What age to start kindergarten for Irish Twins

Erin - posted on 01/05/2011

my girls will go to school together....my older one will miss the cut off date by a few days, so she will be 6 when she starts...and my younger one is the 3rd child, so i am guessing that she is NOT going to want to wait until she is 6 to start....i am sure she will be more than ready. so one will be JUST 5, and the other will be nearly 6 (they will prob both be 5 when they start!).

Michelle - posted on 06/03/2009

Your post sounds like you think she is ready but are just concerned that she will be one of the youngest. With girls, I think they are typically ready before boy. Both of my girls are August birthdays and there maybe one kid younger than them in their classes - 1 grade apart. They are doing fine academically and socially. They 'play up' in soccer to be with the kids in their class and they do perfectly fine with that.

Cassie - posted on 04/29/2009

I have had the same problems and concerns with my kids. My daughter will be 4 in September and just made the cut off date to start pre-kindergarten in the fall. We have decided to go ahead and send her knowing that she will be one of the youngest in the class. There is always that chance that they will end up in the same class at school, but they have shared so much in their lives, that expreiencing school at the same time may not seem like such a big deal to them!

Lynda - posted on 03/27/2009

I think if she is doing well in pre school it would be good for her to go on to kindergarten. I have 2 girls that are 8 and a hlaf months apart and the oldest also has a july birthday. She will be 4 this july and will start preschool in August. I also don't want my girls to be in the same grade. I think it will cause them to have to constantly explain themselves and make them feel awkward in later grades. I think the decision to send her should be based on how well she is doing though and not on how old her looks. :) good luck. I am intersted to hear what you decide since I will be in the same boat next year.

Jessica - posted on 01/27/2009

I would start this year if I were you.  My son's teacher was talking of holding him back in kindergarten, but I refused.  I did not want him and his younger sister in the same grade.  I knew it would be too hard for him.  I worked with him.  He is in sixth grade now, and gets all As and Bs. 

Beth - posted on 01/26/2009

Hi, my daughters are 10 1/2 months apart also. Oldest will be 5 on 12-6-09 youngest will be 4 on 10-17-09. Michigan has a rule that kids can't start kindergarten until they are 5 on or before 12-1 so my oldest can't start kindergarten until fall 2010 so next fall we will be sending our girls to a preschool class at our public schools called young 4's together splitting them the following year by sending the older one to Kindergarten and the younger one to developmental kindergarten and then kindergarten the following year. We really don't want them in the same class and given that our older girl has a December birthday this is the only way we can split them. Good luck.

Katherine - posted on 01/20/2009

This was a HUGE stress for me a year or so ago too! So...your oldest will be 5 when she starts school? Did she go to preschool? If so, they would most likely be able to give you a good idea of whether or not she's ready. Again, I had the same concern w/ my girls - my oldest turned 5 in Sept of last year (a few weeks after starting Kindergarten) and my youngest is only 11mos behind (August Bday-Kindergarten this year) SO, they're both quite young for their grades (and also both a couple of the tallest in their grades) - It's a conundrum - they'll always either be way older or younger, but you'll find out very soon what's best for them. If she seems academically and emotionally ready to YOU, then I say go for it! If it turns out to not be a good fit for her, then you'll have to go from there and plan for the potential of having 2 kids in one grade (and never let on that it bothers you, or it will bother them and make for a rough lifetime of jealousy/competition/issues, etc) You may, however, be surprised at how well she does - and your involvement makes all the difference, ya know? I'm happy to say that after a few years of wondering how it would go, I have a 'young' 1st grader who's at the top of her class...and some of her classmates are an entire year older than her. It'll all work out, as long as you normalize it ('cause it will be normal, whatever you choose) they won't be stressed by it and they'll enjoy school more. Good luck!

Tiffany - posted on 01/19/2009

Hi, I am new to this board and the mother of 2 boys born 9 months and 27 days apart. I am also a former kindergarten teacher. Utilize those people that know your daughter best; her preschool teacher, her pediatrician, another caregiver, etc. Does your state do a kindergarten assessment? In the state where we live most kids are assessed around their 4th birthday. The early childhood educators are a great resource for questions like yours. I was advised not to send my kids to kindergarten together. They are now in 1st and 2nd grade and I feel we made the right choice. If she is ready, send her. Another thing you may want to do is schedule a time to tour your elementary school. You could then discuss your concerns with the principal or one of the K teachers. I did this and found it most helpful. Good luck. These are not easy decisions.

Andrea - posted on 01/18/2009

Have you thought about having an assessment test done? Do you feel your oldest is ready for Kindergarten? How does the preschool feel about her development?