Anonymous wrote:We are looking for nursery/early elementary programs for DS. He has a very late summer birthday but is also quite bright. I know some schools don't let kids like this enroll "on time." Can anyone recommend schools that might be more open to it? Or schools that seem really against it? We are trying to figure out what our options may be. Prefer MD or NW DC. Thanks!

OP, if you can full pay in this economy just about ANY pre-K will take your DC, save maybe Sidwell. Honestly at the Pre-K level it is all about the parents' profile. Take the WIPPSI because you have to , but just know it is you that they are looking at.

Oh--specific schools: depending on your religious preference, there are great programs at many churches and synogogues in the area. Also places like Harbor School that don't require play dates and WPPSI tests.

I am the pp who offered up a list. I agree with you--huge changes between when you apply and when the child starts school. 6 months is a long time in the life of a 3 1/2 year old. The schools know this. I guess the safe thing to do is apply and see, and if the more readily apparent readiness doesn't kick into place by the play date, you reapply for kindergarten. Just be sure to also apply to some schools now that don't mind a younger kid, so you have a place to spend the pre-k year. There are so many warm, wonderful pre-k programs that don't gve a hoot about things like WPPSI tests or play dates. I know--I sent one of my kids to one, and although it had a different approach than the competitive programs, he too ended up at a competitive private later and has been doing just fine.

Anonymous wrote:Signs of readiness, in my opinion of course:
They separate easily
They play with other kids (or are at least moving away from parallel play)
They follow directions--certainly not perfectly, but most of the time
They can sit and attend to a task
They are independent at meal time
They have some empathy, and can apologize and make amends with other kids when necessary, especially if prompted by the teacher
By the same empathy token, they know when they are being too aggressive with another kid
I think that academic skills are the least of it. If the rest is in place, the child will learn and get along in school.

Generally agree with the list, but I have a younger boy who had trouble with certain of these items around the time playdates took place. When school started, it was a little bit hard, but just the extra months between admissions season and September made a difference. He is fine and doing well at a private school that does not have trouble taking summer boys. IMHO, if he's doing well socially at his pre-school, then the other readiness areas will fall into place. Maybe not at the same time it does for a fall-birthday girl, but it will come together...

Grace Episcopal in Kensington. They evaluate each child independently and work /with/ parents to determine appropriate class placement.

Continuation-- should have added they can wipe and take care of bathroom business on their own as well. A prek kid might have the occasional accident, but it would be a rarity...

Signs of readiness, in my opinion of course:
They separate easily
They play with other kids (or are at least moving away from parallel play)
They follow directions--certainly not perfectly, but most of the time
They can sit and attend to a task
They are independent at meal time
They have some empathy, and can apologize and make amends with other kids when necessary, especially if prompted by the teacher
By the same empathy token, they know when they are being too aggressive with another kid
I think that academic skills are the least of it. If the rest is in place, the child will learn and get along in school.

OP here. Thanks so much for all of the comments. I see the maturity aspect being very relevant but I suppose in some ways I wonder what that looks like in such a young child and also how much personality plays into it.

DS is generally quite independent in many ways and seems more "mature" than a lot of his classmates who are a year plus older than him. However, he doesn't always choose to follow directions but I seem to think that is somewhat normal for kids so young and also may be part of his independent streak. Can anyone suggest some maturity markers we could be looking for? Thanks!