PP is completely wrong.

You are not required to enroll your kid in a private kindergarten as a five year old.

If you SAH you can just keep him home with you. Or you can keep him with a nanny, grandma, or daycare.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:23:45 - It isn't the age, it is that it is mandatory. I would like to be able to decide if my son is ready and not be regulated to do so. My son will just turn 5 and he may not be ready, so I would like the option to wait if necessary. Of course this is a year away, so it may not be an issue. Still I like to have the option.

You do have that option. It's called redshirting. But he has to be somewhere like a private pre k program if he's not in public K at 5. He can't just be hanging out at home with a SAHP if there were one.

This statement is incorrect.

Anonymous wrote:Have you considered renting in DC and commuting to VA? (so, possibly not such a bad commute going against traffic)

The reason is because DC has free preschool in most areas for 3 and 4 year olds. Some public/charter programs are excellent, top-notch. There are immersion programs, dual language programs, montessori, play-based, etc. If you are looking to avoid paying for preschool for one year, then consider it (though of course you'll still have to pay for summer, days off, etc).

Do not do this. Stupid to live so far away and the schools are shitty.

Have you considered renting in DC and commuting to VA? (so, possibly not such a bad commute going against traffic)

The reason is because DC has free preschool in most areas for 3 and 4 year olds. Some public/charter programs are excellent, top-notch. There are immersion programs, dual language programs, montessori, play-based, etc. If you are looking to avoid paying for preschool for one year, then consider it (though of course you'll still have to pay for summer, days off, etc).

Maybe check Cameron station too? Close to work and it's a community that attracts a lot of transitional military families and others who want access to the pentagon and fort belvoir.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:23:45 - It isn't the age, it is that it is mandatory. I would like to be able to decide if my son is ready and not be regulated to do so. My son will just turn 5 and he may not be ready, so I would like the option to wait if necessary. Of course this is a year away, so it may not be an issue. Still I like to have the option.

You do have that option. It's called redshirting. But he has to be somewhere like a private pre k program if he's not in public K at 5. He can't just be hanging out at home with a SAHP if there were one.

You sure about that? Did the rules change? Because it used to be that kids only HAD to be enrolled somewhere when they were 6 at the start of the school year.

Anyway, Virginia has very lax homeschooling rules, so she could claim that.

Yeah, when they're SIX they have to be enrolled. If he's still 5, she can choose to enroll him in a private pre-k and not go to K yet. How else do you think people redshirt?

She wouldn't have to have her child in a private pre-k either. Daycare would be fine at 5.

Thank you again! I really appreciate the feedback.

If your child turns 5 in August 2017, then he will be able to start K in September.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:23:45 - It isn't the age, it is that it is mandatory. I would like to be able to decide if my son is ready and not be regulated to do so. My son will just turn 5 and he may not be ready, so I would like the option to wait if necessary. Of course this is a year away, so it may not be an issue. Still I like to have the option.

You do have that option. It's called redshirting. But he has to be somewhere like a private pre k program if he's not in public K at 5. He can't just be hanging out at home with a SAHP if there were one.

You sure about that? Did the rules change? Because it used to be that kids only HAD to be enrolled somewhere when they were 6 at the start of the school year.

Anyway, Virginia has very lax homeschooling rules, so she could claim that.

Yeah, when they're SIX they have to be enrolled. If he's still 5, she can choose to enroll him in a private pre-k and not go to K yet. How else do you think people redshirt?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:23:45 - It isn't the age, it is that it is mandatory. I would like to be able to decide if my son is ready and not be regulated to do so. My son will just turn 5 and he may not be ready, so I would like the option to wait if necessary. Of course this is a year away, so it may not be an issue. Still I like to have the option.

You do have that option. It's called redshirting. But he has to be somewhere like a private pre k program if he's not in public K at 5. He can't just be hanging out at home with a SAHP if there were one.

You sure about that? Did the rules change? Because it used to be that kids only HAD to be enrolled somewhere when they were 6 at the start of the school year.

Anyway, Virginia has very lax homeschooling rules, so she could claim that.

OP,

I ditto the above posters who suggested Belle View condos. I haven't lived in Alexandria in a long time, but I would think that would be a very good fit for your work location. The area is lovely--so close to the Potomac.

Anonymous wrote:23:45 - It isn't the age, it is that it is mandatory. I would like to be able to decide if my son is ready and not be regulated to do so. My son will just turn 5 and he may not be ready, so I would like the option to wait if necessary. Of course this is a year away, so it may not be an issue. Still I like to have the option.

You do have that option. It's called redshirting. But he has to be somewhere like a private pre k program if he's not in public K at 5. He can't just be hanging out at home with a SAHP if there were one.

Just FYI, we don't call the area DCVM. Some call it the DMV, but it's really just D.C. Metro area.

19:16 - I do have a plan for child care on drill weekends. I don't have a unit yet, but it will likely be in NJ or NY, which is fine because I can drop my son off at his grandparents in PA for that weekend. It works because they on the way to either location. They may come down here as well. I also have friends already in the DC area and all my other friends are from PA. This is a big reason I wanted to move up north again, to be close to friends and family! There weren't a whole of job opportunities in my hometown, so the DCVM area is a good compromise.

23:45 - It isn't the age, it is that it is mandatory. I would like to be able to decide if my son is ready and not be regulated to do so. My son will just turn 5 and he may not be ready, so I would like the option to wait if necessary. Of course this is a year away, so it may not be an issue. Still I like to have the option.