Can i put my daughter in school early? (teachers? moms? anyone? HELP)

[Farmer Kitty]

If you have a head start type program go with that. If you start her in a 4k program she will be younger than the rest of the kids.

Both of my girls were more than ready to start when they turned 4. Kute Kitten was 4 a few weeks after the cutoff and Peanut was 4 a week or so before the cutoff. I held them both and I'm glad I did. I watch the younger kids in Kute Kittens' class struggle. Peanut will start this fall but, we know several of the kids she will go to school with. The difference of her being older is amazing. Don't rush them to school as they push so much at them giving a child the extra year to grow in knowledge and maturity really makes a difference, IMO.

 

[Picky Chicky]

Definitely keep her with kids her age - while she may be light years ahead of them scholastically speaking.. I'm thinking it's better that she be with kids her own age for emotional reasons. I was one of those kids that got put in school a year early and ended up getting held back by 2nd grade. Go figure. Then again, I was never an "A" student.

You might also think about contacting your local Montissori school...

 

[Western Chick]

Quote:
I have to agree...don't they grow up too fast anyway?

Besides, kindergarten isn't so much about what they can do but how well they are prepared mentally, physically and socially. My oldest is in kindergarten now and it is hard for him. Not so much the learning and doing things- he excels there, but it is physically exhausting for him. We have all day, every day kindergarten and kind of wish it was every other day because he could use more rest during the week. I can't get him to bed early enough on school nights for him to be well-rested for the day. It has been quite a transition.

My youngest is four but will be five in time for kindergarten next year. She could hold a conversation when she was two, write her name at three and write her last name as well as the names of all of our family members and count to 100+ by the time she turned four. Still I saw no need to start her in kindergarten early.

 

[BellLisamo]

thanks for all the information. ill look into head strart and those types of things, she loves school and begs to go. So i'll try her in one of those for now.

thanks again!

 

[kees]

Something that might be of interest is that many school districts now are mandating that students be older before entering kindergarten. That way, the school district's test scores will be higher, presumably because older children will fare better on standardized tests than younger children. High test scores make school districts look good.

Suzy

 

[CovenantCreek]

My bday is Sept 27, so I made it into K as a 4 yr old, then turned 5 a few weeks later. I think my mom told me that the cut off date was earlier than that, but she was able to get me in anyway. I was definitely ready for it, and it sounds like your daughter is too.

My daughter, otoh, has her bday on Oct 12 -- too far after the Sept 30 cut off where we are -- but even if I could have tried to get her in last year, she wasn't ready.

eta: She's just turning 4 this year? I guess I read the original post wrong the first time.

If she's turning 4 after the school year starts, then I would hold off and let her go to a preschool-type program for a year. Check into "Mom's Day Out" programs, sometimes they have a more structured learning environment rather than just being a play date for the kids -- and they can be less expensive than regular preschool. Some preschools also offer half day programs that might work for you as well. Also check into whether your school district offers a pre-K program. They have one here, but only in a few select schools, usually in the more out of the way locations.

 

[lovemychix]

My daughter was ready to go and she was born on the cut off day. Sept. 15. It depends on the school, some will let them go and some won't.

 

[lisahaschickens]

I agree with keeping her with kids her own age - head start program or something would be great for her. I had a friend that could read, write, etc, at four (so could I, but I went to school at the normal average age anyway) and so her parents put her in early. She was in my grade, one year younger. She was always way up there close to the top of the class academically, but she had SUCH a hard time making friends because she was just physically/emotionally/socially younger. Her "youngness" plagued her until late high school, at least. She was great academically but was generally miserable socially. She was my friend, but as part of a group of girls all older than her, she really did try our patience sometimes... everything happened later for her than for us (think... blooming physically, changing interests, etc) and she was always behind and it made it hard. I truly believe in letting kids go to school with kids their own ages even if they are way ahead academically - there are all kinds of supplemental programs for bright/gifted kids that can keep them busy and extra-educated.

 

[new2chix]

As a teacher I would never recommend putting a child in school early. If she loves the "school" experience, enroll her in a part - time preschool which can challenge her. I would suggest taking her places if possible (zoos, state parks, museums, parades, concerts, libraries, etc). The wider variety of experiences you can give her will help her more than going to school a year early. Also realize she will always be a year younger than her classmates if she starts early (less physically mature for sports, last to drive, last to date, perhaps last to "develop", etc.). It's the time a parent spends doing things (looking at, reading, discussing, finding out about whatever) with their child before they start school that sets the pattern for learning being fun - makes my job a lot more enjoyable.


Edited because I really can spell - I just can't type!

 

[Domestic_goddess]

My daughter is 5 years old, Her birthday is September 2nd, and they wouldn't let her in, ONE day off the cut off. But that's Utah, I'm not sure about your state. I'm actually glad she had another year of pre-school before going to kindergarten. I would look into a pre-school, they have some great programs out there, I wouldn't rush it! She sounds like she's very smart and she'll be even smarter going into Kindergarten if you wait. Also--make sure she's mature enough to handle starting school, it really makes a difference in school, her attention span..ect might not be where it needs to be, even if she is very smart. I have 4 children, for my oldest I started him at just barely 5 years old and he ended not being ready or mature enough and had to do kindergarten over again. GOOD LUCK!!!