When should my daughter start kindergarten?

Question

My daughter will be 5 at the end of March. I know she is ready to start kindergarten now, but the school year is over in a couple months but I think waiting until September will only hold her back even more. She has been in preschool but it was more of a "play" enviroment. I took her out and have been teaching her to read with hooked on phonics (which is awesome by the way) and she enjoys it and does very well. However, I want her to be around other kids her age and actually learn. Does anyone have any advice on what I can do or any places I can take her. Would an elementary school let her start at the end of the year? Any suggestions will help. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

i think your child should start preschool at the age of 5-6

Answer 2

Continue to work with her. Get her to socialize through daycare, the park, playgroups, etc. Most schools won't let you enroll your child in Kindergarten simply because your child has turned 5. Most schools require that the child turn 5 by September 1 of that year to enroll for that school term. Besides, your child would be far enough behind (whether or not you worked with her) that she would have to repeat Kindergarten anyway. It's ok for her to be 6 in Kindergarten. It's more common anyway now that many schools have a Pre-K system in place.

Answer 3

4yrs.old

Answer 4

In CA, it is ages5-6.

Answer 5

i don't

Answer 6

Wait until September and let her start school at the beginning of the year.  Socially kids in the class have formed their  groups, and it could delay her socially if she does not fit in right now.  She may be very advanced for her age, and I don't think they actually teach children to read in Kindergarten.  You may have her tested to see if next year she may be appropriate for grade 1.  However, she does need to be able to sit and pay attention for longer periods of time.

Answer 7

Why don't you home school her? She can get interaction from other children through church, dance classes, gymnastics, swimming and local home school groups that get together for fun and interaction.

She would not be allowed to start kindergarten at the end of the year. You will have to wait until August for that. However if you want to home school her you can start whenever you want. Here is a great curriculum, but of course there are many others out there.

http://www.sonlight.com/5years.html

Answer 8

My girls stared late there birthdays where in Nov. and Dec. so they where a little more mature than the other kids but they did great in school. My son started early his birthday was the cut off date in Sept. and he struggled with school and did not even want to go to collage. I think it depends on the child's maturity.

Answer 9

The school isn't going to want her to start mid-year.  If she is already reading, why don't you contact the elementary school and ask to have a meeting with the kindergarten teacher?  Or just ask what the school objectives and goals are for the end of kindergarden (like knowing their phone number and address, colors, counting to 100, reading simple sentences, etc.)  You might be able to teach her all of that at home, and then have the elementary school test her and move her right into first grade in the fall.  Most teachers say the only thing kids learn in kindergarten is how to stand in line and not drop their tray in the lunch room!  She'll pick all that up the first week of first grade.  Good luck!

Answer 10

No public school (and probably no private either) will let a child begin school midyear.....just do what you can yourself to prep her and she will be fine. If she is only going to be five and a half, you're not holding her back. A few extra months of development cognitively can be a good thing.

Answer 11

Don't worry if your child doesn't get to kindergarten as long she knows the stuff to know. Example- she needs to know how to write her name, her ABC's, and some other things she needs to know how to do. Perhaps talk to the office in your local elementary school(s). With the No Child Left Behind Act, you don't have to worry about being rejected from the school, but having your daughter in the class. Work your butt off to obtain your daughter's education, she needs it, and prepare counterarguements and back-up reasons for your child to continue kindergarten just in case.

Hopefully, you are able to have your child in the system.

Answer 12

I say let her start at the beginning of the year. My daughters b-day is in January and she started in Sept. So she was 5 for 8 months before she started kindergarten. She is doing well. It's not going to hurt to wait. It's way more fun to start when it's new for everybody.

Answer 13

Most elementary schools do not allow middle-of the year enrollments, but it might be a good try to check with your school. Also, try this website. It provides good information about how to tell whether your child is ready for school.

http://childparenting.about.com/cs/k6edu...

good luck!

Answer 14

NY it is 5 by December. I have the same problem too. my daughter is quite advanced as well. I feel I would let her excel when she wants to. I know children who are advanced and they went ahead on their own. Skipping grades and what not. You are giving her the challenges she wants, keep it up, and sign her up when she is supposed to.