Can my girl go to kindergarden before she turns 5?

Question

my girl is four she turns 5 on octover, and she never went to preschool, headstart or anything like that, and i've heard that she has to be five to start school

Answer 1

Some pubic schools allow children to start younger than five.  I am a public school teacher with over 11 years of experience and I strongly recommend letting your child turn five before she starts.  With much tougher standards in education today, younger students really struggle.  Do not start her in kindergarten until she is five.

Answer 2

We live in Virginia and they will not let anyone in after September 30th. My daughter will be 5 in October too and I couldn't bribe to get her in. Most private schools follow the state guidelines too so I was getting really upset because my daughter has had two years of preschool and is really smart. She is reading right now...

I finally found a homeschooling charter school that has a two day structured class and they send home lesson plans to work on at home. Good compromise for me. Hope you can find something for your daughter.

Answer 3

The cut-off date for admission to kindergarten is determined by your state, or in some cases the district.  Check here to see if your state will allow it:

http://users.stargate.net/~cokids/kinder...

If you feel your daughter is ready for kindergarten, but misses the cut off date, some states will allow a child to test into early admission.  Something to consider in your decision, is that kindergarten is NOT like it was even ten years ago.  It isn't organized playtime, but rather true academia.  Most kindergarten teachers are teaching to those five-year-olds, what was previously being taught in first grade.

Good luck,

: )  P

ds 9

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Answer 4

I started school at four, and know people who started at three. But it was private, so idk how public works.

Answer 5

just talk to the teacher of the kindergarden class if they don't know talk to the princilpe and ask him if it's ok for her to join

Answer 6

In CA a child must turn 5 before Dec. 2 to be enrolled in Kindergarten. Each state cut off date is different.

Answer 7

Each school district has it's own policy. Where I live you have to be 5 by 12/1, so some kids are still 4 when they start. Call your local school and ask. Also, try and find some sort of program for her this summer, even if it is only a couple of mornings a week. It will help her get used to being away from you and following routines. Kindergarten is pretty tough these days.

Answer 8

Depends on your local school district's policy -they must be 5 by August 1 here - if your daughter is too young, please consider a year of preschool before kindergarten - it will do her a world of good.

Answer 9

what is the cut off date for starting kindergarten in your school district? that should help. if the cut off date is before your daughter's birthday, don't push it...if the cut off isn't until december, send her...the cut off here is September 1, so she would be too young to attend kindergarten where i live. but if she can go, send him.

here's my story...my daughter's birthday is september 28. . . 28 days passed the cut off date. however, she was/is very gifted. i went to the school district and she had to do 4 (yes 4) standardized tests just to start at the age of 4...one being an IQ test and she had to score in the gifted range. she loves being the youngest in her class and has many friends. i don't regret sending her a year early at all.

if you do decide to send her, make sure she's ready. there will be kids going into kindergarten who can read and add already and there will be other kids who have never had any schooling, like your daughter. make sure your daughter recognizes colors, shapes, her name, can write her name, count objects (not just recite 1,2, 3, 4, 5..., but count actual objects).

basically, what it boils down to is the area you live in. most places are pushing back the enrollment age date...around here it's September 1 to be 5, but in a neighboring school district it's May 1 to be 5 and another is August 1. Call your local school district to see what the age requirement is and when you do, you can also ask for information on kindergarten readiness.

if she's not age eligible...i think you should strongly consider sending her to head start or some type of preschool at least 2 days a week for half a day, just to give her some prep for school.

one of the biggest advantages kids have going into kindergarten is their language skills. read to your daughter every day. that will increase her receptive language as well as her verbal language. the more a child understands, the more successful they are in kindergarten. so read, read, read.

Answer 10

i went to kindergarden when i was 4..

not bragging or anything ..but i was very very smart for my age. they wanted to put me in 1st grade but my mom didnt want me graduating highschool at 16.

i would have reccomended preschool as it teaches social skills..but ask the school principal if you can inroll her at 4. she may need to take a test, though. i did, but i turned out fine. i get straight a's and take all honors courses =]

goodluck

Answer 11

yes, my younger sister started at 3 because she was potty trained, new her abcs, and could count up to ten.

Answer 12

Depends on the cut off date to you school district.  Looks like someone already gave the website I had about cut-off dates.  Ours is 5 by Dec 1st.  In that case she would be able to attend.  Good luck!

Answer 13

depends on how smart she is or at least that is the way it is in most places. But when she gets older and is one of the youngest in her grade it might make her feel weird or left out.

Answer 14

yes, as long as she makes the deadline. Most deadlines for schools are in December birthdays. Most importantly is to make sure your girl is ready to go. That she can sat still and listen to directions. She is mature enough? Remember even Kindergarten is a learning place not for baby sitting..which I seen before.