Best time to start Kindergarten?
Jun 1st 2010 | 7:24 am
#16
The Pixies still Rule.
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 573
From: Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
Re: Best time to start Kindergarten?
We recently enrolled my eldest daughter in to Kindergarten, and she's due to start in August/September. She'll be 5 in November.
She's always been, in my opinion, very mature for her age. In terms of her milestones, she was ahead of the curve- walking at 10 months, fully toilet trained before she was 2. She knows her alphabet, can count to a hundred (with a little bit of help), and is starting to read.
We've had her in a pre-K class for the last 2 terms, and she really enjoys it.
My wife is now having second thoughts, and is thinking we should hold her back another year. The concern being that she'll be one of the youngest in the class, and whilst it might not matter much now, it will when she's a teenager. Both of us agree she's ready for kindergarten- emotionally and developmentally.
Was wondering what other peoples thoughts/experiences are on the issue.
Thanks!
She's always been, in my opinion, very mature for her age. In terms of her milestones, she was ahead of the curve- walking at 10 months, fully toilet trained before she was 2. She knows her alphabet, can count to a hundred (with a little bit of help), and is starting to read.
We've had her in a pre-K class for the last 2 terms, and she really enjoys it.
My wife is now having second thoughts, and is thinking we should hold her back another year. The concern being that she'll be one of the youngest in the class, and whilst it might not matter much now, it will when she's a teenager. Both of us agree she's ready for kindergarten- emotionally and developmentally.
Was wondering what other peoples thoughts/experiences are on the issue.
Thanks!
Jun 1st 2010 | 7:39 am
#17
half a century
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 10,222
From: Sarf Lundun to East Van :)
Re: Best time to start Kindergarten?
Not sure bout the youngsters - but by the time they get to secondary school there is such a mix of age groups I dont think it matters.
My daughter should be in Gr9 but is in Gr 10 but has been put in Gr 11 for Spainish. Some in her class are 16 and starting to drive, she wont be 16 til Feb - she will have to wait - that's life!
She may have a year out to travel after grad- she may go back to Uk for A levels -there are so many variables!
One of her friends is on Gr 10 french has Gr8 kids in the class as they came from a late french immersion elementary - its all mixed up !
My daughter should be in Gr9 but is in Gr 10 but has been put in Gr 11 for Spainish. Some in her class are 16 and starting to drive, she wont be 16 til Feb - she will have to wait - that's life!
She may have a year out to travel after grad- she may go back to Uk for A levels -there are so many variables!
One of her friends is on Gr 10 french has Gr8 kids in the class as they came from a late french immersion elementary - its all mixed up !
Jun 1st 2010 | 9:30 am
#18
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,402
From: South of Calgary
Re: Best time to start Kindergarten?
To the OP: if your youngest would have been the youngest in the class in the UK, would you have held them back purely because of this fact (if you had been allowed to)?
Jun 1st 2010 | 4:48 pm
#19
Canuck/Aussie
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,547
From: BC, Canada
Re: Best time to start Kindergarten?
I was always the youngest in my class (born Dec 24) and never had an issues with age. I probably wasn't even aware I was the youngest until my friends started getting their licence, which was no problem either. My point is I don't remember being treated any different so it's not something you can assume will happen. So your comment that it will matter when she is a teenager isn't a guarantee. It could matter but in my opinion will likely make very little difference.
My daughter will also be the youngest in her class. We're moving back to Ontario and her birthday is Dec 27th, so she is almost guaranteed to be the youngest. To top that off she's going into grade 2 and will be skipping 6 months as she's only half done grade 1 here in Australia. I have no issues with any of this as she's at the top of her class and is very mature for her age. I could probably make a good case for holding her back considering she'll only be half done grade 1 when she starts grade 2 but I just don't see the point when she's ready.
That's just my opinion anyway. It's what's best for her and as her mom (and a teacher) I think it's the right thing. I just think the age cut-offs are there for a reason so I don't particularly agree with holding a kid back to try and give them an advantage. No issues with holding kids back when it's warranted academically or socially, but in your case there really is no other reason.
My daughter will also be the youngest in her class. We're moving back to Ontario and her birthday is Dec 27th, so she is almost guaranteed to be the youngest. To top that off she's going into grade 2 and will be skipping 6 months as she's only half done grade 1 here in Australia. I have no issues with any of this as she's at the top of her class and is very mature for her age. I could probably make a good case for holding her back considering she'll only be half done grade 1 when she starts grade 2 but I just don't see the point when she's ready.
That's just my opinion anyway. It's what's best for her and as her mom (and a teacher) I think it's the right thing. I just think the age cut-offs are there for a reason so I don't particularly agree with holding a kid back to try and give them an advantage. No issues with holding kids back when it's warranted academically or socially, but in your case there really is no other reason.
Last edited by comet555; Jun 1st 2010 at 4:52 pm.
