Availing of free preschool year

Serra

Hi, I really need advice please. My son turned 4 on 12 of Feb and he seems school ready for Sept and has secured a place in educate together but he is among the youngest in his class.. I see mounting evidence of waiting till after 5 but he will be 5 n a half then and I think he needs intellectual stimulation. On the other hand, I know older kids always have an edge in maturity. Secondly, if we ever move to the UK, he will have to skip a class probably as he would be over the age of his respective class there at that time.. kindly advise me

Big Bag of Chips

If he starts school in Sept he will be among one of the youngest in the class. If you keep him until next year he almost certainly will be the oldest. Only you can really decide how ready he is. Not just academically, but socially and emotionally. I know of more boys than girls who were held until they were 5 and a half to start school and all of them seem to get on fine. In my son's class there is over a year between the oldest (March baby) and the youngest (June baby) but they all seem to be managing. In 3 other classes I know of 4 boys who have been kept back because they started at 4 and struggled over the years. The girls all seem to be ok!

It really is up to you.

Have you plans to move to the UK?

WhatsGoingOn2

Serra wrote: »

Hi, I really need advice please. My son turned 4 on 12 of Feb and he seems school ready for Sept and has secured a place in educate together but he is among the youngest in his class.. I see mounting evidence of waiting till after 5 but he will be 5 n a half then and I think he needs intellectual stimulation. On the other hand, I know older kids always have an edge in maturity. Secondly, if we ever move to the UK, he will have to skip a class probably as he would be over the age of his respective class there at that time.. kindly advise me

My son started school at 4, his birthday is February 13th.
Absolutely no problems, and glad he started as he would have been bored in creche for another year. There are kids in his class over a year older than him, so he was going to 7th birthday parties for class friends when he was 5 (a month before his 6th birthday). But it depends on the child. If you feel he is ready for it, go for it.

Serra

WhatsGoingOn2 wrote: »

My son started school at 4, his birthday is February 13th.
Absolutely no problems, and glad he started as he would have been bored in creche for another year. There are kids in his class over a year older than him, so he was going to 7th birthday parties for class friends when he was 5 (a month before his 6th birthday). But it depends on the child. If you feel he is ready for it, go for it.

Hi, thanks for replying.. mine's birthday is Feb 12 .. were there other kids his age or around him in class ?? My older one was Jan 29 and he went in September and seemed fine. But now with the availability of another preschool year, most kids his age are being held back.. if I see him individually, I'd be inclined to send him but if I see the class as a whole, then I wouldn't want him to be the youngest .. if you know what I mean

WhatsGoingOn2

Serra wrote: »

Hi, thanks for replying.. mine's birthday is Feb 12 .. were there other kids his age or around him in class ?? My older one was Jan 29 and he went in September and seemed fine. But now with the availability of another preschool year, most kids his age are being held back.. if I see him individually, I'd be inclined to send him but if I see the class as a whole, then I wouldn't want him to be the youngest .. if you know what I mean

He is the youngest by about 2 months in his class.
However, there are 3 classes of approx 25 pupils in his year, and there are younger kids than him in the other classes.

Serra

WhatsGoingOn2 wrote: »

He is the youngest by about 2 months in his class.
However, there are 3 classes of approx 25 pupils in his year, and there are younger kids than him in the other classes.

And you have never seen him lagging behind or struggling in any social or mental aspect?

WhatsGoingOn2

Serra wrote: »

And you have never seen him lagging behind or struggling in any social or mental aspect?

No, he is very happy. Glad we went ahead and put him into the school at that age. But, as you know, every child is very different, so only you will really know what is best for your son.

Knit wit

My son was born 12 Feb 2002. I sent him to school at 4.5. He's now 15 and sitting his j.c. I regret sending him so young. He sailed through primary school. Secondary school however he was younger than his peers, who hit puberty sooner. It's tough on him. Don't just think of how he'll fit at 4 ... Please consider how he will fit at 14. Good luck whatever u decide.

Knit wit

My son was born 12 Feb 2002. I sent him to school at 4.5. He's now 15 and sitting his j.c. I regret sending him so young. He sailed through primary school. Secondary school however he was younger than his peers, who hit puberty sooner. It's tough on him. Don't just think of how he'll fit at 4 ... Please consider how he will fit at 14. Good luck whatever u decide.