that because you taught your kids to read early, they will do any better in school than kids that learned later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son entered kindergarten in a public school at age 4. He is a Nov. birthday. He transferred to a Big 3. He is now a senior and just turned 17. There are two girls in his class who are one month younger. He is by far the youngest boy. His best friend is turning 19 in January. It all seems to be working out for both the older kids and him. His only complaint was that he had to wait until his senior year to drive to school because of his age.

PP, that was me too. I was a 17 year old college freshman with my English professor trying to seduce me. Taking 17 credits a semester while competing in a sport at a Div 1 school.

I could have used a little more maturing before choosing a major, finding a career and buying a house