I would do it. If your daughter is really bright it would be better for her to be the youngest than the oldest. December would be one of the oldest.

My daughter was in a somewhat similar spot last year. She’s an October birthday so it was a really close call, but we kept her in pre-K. She’s supposed to start K this fall on time at 5, almost 6. She certainly could have kept up with the K curriculum last year but I’m so glad I kept her back. She can be quite bossy and stubborn, and also struggles with anxiety. For me, it came down to the social aspects. With her personality, I thought another year of play would help a lot, and figured we could always supplement academics on the side. I also didn’t like the idea of her eventually starting college at 17, being last to drive, etc.

She did great in another year of pre-K and has gained more confidence in social skills so I think it was the right call. She still managed to pick up multiplication and can read chapter books, despite not being pushed ahead in K. Now, I’m a little terrified about Zoom classes for K with a bossy, stubborn, anxious kid, which is probably one more reason not to push your kid ahead this year!

Preschool and K are like the dessert of school. Discovery! Play! Why would you shortchange your child? This program sounds terrible that she has "mastered the curriculum" - what crap is their curriculum?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ha. She needs space for another kid in K4 class.

This. The op’s kid is expendable b/c she’s bright. I never realized how manipulative private schools were to parents to maintain their class size. This happened to us too.

I agree except it has nothing to do with a bright kid being expendable. It has to do with wanting to unload a bossy, rigid, child on someone else.

Except they couldn’t make this suggestion for a kid who seemed average or less than average.

I went to K with a "next April" birthday. I.e., I didn't turn 5 until the end of the K school year.

I was gifted and went to gifted programs 4-12.

I... I don't think "1st grade level" is all that advanced. It's advanced! Maybe gifted! But it's not prima facie evidence that someone should be started early.

For the record it was the right decision for me in terms of academics, but probably not socially.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ha. She needs space for another kid in K4 class.

This. The op’s kid is expendable b/c she’s bright. I never realized how manipulative private schools were to parents to maintain their class size. This happened to us too.

I agree except it has nothing to do with a bright kid being expendable. It has to do with wanting to unload a bossy, rigid, child on someone else.

No way, and I say this having an identified gifted Nov birthday DC who went to kindergarten at 5. No freaking way.

Just pushing gifted kids up a grade does not help them. Preschool should be about fun and open ended learning. I had my ds in a completely playbased preschool for this reason. No letter of the week BS. He played games he and his friends made up about Greek mythology. He built stuff, he climbed, he rode scooters.

One grade skip doesn't help gifted kids much at all but it does increase the social distance between them and their peers.

If the preschool program is so rigid I would keep her home this year (hello, PANDEMIC anyway) and read with her, play games with her, play math games with her, and then put her in K next year.

My yds is a younger sibling as well, and he is mature for his age. He is far better able to handle social issues than his brother was at the same grades, being 6 months younger.

That combination of younger and socially behind and gifted makes kids really struggle socially, especially when they get to middle school age.

Yes, I would definitely let her start kindergarten. She’s going to be five in December and the school thinks she’s ready.

I came here to roll my eyes at the humble brag, since everyone on dcum has a child prodigy but somehow OP doesn’t seem obnoxious. My guess is your DD is a bit of a challenge to have in class since she is bored and bossy to her peers, which is why director was annoyed. I’d stand my ground and if they can’t find ways to challenge her, I’d be looking at other schools.

Anonymous wrote:Ha. She needs space for another kid in K4 class.

Yep! Former preschool teacher here. This is how so many decisions are made. The director isn’t happy because that’s one less paying student. Don’t let them pressure you.

Can she try K for a week or two? I think if she knows the pre-k curriculum, I would move her up especially if she attends an entire school day. I would think she would be bored in preK is she’s testing close to first grade level.

Anonymous wrote:Ha. She needs space for another kid in K4 class.

This. The op’s kid is expendable b/c she’s bright. I never realized how manipulative private schools were to parents to maintain their class size. This happened to us too.

Nope. She is trying to get another kid in there which seems like she may not be the best preschool director around— so then maybe move her completely!

If she was a Sept bday I would probably say yes. dec, I’m not inclined. She will always be the youngest by a lot.

I would move her up but have her repeat K. next year as most kids at the oldest are September and on a rare occasion October for starting ahead.