I love how people talk about the maturity of 5yo's it absolutely makes me laugh....Let me clue you in all kids at 5yo are freakin immature!!!! get over it...sure some kids are more shy, outgoing etc but that is why they are going to K to be around other kids and socialize. Parents need to get a grip and stop using maturity as an excuse to hold kids back that are intellectually ready, its just making it more difficult for teachers that now have to teach to a much larger age window!!! You will be the same parents that will be telling everyone how smart your kid is and how they are doing blah blah 2 grades above level!

We have a late August girl and struggled with the decision. No doubt that she was bright and academically able, but to us she seemed to lack the emotional maturity and ease with focusing in a big group that older peers had. So we put her in a good private TK for the year. She entered K having already mastered the K curriculum, but the transition to a big school, school bus, etc. was enough for her for the year.

My July birthday 5 year old started on time. He is now in third grade, but is reading on a 5th grade level, with Math & Science on a 4th grade level. I cannot fathom him being in second grade. He would be bored to tears.

Also, I don't consider his knowledge to be on the "gifted & talented" level, he's just a regular kid.

I was born in December and started kindergarten at four. I turned out to be a genius and make $550,00 per.

There's no reason to hold them back (unless there's an obvious reason)

My child's birthday is in July and he will be starting kindergarten this year. I do not see why I would hold him back. Others have said to look for maturity, but what exactly am I looking for?

My kids both went on time. One of them has a very late August birthday. There are kids in the class who are a year or more older but it hasn't mattered and holding her back would have been a mistake. The other child is a boy and he has had other summer birthdays (on time) in his classes.

DD has a June birthday. She is going to K on time. I could not imagine holding her back, BUT she is ready. Held my DS back b/c it was blatently apparent that he wasn't ready. I think you just assess your kids readiness and go with that. There will always be an oldest and youngest in the class. It has to be someone.

Both my sons - one born in July, now in 4th grade and youngest born in August, now in 2nd grade - entered K at age 5. They've not had a problem being the "youngest," since there are also other kids in their grade born in July or late August (they're definitely not the only ones)

In my older son's class there's always been one boy who started K at age 6 - he's always seemed much older (not just than my son, but than the other kids as well); his parents say that waiting one year was the right thing to do in his case, so it's really up to you to decide, each situation is different.

My son started K last year at 5. He is one of four in his class born in July/August - all of whom started at 5. Don't think any of his classmates were redshirted (although I could always be mistaken). My son's pre-K teacher told me he was more than ready for K and I didn't second guess her. He's done well and I'm glad I didn't hold him back.

My child turns 5 in late July and I think we will wait another year. I hope that my child doesn't feel any stigma for being the oldest throughout her school years. I am a little torn about the decision but she is quite immature for her age. I will make the final decision closer to the start of the school year - because children can change and develop quickly so you never know.

I believe MOST parents in MoCo send their kids to kindergarten at age 5, however there are many parents wait until 6. The norm is 5 years old. I don't see 5 as "early," but if you feel your child would benefit from waiting another year, go ahead. I wouldn't worry about being "the absolute youngest" (next year, she would be "the absolute oldest" anyway) but be more concerned about maturity, as PP said.

I don't see any advantages of starting kids early. You will have them at home longer before they go to college.

My son is a July baby, and we started K at age 6. It was the right choice for him. My DD is an August baby and we started her at 5. She is doing very well. Watch how your DD interacts with peers. If she seems mature and confident I would start her at 5. It has nothing to do with intelligence at this age. It is more about maturity.

Is it more common in the MoCo public schools to see kids entering K just turning 5 or 6? Struggling with a decision whether to send our child who will turn 5 in Aug to K this year or hold her back so she is not the absolute youngest.