When to start school

[newfoundland]

Our youngest granddaughter will be 4 years old on August 21st and will begin school at the beginning of September. She has been attending the school nursery for a year and now moves up to 'proper school'. She will now be there from 9 am to 3-15, be responsible for her own belongings, be able to take care of herself, for example change into shorts and t-shirt for games, and change back again etc. She will have 6 words a week to learn, begin numeracy, literacy, technology and science and of course I.T. Some of the children in her class will be already 5 and some will even be 6 as this class has reception children (4-5) and year one children (5-6). They of course are set different levels of work to do, but physically they are much bigger and stronger. She can already do simple addition and subtraction and can write her name, so I'm sure she is ready to learn more but I do worry that she is not physically ready for this transition. She was a tiny baby and still rather small for her age.

It is customary in the UK for children to start school in the year that they are 5, but this does disadvantage late summer babies who like our little girl are barely 4. What do others think?

 

[sourland]

No scientific studies here just personal experience. Two of my grand daughters started school early. Both are precocious and were 'self taught' reading by four years old. Heather was class co /valedictorian and has just completed her first year at Villanova. Catherine (Asian and adopted) is a straight A honor roll student. Both girls - two separate families - are soccer players and are good at the sport. Catherine although diminutive in size backs down from no one. One of my grand sons on the other hand did not mature socially as early as did these two girls. He started school a year later than usual and is also doing well. I think that it depends greatly upon the individual child. It sounds as if your grand daughter is prepared to move on to the next step in her education.

 

[ronott1]

Our youngest granddaughter will be 4 years old on August 21st and will begin school at the beginning of September. She has been attending the school nursery for a year and now moves up to 'proper school'. She will now be there from 9 am to 3-15, be responsible for her own belongings, be able to take care of herself, for example change into shorts and t-shirt for games, and change back again etc. She will have 6 words a week to learn, begin numeracy, literacy, technology and science and of course I.T. Some of the children in her class will be already 5 and some will even be 6 as this class has reception children (4-5) and year one children (5-6). They of course are set different levels of work to do, but physically they are much bigger and stronger. She can already do simple addition and subtraction and can write her name, so I'm sure she is ready to learn more but I do worry that she is not physically ready for this transition. She was a tiny baby and still rather small for her age.

It is customary in the UK for children to start school in the year that they are 5, but this does disadvantage late summer babies who like our little girl are barely 4. What do others think?

I agree with Sourland- it depends on the individual child. Generally Girls will mature faster than Boys.

As long as She can handle the hours of school ok, she should be fine.

 

[earlybird10842]

I "self-taught" myself to read as well, and since I knew how to read and do some basic math, my parents decided to put me into the first grade when I was 5 1/2. It went great, would have gone even better if I wasn't shy. BUT the following year we moved into a state where the normal starting age for kindergarten was five or SIX. So I was put in the second grade at six and a half. the kids were HUGE in comparison to me (It would be years before I wasn't the shortest in my class) I had my first experience with mean girls, felt utterly friendless, had a hard time getting used to the new expectations (You were expected to walk to the office by yourself and remember that you were to stay in for recess without reminders.) But the work was too easy, for the most part. (I had been reading chapter books, you think I need to sound out words in a eight page book?) I'm not saying this will happen, but just as a warning, if there is a move in the future, it may be a good idea to wait a year.

 

[Araucana16]

I have a unique opinion on this topic I think.. I am 13, almost 14 (I was born on the 19th, not the 21st, of August.) I am going into my freshman year of high school. So I took the option of coming in young, like you are considering.

It has some perks, but in some way it impedes me.

Perks :

- I am mature for my age, I don't think I could handle being with people any less mature than I already have to deal with.
- I've met so many friends in this grade I wouldn't have previously.
- I am a part of multiple organizations I wouldn't be able to this year had I started school at 6 rather than 5.
- School is a breeze for me, I think I'm in the right year in that way.

Impeding :

- I am very smart, in classes several years above grade level. This is a great thing for me getting into college, but if I was in 8th grade, going into Sophomore math and testing at 9th grade honors level classes, I would be in a much better education place.
- Everyone is older than me! It's odd, people turning 14 months before me.
- I don't have lots of opportunities I should. I can't become a certified EMT until I'm in college. Had I gone into school a year later, I would be able to my senior year.
- I will be able to drive as a junior (11th year). That's not the most convenient for me. I need to be able to drive, actually right now, so it would be better that I have that perk earlier on.

If you have any questions, I'm here.

 

[Araucana16]

Two other things :

I was very small for my grade. I was shorter than almost everyone up until this year, and now I'm 5'5, so tall enough that my height fits in well. I am still skinnier than most everyone, I weigh about 90 pounds. That was never a problem.

However, I was bullied, for 7 years. I had one friend, it was sad, and it really scarred me. I think my personality was a huge thing in this, I was very, very different, and very unaware to style and stuff. I stopped being bullied in middle school, when I found a way to be me only around friends (although in 6th grade I didn't really have any friends, I sat alone every day

) and also look like I fit in. It could have been impacted by me being small, clueless socially because of my age (mostly, I feel that was it. I've gotten wiser as I got older.), but I feel that my personality was the biggest factor.

 

[earlybird10842]

Two other things :

I was very small for my grade. I was shorter than almost everyone up until this year, and now I'm 5'5, so tall enough that my height fits in well. I am still skinnier than most everyone, I weigh about 90 pounds. That was never a problem.

However, I was bullied, for 7 years. I had one friend, it was sad, and it really scarred me. I think my personality was a huge thing in this, I was very, very different, and very unaware to style and stuff. I stopped being bullied in middle school, when I found a way to be me only around friends (although in 6th grade I didn't really have any friends, I sat alone every day

) and also look like I fit in. It could have been impacted by me being small, clueless socially because of my age (mostly, I feel that was it. I've gotten wiser as I got older.), but I feel that my personality was the biggest factor.

I, too was shy and clueless socially. I'm naturally an introvert, but age didn't help. After the first year in the new school things got a lot better, though.

 

[MeatKing]

At such a young age, the difference in children is quite large. Some will be bigger, some more social, some more acadimic.

I know here, in Ontario Canada we have Junior kinders and Seniors together. So anyways from 3-6 years of age, depending on when they were born in the year. It works great, the kids whom are more phisaclly devolped help kids whom aren't. Ei, help them change shoes, our put on snow suits ect.
The kids whom are more acadimic actually help their friends sing the abc's or the more social kids, go out've heir way and talk to other kids.

I think you should start her as soon as she's can. My daughter who's 4 started just when she turned 4. Is very shy, would never talk to anyone. When we went to school interview, they test the kids on, can you sing your abc, what num is this ect. She never spoke a word.. She did just fine, even though her teacher said she was quite, she did great

One of her best friends, is very short for her age.. (the whole family of kids are) Ei, boy in grade 4 is shorter than dd, in grade 1. All these children are the most outgoing, nicest kids you will ever meet.
Height does not matter at all. My kids have not noticed anyways. But they have stuck to this family like glue, because, they know how nice they are.

I would start her, worse case, you pull her out, best case, she makes many friends and has a blast.

 

[newfoundland]

Bless you Araucana, what a sweet person you sound. Many so called 'adults' do not have the perception and insight that you clearly have, no matter how many years they have been on this earth.

 

[MuckyPuppy]

I agree with the others that say that it depends on the child. I currently live in the UK and have four children, 2 boys (16 & soon to be 12) and 2 girls (10 & 5). They are all very smart kiddos.

The eldest knows that he is smart, he came up with the names of the houses in his former secondary school, and, unless he is really interested in a subject, is pretty much content to slide through school. He has a September birthday so he has been one of the eldest in his classes. Thinking back, I also feel that he had the hardest time initially finding his feet in school although he is fine now.

The second eldest has a July birthday so he has been one of the youngest in his classes. Like his older brother, he also knows he is smart but tries his hardest at everything he does. He is presenting the maths award he was given at his former primary school last year to the new winner this year at the leavers assembly and later on the same day he is getting a Principle's award for teaching a maths lesson to a year 5 class and then picking up another award at an award evening. He has had one of the easiest times finding his feet in school.

They both were/are in the top set in secondary school, eldest leaving for A levels in well regarded college, and so, easy start or hard start - younger start or older, they both managed to find their level in the end.