I have just moved back to this country to find that children don´t go to school full time till the age of six!

Question

My son started full time in Spain (not compulsory) at the age of three. By the age of six I can´t but wonder the differences between his education and that of his "peers" in Spain. It also enables parents to find a full time job. What is going on in this country with children´s education. Is this just a matter of money?

Answer 1

I live in Ontario Canada and I started junior kindergarten at the age of three.  (in 1992) We all started at 3 or 4 (depending on your  birthdate). Although, junior kindergarten is not compulsory.

Answer 2

This is not necessarily true.  My son started kindergarten on a full time basis at 5, but some kids in his class were 4.  Depends upon where you live and what school district.

Answer 3

It depends on where you live. In the city of Boston 4 year old children can attend full time public school (k1). It is public so there is no charge for this program.

Answer 4

Homeschool until you feel the school fits your child's level and difficulty.

Answer 5

That's what pre-school is for. Pre-school, however; is not required & you pay for it personally (unless you get some kind of financial support).... whereas regular public school is required & is paid for by taxpayers.

Answer 6

Well  I grow up in another  country  Guatemala,  were  kids  start  school   early,   but  most  of the times  depends  on when or how  early  you want  your kids  start  school...My cousin owns  a  private  school   were  are kids  as  early of  18 months   and  when they  start   1rst  grade  it make  it very   easy...Here  in  the  States  some  people  do get  their kids very  early  but public=free  school  is starting at 4   the  early and  sometimes  even 3  if  they are in  early chilhood   that  is  fo r people  that  have very low  income.  So all  depends  in  the  States  is  private ones i have  a friend  that her  girls  are only  2 years old  and  they do are going  to  school  already   so I say  is  not  that truth  about  you opinion  is matter of  monetary  issue  only.

Answer 7

Well, it's not required for children to go to school until 6 years of age, but many parents send their children to preschool or day-care centers that have structured curriculum.  You said that it's not compulsory in Spain to send your child to school, which means that you don't have to. This is how it is the United States also, it is not something we do, just something that is suggested.  I am studying early childhood and I know that plenty of parents send their children into a preschool or a day care center to give them a head start on early learning.  But what you also said is right too, many familes are not able to afford to send their children to school until the required age because of money costs and the extra gas ( more $$).  But the education system does need some fixing in the United States.

Answer 8

Why are parents so eager to get their children away from them as early as possible and for as long as possible? I just don't understand it.

Answer 9

Where the heck are you living...in the US children can start going to day care at 6 weeks!  Most start at 2 or three years of age...it's called pre-school and they usually aren't allowed into Kindergarten until they have had a year.  Also, Kindergarten takes children at 5 years (depending on their birth date).

The difference you may be referring to is that it is not funded by the state and here you must pay till kindergarten; however in Florida where I am and some other states, they pay for one year of pre-school...

Answer 10

I don't know why they start at this age but most states cut off dates are sept 1. They can start at the age of 6.As long as there born on or before the sept 1 date.  Sometimes the children are let in at the age of 5.  The ultimate decision is left up to the principal, teacher and pyschologist.  I foud this web-site very informative.