Age to start primary?

LouNor

My daughter was born the end of January therefore will be either 4 years and 7 months or 5years and 7 months starting primary school. Ideally I would love her to be 5 starting but thinking maybe 5 and 7 months is just that bit too old? Advice appreciated.

byhookorbycrook

This is always a hot point of debate. Some schools ask for the child to be a certain age, so that may be a factor. She may be ready "academically" but how is she socially?

Chin_Up

LouNor wrote: »

My daughter was born the end of January therefore will be either 4 years and 7 months or 5years and 7 months starting primary school. Ideally I would love her to be 5 starting but thinking maybe 5 and 7 months is just that bit too old? Advice appreciated.

It's a tough one alright but again it depends on the child. As the saying goes you'll never regret not sending her. Is she in Montessori? Normally they give you advise before school to see if they're ready etc
Good luck!

THESPIDER

Kept both of mine till five. One was five and seven month too. No regrets at all. Are so much more mature and comfortable in themselves and luckily have not struggled academically. Alot of other parents have commented to me that they were sorry that they did not hold their children till five. The difference comes when they hit fourth class up. They can struggle a bit. I just feel you can never regret holding them but sometimes people regret sending them at four and you cant get that year back. All kids are different but if your gut tells you to hold her then wait.

iwillhtfu

THESPIDER wrote: »

Kept both of mine till five. One was five and seven month too. No regrets at all. Are so much more mature and comfortable in themselves and luckily have not struggled academically. Alot of other parents have commented to me that they were sorry that they did not hold their children till five. The difference comes when they hit fourth class up. They can struggle a bit. I just feel you can never regret holding them but sometimes people regret sending them at four and you cant get that year back. All kids are different but if your gut tells you to hold her then wait.

I think independent is the word you're looking for I've yet to meet a mature child.

OP you'll know yourself. Our first was 4 1/2 but she was very out going and we figured we'd try it out worst case scenario we take her out and start again the following year.

The next we held back a year as she was a bit more introverted and lacking the same confidence as the first.

There's no right or wrong despite what some will tell you.

Their academic ability isn't really relevant at that level. Yes some will be quicker to pick things up but all children are catered for. In our childs specific school the main issue was with some children understanding English as the parents used their own native language as the primary language which to some degree is understandable but that's another can of worms.

Good luck.

byhookorbycrook

Repeating a class or starting in primary and then pulling out are not routes I'd recommend. I'd prefer a child to be older rather than younger starting.

iwillhtfu

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

I'd prefer a child to be older rather than younger starting.

That's your preference.

As I pointed out some will tell you this is BLACK others will swear it's WHITE

There is no right or wrong to consider other wise as it's your own preference would be foolish.

As it happens I do agree an older start is better than repeating a year later on.

THESPIDER

A child can be independent in how they go places on their own etc but can at the same time be very imature. This comes into play with decision making, peer pressure etc. Imaturity , irrespective of ones actual years ie child or adult can lead to pressures and difficulties in life. This is just my opinion on maturity v independence. I personally was happier that my kids were five but they are all different and at the end of the day the best any of us can do is have a good think about it and then go with our gut.

byhookorbycrook

iwillhtfu wrote: »

That's your preference.

As I pointed out some will tell you this is BLACK others will swear it's WHITE

There is no right or wrong to consider other wise as it's your own preference would be foolish.

As it happens I do agree an older start is better than repeating a year later on.

I speak as a learning support teacher with over 25 years of experience, I have seen many younger children struggle, so I feel I am entitled to an informed "preference".

Of course many children will be fine starting at 4 but many won't either, so why risk it? A non school ready child will have feelings of poor self esteem as well as academic issues.

alexanderomahon

As a primary school teacher in my 50's I would say the older the better. It is scandalous that in this country children can start school so early.

heldel00

THESPIDER wrote: »

Kept both of mine till five. One was five and seven month too. No regrets at all. Are so much more mature and comfortable in themselves and luckily have not struggled academically. Alot of other parents have commented to me that they were sorry that they did not hold their children till five. The difference comes when they hit fourth class up. They can struggle a bit. I just feel you can never regret holding them but sometimes people regret sending them at four and you cant get that year back. All kids are different but if your gut tells you to hold her then wait.

The difference happens a lot sooner than fourth class Spider. For some children starting too early can cause problems from day one.

Aineoil

As a learning support teacher for the past 12 years (teaching 29 in total this year) I agree with hookorbycrook and alexanderomahon, starting your child older is better.

From my own personal experience I started school before the age of four, you could do that in the 1960's. It wasn't a great choice. I didn't have any academic problems but I was just immature compared with my peers.

I had to repeat fourth class because I was too young. I could never understand as a child why I had to repeat when I found school work relatively easy.

I started my own son at age five. He's now 18, just less than two months off his 19th birthday and I think starting him at 5 and partaking in transition year in secondary school have benefited him greatly from a social point of view.

OP best of luck what ever you decide to do.

Education is a marathon not a race.

THESPIDER

heldel00 wrote: »

The difference happens a lot sooner than fourth class Spider. For some children starting too early can cause problems from day one.

Totally agree that it can be there from day one but a lot of parents dont see the problem till later on usually when they hit fourth and fifth class. People including relatives pulled lots of faces at me when I refused to send my eldest at four but I thankfully stood my ground and as I said earlier im not one bit sorry. Lifes a hard enough struggle so why put them in the rat race prematurely!

scooby77

As principal of fairly big primary school I second older the better mantra of previous posters. It's a surprisingly common query every spring. I always encourage parents to wait a year if in doubt and remind them that repeating a year, without exceptional reason eg absence through serious illness, is not an option. Think long term-at potentially what age do you want your child to move away to college?