Yes, she will be bored, and likely ignored by the teacher who is busy with getting the other kids up to speed. If she is ready and eager to learn, send her early. Chances are, she will still be ahead of half the class.

Please don' listen the slackers who would have you hold your child back. Why waste a year?

Anonymous wrote:No.

Kindergarten is never boring.

It is the best grade of the entire school career. Why would anyone want their kid to pass that year?

Why is it so hard for some people to understand that some kids really have that drive and thirst for knowledge early on? It's not about rushing. Instead, it's about listening to your child and being their advocate. How many times does a person have to say, "Each child is different." Don't be a hater or be so quick to criticize just because you don't believe or don't relate.

No.

Kindergarten is never boring.

It is the best grade of the entire school career. Why would anyone want their kid to pass that year?

We didn't start our Sept birthday DD early, and I think we regret it. She reads better than the other kids in her class, and there is nobody else at her reading level. So, ends up her reading group barely meets! I definitely feel that she's being 'held back' because the teacher has to meet the needs of all the other kids.

Hoping it gets better in first grade, but right now, we wish we had sent her ahead. (We did test her and she could have gone.)

Go ahead and at least do the testing, IMO. And talk to the teachers about it.

My k son is well ahead...yet has never been bored. There are so many advanced kids in the area and the k teachers do an amazing job at meeting their needs. Reading groups are my son's favorite part of the day, but he also loves science, social studies, and gasp! The art center! Kindergarten is so much more than just academic level. I really can't imagine a 5 or 6 year old being bored.

Anonymous wrote:

So true. There will be a handful that are ahead for the average K or 1st grader. She can hang with them while the others catch up. Maybe that group can practice their mentoring skills and help the others catch up .

As a teacher, I can tell you that is not how it works. You don't "stable" kids until they are all at the same level. FWIW, that never happens--they are NEVER all at the same level.

But still, those kids that are ahead do not get as much from the school day as the ones that need the extra help. It is the reality we live in with larger classroom sizes and only one teacher. I am not putting blame in the teacher. Rather, it is what it is. You cannot split yourself in 3 or 4 to truly give all the kids what they need. I have seen this scenario way too many times. If you are different, then good for you.

So true. There will be a handful that are ahead for the average K or 1st grader. She can hang with them while the others catch up. Maybe that group can practice their mentoring skills and help the others catch up .

As a teacher, I can tell you that is not how it works. You don't "stable" kids until they are all at the same level. FWIW, that never happens--they are NEVER all at the same level.

Anonymous wrote:She will be no more bored then the other September bday kids or the kids with later bdays who started reading at 3.

So true. There will be a handful that are ahead for the average K or 1st grader. She can hang with them while the others catch up. Maybe that group can practice their mentoring skills and help the others catch up .

She will be no more bored then the other September bday kids or the kids with later bdays who started reading at 3.

Anonymous wrote:Every child is different so use your best judgment. My younger DD started 1st at age 5. She has a late Jan bday. I homeschooled for K using Core as my guide. Anyways, she was more than prepared for 1st. School tested and assessed her prior to enrollment. Even if your LO cannot get into public K, think about homeschooling for half-days during the week if she is ready. It sure beats just watching tv and playing all day. Strike while the iron is hot. Kids are sponges.

Agreed. Each child is different and matures differently. Behavior and discipline are key factors in K and 1st....even more so than reading, writing, or math.

There will be plenty of kids already reading in her K class if she goes with the current cut off. There are lots of down sides to starting early.

Every child is different so use your best judgment. My younger DD started 1st at age 5. She has a late Jan bday. I homeschooled for K using Core as my guide. Anyways, she was more than prepared for 1st. School tested and assessed her prior to enrollment. Even if your LO cannot get into public K, think about homeschooling for half-days during the week if she is ready. It sure beats just watching tv and playing all day. Strike while the iron is hot. Kids are sponges.

Our DD has a Sept birthday and entered K at age 4. It's been a few years and we regret it now. She has to work hard to keep up with the class academically, physically, socially (and she knows it). We're talking with the school about keeping her back next year. She fits in just fine with the grade under her. I know a lot of people on here will say they were the youngest in their class and everything was fine, but I say keep an open mind about the possibility of dropping back.

Dd is a November birthday, reading and understanding chapter books by 4.5. We couldn't test her in if we wanted to and can't afford private. She's in K now and she doesn't seem bored yet. Her teacher is good about differentiating. Her handwriting has improved a ton, so has her spelling. She learns science and math too.

My September birthday DD has to wait another year for K. We might try to test her in. We're in montgomery county. she's already reading at 4.5. I can't believe we'll have to wait another year and a half for kindergarten. If you had an older child in K, who already knew much of the curriculum before they started kindergarten were they bored? DD is also really big for her age.