Should my daughter start kindergarten at age 4 going on 5 or age 5 going on 6?

Question

She is 3, will be 4 in late October, so she would be able to start kindergarten next school year (sept 2009).

She's our third child, so she has learned alot from her older brothers. She knows her alphabet, she can count to 18 and she's starting to write her name. She's even starting to recognize numbers.

She seems ready to start even now (she won't start until at the earliest next school year). My concern is that, okay, so now she seems ready but in 5 years from now will she start to fall behind.

I've had alot of opinions on this. Mostly of people holding their child behind and starting when they're 5 going on 6.

I'm not willing to put her in a pre-k program. I enjoy having them at home with me. Plus, most of the pre-k programs around where I am have all day programs. A full day is still too much even for my 2nd grader.

Thanks for any opinions!

Answer 1

I started kindergarten when I was 4 and im just fine now. Being older is akward for younger kids because they begin to have puberty before everyone else and thats just uncomfortable. It's also nice when everyone cares abuot looking younger she'll be the youngest!  

Answer 2

When she starts Kindergarten depends upon when she is READY to start.  

Answer 3

its always good to get a head start on education start young!   :)

Answer 4

If she's smart enough and capable then go for it. I think it's a great idea. And if she starts now, then no she won't fall behind. I know a lot of people that started that young and they're some of the smartest people I know. If she doesn't seem to be handling it, holding her back a year won't make a difference because then she will be the same age as everyone else.

Answer 5

Where I'm at, kindergarten is a full day program.  I would wait.  Simply because kindergarteners today are expected to learn a lot at a fairly quick pace.  I would be more comfortable with my child having that extra year to just be a young child before you add homework and everything else that goes with school on top of that.  In my district, she wouldn't be allowed to start school next year anyway.  The cut-off here for turning 5 is at least a good month before her birthday.  

Answer 6

Five going on six, that's when I and my son started let her live anouther year with out schooL!

Answer 7

All districs have different age cut offs. I don't know why people assume it's the same everywhere.

Anyway, I would say you have to base your decision on how ready she is at the time. If you think she is ready emotionally, socially, and academically, then send her. If not then wait.

I have twins who are an Oct. birthday as well. Our cut off is the end of Dec. I chose to hold them back because they were not ready. It was the best thing we ever did and now they are 13 and both honor roll students. That one extra year of preschool did wonders for them.

That's us though, and if you don't plan on putting her in preschool then she won't be getting the social interaction either so then maybe you could send her as long as she is ready in every way.

EDIT: kids who start later do not get made fun of, that's ridiculous. If anything my boys are looked up to because they are older than many of the kids in their grade. They all end up the same age by the end of the year or summer anyway geez.

Answer 8

4 on 5

Answer 9

I would say 5 going on 6.This is how I started my son.He was very ready too.Before he went we also did a lot of pre-k things because I enjoyed having him at home with me also.He was my oldest and I didn't want my baby already going to school.He is in kindergarten now and most of the kids are close to his age.

Answer 10

In my county you have to be five before September 30th.

Some parents like to hold there kids back, if they have summer birthdays. When my sister was in preschool, she has a summer birthday, the teacher suggested that my mom should held my sister back. She told my sister's teacher she is ready for Kindergarten. Now my sister is 22 years old, she did well in school and went to college. I was 5.5 years old when I had started Kindergarten. I had turn six years old in two months, while I was in Kindergarten.  She won't behind, that's super that she know how to count to 18 and even write her name.  

Answer 11

when i started school i barely made the deadline and my mom signed me up. i was NOT familiar with preschool nor had any older siblings to learn from and i had a rough time in school. but if you feel she is ready then i would go ahead. i didnt fail any grades but i did have problems just so you know.  

Answer 12

She sounds awfully smart so 4 going onto 5 would be great. It's better early than late, I remember kids starting late in elementary would get made fun of and it wasn't so nice.

Goodluck to ya!

S.Spiel

Answer 13

if kinda depend when her birthday is if it is late in the year then you might have to wait till she is 6 if it is early then you might be able to get her in at 5 it just depends

Answer 14

I would honestly say it depends on the emotional stability of the child. I would probably keep her until she's 5 going on 6 that way she's a little bit more mature.

There is nothing wrong with Pre-k. Pre-k helped my daughter be advanced, she is sailing past the other children in her kindergarten class. So don't put down Pre-k, for most children it's a great thing.

Answer 15

where i live the age for kindergarten is age 5 i think that is a good age for kids to be in school despite what they learn or have learned... i understand you love having your child at home with you but i also feel it is best for them even at age 5 to be in school all day it gets them ready for the years to come... i didn't think i would be ok with my 5 yr old son being in school all day but he said that he wanted to go to school ALL DAY so we did it and he loves it i dint know why but he does and that in the long run makes me happy  

Answer 16

If you contact the school, they may have a skills inventory that they would like all children to have mastered by entering Kindergarten.  It seems like she is ready on that path.

Perhaps the consideration would be in the social realm and how she maybe more immature in comparison to her peers, especially when she reaches middle school.

But personally, I'd start her sooner than later.  

Answer 17

I think a child has to be 5 by september of the year before they can start kindergarten.  

Answer 18

the younger the better. that way shell have extra time to catch on if she ever ends up needing it.