Anonymous wrote:Kindergarten is overrated. If a child has been going to preschool, what is there to learn about the school structure and environment? There is a problem with a bright child becoming bored or just plain disappointed with what will be presented in school.

Oh boo hoo! And what exactly is the "problem?" Sounds very First World to me. I'm guessing even a bright child has something to learn in Kindergarten. Perhaps something about what life is like outside a hothoused environment where everything is designed to move a long at the speed he/she finds just right. I was reading well by kindergarten and tested off the charts, but still managed to make some life long friends in KG who might not have been as advanced academically but sure knew a heckuva lot more about getting along with people and having fun than I did.

This skipping kindergarten rant is just another veiled brag or an ill-advised attempt to push rote learning further down into early childhood. Just stop it now and let your kids be kids, and horrors, even waste a little time in their youth.

Some people tend to think that education is "accretion" an accumulation. Sometimes it is better to reflect and move more slowly--think about it.

Kindergarten is overrated. If a child has been going to preschool, what is there to learn about the school structure and environment? There is a problem with a bright child becoming bored or just plain disappointed with what will be presented in school.

Anonymous wrote:WHY skip Kindergarten?

Because it gives idiot parents something to brag about.

Anonymous wrote:I had an October birthday and started college (GU actually) at 17. If I had skipped any grade, I would have been 16 for freshman orientation.

Ditto.

WHY skip Kindergarten?

16:00 here -- *have" an October birthday. I'm not dead yet.

I had an October birthday and started college (GU actually) at 17. If I had skipped any grade, I would have been 16 for freshman orientation.

Yes, I skipped KG and entered college at 17. Pretty sure you would have skipped 2 years to enter at 16. I never had an issue throughout my schooling. Loved being the youngest and thriving.

Anonymous wrote:I did. Adult now. No big deal for kindergarten. Big deal at 16 when kids can drive. At 21 when friends can drink. But VERY big deal to be 16 as a freshman in college. No 16 year old needs to be at college. Ever.

Wouldn't you have to skip 2 years to be 16 in college? If I had skipped KG and started 1st grade at age 5, I would have been 5 months shy of 18 when starting college.

But I agree, I wouldn't send my kid off to college at 16. They can live at home while attending Georgetown if they're such a prodigy and then transfer to an Ivy after two years.

I did. Adult now. No big deal for kindergarten. Big deal at 16 when kids can drive. At 21 when friends can drink. But VERY big deal to be 16 as a freshman in college. No 16 year old needs to be at college. Ever.

My niece skipped K at a private school (not in this area) and thrived. She's at Brown now!

My 1st DS went to a private KG, however it was more like a preschool class. We did this to have the option of keeping him in KG for another year, since he is a late September birthday. We moved him to 1st the next year and it has worked out well. A few things that I have noticed now that my 2nd DS just finished KG in FCPS.

My 1st DS never had handwriting and this has been a problem for the past two years. And he missed out on tons of the traditions in our school that are a bonding experience for all the kids.

Even if your kid is the brightest, KG is worth it.

Learning the routines and structures of the elementary school is a huge part of kindergarten, as is the socialization, which is worth doing, even if you child already has socialization experience in preschool.
OP, if *after* kindergarten, your child's school feels strongly that your child is significantly advanced, both academically AND socially, you can with the school explore advanced work, Talented and Gifted programs, and/or grade acceleration (official term for grade skipping). This would be a better time to explore those options with your child's school, because the professional staff will really know your child.
Your child will enjoy kindergarten. K teachers in this area always receive a big mix of kids every year, and are very adept at making a great experience for each child.

A lot of families do private kindergarten which can be the same thing as a good preschool. It's no big deal around here and totally depends on the school. Some schools have tons of "accelerated" kids and others have very few.