Four year old - November baby starting school?

Jill - posted on 08/27/2009

My daughter was also born Nov '04 and I have her in a Pre-K M-F right now. In my opinion it was best for her that we started getting her used to an everyday is a school day routine. She is also able to do lots of skills because she has attended preschool for 1 year but only went on Tues and Thurs. I will be starting her in Kindergarten next year even though she'll be one of the young ones in her class. She is ready and it sounds as though your son is too. I'd get him in a Pre-K everyday or at least 3 days a week to get him ready to start next year. But that is just my opinion. Only you know your son well enough to judge how he'll handle Kindergarten socially and developmentally. Good Luck

Maria - posted on 08/15/2009

Quoting Karen:

Four year old - November baby starting school?

Hi. My son was born in November of '04 and I'm wondering about starting him in school next year. He goes to daycare a couple days a week where she does a structured preschool and he does a lot of things at home. He is already counting to 100 and can write his name and is starting to read. But he is the oldest and is a little shy and reserved socially. My question is, should I start him next year in a preK every day or put him in Kindergarten because he seems to be so far ahead in his skills? I am thinking he would benefit from a classroom structure every day before getting into Kindergarten since they make it so rigorous now. Also, if he starts Kindergarten next year, he will be one of the youngest in his class. I just wondered what other moms of this age group are doing?

Hey, my son was born Nov 12, 2004. If he was mature enough, I would have gotton him in Kindergarten this time, but decided to wait. But if your son is mature enough and seems to be ready, I don't see why you don't send him. Alot of people will have their opinions, but you can see yourself if he is mature enough or ready. Hope this helps!

Jennipher - posted on 08/05/2009

My daughter will be 5 in November also....she is way ahead of everyone else her age.. but where I live the child has to be 5 by August 31st to go into Kindergarten..so she is going to PreK I would say if you can get him in Kindergarten where you live then go for it!

Shannon - posted on 05/02/2009

Hi my son's birthday is 11/30/2004 and I desided to put him in a young fives program that is offered in my area. It is everyday for half a day. My son like yours is a little ahead of the game with his learning but he is kind of shy. The other reason I chose to put him in a young fives verse kindergarten is beacuse there is no half day kindergartens in my area they are all day programs and I felt he wasn't ready.

Stephanie - posted on 04/18/2009

PreK / Kindergarten is not just about education...it's also about social skills. If he is reserved and shy, he may need the exposure in PreK. PreK teaches the children how to interact with one another and proper social skills. They will also work on academics, which he should excel at. If you jump him ahead, he may actually struggle because of being uncomfortable with his peers around him. I work in an elementary school, and see if everyday...very intelligent students having discipline problems and struggling academically because they were not taught proper social skills. These are the students who usually did not go through our PreK program, either because parents did early admission into Kindergarten or kept them home until they were eligible for Kindergarten.

Jenny - posted on 04/11/2009

Look ahead, late elementry, middle school, high school.  A year seems like along time now but, in the long run it will only be a drop in the bucket!  I have Dec boys and did not have to make the choice.  Here they can not start, it is 5 by Dec 1st.  My son is 10 and finishing 4th grade. He is in a cluster program to help keep him chanlenged  and  he is an excelent athlete(the extra time gives him an advatage in sports!).  Being on the older side has served him well.  See if your community also has a program for bright students and how to gain enterance into it. That may keep him chalenged and ahead of the game!  My second son is Dec 2nd '04 and I have no problem w/ him waiting, after big brother lead the way! He also is bright and could be ready if allowed here but, no rush.  He will only be bigger smarter and stronger Fall'10!  Good luck, Jen

Jenny - posted on 04/11/2009

Look ahead, late elementry, middle school, high school.  A year seems like along time now but, in the long run it will only be a drop in the bucket!  I have Dec boys and did not have to make the choice.  Here they can not start, it is 5 by Dec 1st.  My son is 10 and finishing 4th grade. He is in a cluster program to help keep him chanlenged  and  he is an excelent athlete(the extra time gives him an advatage in sports!).  Being on the older side has served him well.  See if your community also has a program for bright students and how to gain enterance into it. That may keep him chalenged and ahead of the game!  My second son is Dec 2nd '04 and I have no problem w/ him waiting, after big brother lead the way! He also is bright and could be ready if aloud here but, no rush.  He will only be bigger smarter and stronger Fall'10!  Good luck, Jen

Tina - posted on 04/10/2009

I have an Oct 04 son that can start kindergarten, cutoff date is December in CA. I have been going back and forth on my decision. He is a bright boy and plays well with the kids he would be going to school with. The reason I am considering not sending him is his maturity come his teen years. Now it's not a big deal but middle and high school his peers might be a year and a half older than him. I spoke with his preschool teacher and she thinks he's ready for kindergarten. I wish there were a crystal ball that would tell me what the right thing to do is. Any suggestions? Also if I don't send him, should he go to a full day Pre-K or stay in preschool where it is play based and they don't focus on academics. I kind of feel they are only kids once and these days there isn't much time focused on playtime. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

Karen - posted on 03/08/2009

This is not an easy decission to make, my son was 4 on 18th sept last, we held him till his birthday and started him then (on the day). This was on advice from the principal & his play group. He was more than ready & I felt he would have been lost if we held him back. We always have a year to play with if we feel the need to use it. He loves school and at a recent parent teachers meeting we were told he is doing very well, and alot more advanced than a number in his class. Hope this helps, I know its not easy.

Amanda - posted on 03/04/2009

Hey. I also have an early starter. July 04.

She is also very advanced, and almost too bright. She was in preschool last year (started when she was 3 1/2), in a preschool at the primary school where they involve them all with the primary school.

I could have started her in kinder at just 4 1/2 this year however you have to think about the big picture. Whilest they are bright now, and it seems they can cope. Think about when they are in high school or finishing school and they are a whole year or more behind socially and emotionally. For this reason i kept her back and it has done her, so far, no harm.

If anything it helps her confidence.

You can always get them extra stuff to do at home to entertain their brains and keep them going But think how they will feel when they are in yr 12 at 16.17 and cant do anything the other kids are doing.

Food for thought. Thats how it was put to me and it made sense.

Hope this helps!!

Amanda - posted on 03/04/2009

Hey. I also have an early starter. July 04.

She is also very advanced, and almost too bright. She was in preschool last year (started when she was 3 1/2), in a preschool at the primary school where they involve them all with the primary school.

I could have started her in kinder at just 4 1/2 this year however you have to think about the big picture. Whilest they are bright now, and it seems they can cope. Think about when they are in high school or finishing school and they are a whole year or more behind socially and emotionally. For this reason i kept her back and it has done her, so far, no harm.

If anything it helps her confidence.

You can always get them extra stuff to do at home to entertain their brains and keep them going But think how they will feel when they are in yr 12 at 16.17 and cant do anything the other kids are doing.

Food for thought. Thats how it was put to me and it made sense.

Hope this helps!!

Sandra - posted on 03/01/2009

My daughter (Dec 2004) attends preschool since she was 2 years and 4 months. She has developed great social skills. She loves school. It makes her feel important, she feels so proud!"

I think school does not only teach kids letters and numbers, but also emotional, social, physical development and skills among other things, and children benefit from all that.

At least that's my experience. Anyway, it's such a personal decision, it all depends on each particular kid and their own circumstance.

Naudeen - posted on 03/01/2009

School Readiness (SR) is an integral part of normal development which begins at birth and is like a series of steps, with each step of the way being dependent on the mastering of the previous step.  SR is not linked to chronological age, but with level of development. One must have insight to the whole child - ie: emotional, intellectual, physical and social aspects of his development. is is never a matter of intelligence, but rather whether or not the child is able to negotiate the steps with a positive self-image. SR is a broad term whichi includes emotional maturity, intellectual maturity, physical maturity and social maturity. Emotional maturity is probably the most important consideration. Can he control his emotions in socially acceptable ways, does he have to constantly rely on adult support or approval, is he confident in new situations, or with visitors or new teachers, how does he react if he does not succeed with a task etc. Education is not a passive activity, and in order to have the stamina needed for learning, a child must be healthy, strong and energetic. (Physical maturity) Are his perceptual skills adequate? Can he control his body movements and can he sit still for short periods without squiring or fidgeting? Social maturity: this is linked to self-esteem. Can he share and take turns, can he share the teacher's attention or does he constantly need or demand it. Can he accept adult authority? How does he respond if reprimanded for irresponsible behaviour? Language- this is a tool of thought, and communication is one of the most important aspects of social relationships. Can he express himself adequately. I asked myself all these questions before I send my  5 year old son (November) to school, today he is 8 in Gr 3 (South African schools).  My daugther just turned 5 and attends preschool since 2 1/2 years of age, that way she can get used to the routine of school and she has come out of her shell lately. I hope this helped you. 

Dawn - posted on 02/25/2009

We decided to start our son in Kindergarten when he was almost 6 (he's a Jan/02 baby) and it was the right choice for him. I had no doubt that he was smart enough to go the year before, but I had to think long-term. I didn't want him to be socially and developmentally behind his peers when he got to grade 7 or 8 for example. I don't think it's a big deal in elementary school, but I was worried about Junior and Senior high. We are doing the same with our daughter (Dec/04). As one of my friends said "They are only children once". Good luck with your decision. I'm sure you'll know best!!

Krystal - posted on 02/23/2009

My son is also a November baby and my husband and I have wondered the same thing. We think it would be best for our son to start preschool rather than kidergarten for many reasons. I dont want to push him to do things if he isnt comfortable and i think this way he will get an understanding for what school is before he jumps right into it.  My son is also pretty smart by 15 monthes he was counting to 10 and he has a big vocabulary. I just want him to slowly get use to it. I think that would be the best solution. Others may disagree but I really feel this is right.

Michelle - posted on 02/22/2009

My daughter will be 5 on Aug. 9 and she will be starting full day Kindergarten. She is currently in Pre-K three days a week, and it was the best decision I ever made. I was going to just send her straight to Kindergarten because she is very bright, but they teach so much in Pre-K. They read, write, do math (yes, math, not just counting!), have art class, music class, gym class, library time, and, of course, play time. She's made a lot of new friends that will continue on with her to Kindergarten - she goes to a private school, so it is Pre-K through 8th grade. She absolutely loves it and, although she is one of the youngest (if not the youngest) in her class, it was the best decision we made.

Tasha - posted on 02/21/2009

My son is a Nov 2004 baby too. He started preschool last Sept and he really loves it. He does have some speech delays though and so that hinders him in the classroom. I thank God that he has an awesome teacher that really cares about him and works with us to help him succeed. We are definitely putting him through another year of preschool though so he can be as ready as possible to start kindergarten. I don't know if my situation is like yours, but I always wonder if I'm doing the right thing, He's as tall as a 6 year old now, and when he starts kindergarten, he will be older and taller than the other kids. But I also don't want him getting picked on for his language skills. My advice is to put him in preschool, that way he can get the routine of school down and come out of his shell. that way he's only in school for a couple hours a day instead of all day(which most kindergartens are now), And it gives you time to get used to him being in school! I hope this helped:)

Kassanrdra - posted on 02/15/2009

I was in the same prediciment my daughter was born in Nov '04 and i've decided to wait till she is going to be turning 6 in Nov and the reason i'm making that decicion is because I had turned 5 in Aug and started school in Sept I was the youngest and i struggled so hard intill I was in 5th grade when my mother decided to hold me back she now wishes she would have waited or held me back in kindergarten..cause it's very emotionally upsetting in 5th grade to have to kinda start all over again..Not sure if that helps at all.

Heather - posted on 02/11/2009

Hmm it's a 50 50 isn't it... my son and October baby can't wait to start school. He is in daycare so he is used to the schedules and routines which evolve. But as a November baby myself whose schooling got muddled those few months where your age doesn't jive with the norm is an issue as well.

Best do what you think is right... if you can involve him in groups and stuff that would be the best... Is your kindergarten full days right off the bat or is it 1/2?? Some School districts make allowances for kids to be evaluated int gr. 1 missing K all together... is that and option?

Leanne - posted on 02/11/2009

Hi ~ I probably would lean towards the 5 day pre-k. I've heard many moms say that they have waited that extra year before sending their son to kindergarten. I think boys in general need that extra year to mature. He will definitely me more confident and ready if you wait a year.

Heather - posted on 02/07/2009

My son was born August 2004 and kindergarten would start about 2 weeks later. Ryan has the academics down and we did preschool at 3 and now 4. He just isn't there yet socially or emotionally yet, we have decided to do another year of pre school and start him in kindergarten next fall to hopefully avoid issues down the road.

Carla - posted on 02/06/2009

hi! i put my son in nursery ,,,,,he was born october 2004.  i'm planning on putting him in kindergarden this fall. he's been with me since he was born,so putting in nursey school was a bit hard for me,but he only goes 2 times a week. i think it was a good idea in putting him there i noticed a big change in him already! so go for it .he was exposed to children already in daycare so kindergarden should be ok ....

Katie - posted on 02/06/2009

My son was born in November o4 ( Novemeber 8th) he is a very clever boy, im from the U.K and he starts school in September - he goes to pre school and my mum works within a school.

     I have found that keeping him motivated at home really helps but we are doing it very gradually we have about 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the afternoon numbers, stories, identifing words... we R having fun with it though!

   Like my mum says they spend atlest 15 years of their lives learning stuff.... kids need fun too!

    All the best.

Theresa - posted on 01/19/2009

I have a daughter also born in November 04. She is currently in a all day preschool program at our school in our town. She goes 5 days a week. I think it was the best choice I made for her. I can see a big improvement in her social skills and behavior.  It also made her familar with the school, so when she starts kindergarten in 06 she won't feel overwhelmed with such a big change. She also enjoys going and actually begs me to go...I probally won't be hearing that in a few years!lol  But all kids are different, ecspecially boys. I have one of those too. I think its mostly how mature your child is if your child is ready.

Shauna - posted on 01/18/2009

1. check with the principal to see if you even have a choice in starting kindergarten at this age.

2. it is recommended to wait for kindergarten enrollment, esp boys.

3. no matter how smart our kids are at this age, they tend to even out come school.

4. preschool is recommended for kindergarten readiness

5. tests have been found to be insufficient for finding out if children are ready for kindergarten, hence the reason they are so rare today.

6. know your child



Good luck with your decision! I am in a similar situation with my Oct -04 girl, and these are some conclusions I have come to discover in my research. Oh, another one... It is easier to promote a smart child later in elementary, then it is to discover the child was enrolled to early and should be held back or even worse struggle here on out.

Karen - posted on 01/17/2009

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the advice! BTW, Nancy, how old is your youngest? They look about the same age as both of my boys. My youngest was born in April 2008. Your kids are SO adorable!

Tanya - posted on 01/17/2009

I'm wondering about the same thing. My daughter was also born in November of 04. I am a stay at home mom and she hasn't been to a daycare or preschool. She is extremely intelligent, but she gets bored easy. I would rather get her in early at 4 almost 5 than have her go at 5 almost 6. She did have some socialization problems, but she is starting to get over them. I would say as long as the school lets your son in at 4, go for it.

Lindsay - posted on 01/16/2009

My son will be 5 this July and he's starting kindergarten next year.  He's been in preschool for the last 2 years and i think he's overly ready for school.  I would say since your son already has a lot of the skills he would learn in kindergarten he would be okay going but it's really just a personal choice.  I work part time in the schools here and it doesn't take kids long to get use to the classroom setting.

Nancy - posted on 01/15/2009

I've talked to a few different teachers about my July '04 son starting school - he'll be 5 in July '09. I've been told by everyone that having them wait for at least another year (especially boys) is the best thing for them - they apparently are just not emotionally mature enough to handle school so early...so my son will be at least 5 before I think of starting him in kindergarten. Hope this helps! ;0)

Jennifer - posted on 01/14/2009

I had a boy who was born in September of 1999. He was like yours is at that age, could count, write and read. I decided to start him in 5 day a week preschool and socially he just wasn't ready. He was bored to death because most of the other kids did not know what he knew already. It was just him and one other boy who were reading at that point. So, he caused trouble. I ended up pulling him out about half way through the year. We currently home school but I am glad we pulled him out and waited to put him in school. He did go to school locally when he was in 1st grade and did fine. I think it obviously depends on the child, but don't think that he won't learn if he doesn't go immediately to preschool before kindergarten. In my opinion from my experience, he would do fine to keep him out until Kindergarten. He has that late fall birthday which is a blessing and a curse! LOL. Mine turned 9 in September and is in 4th grade. Some of his 9 year old friends are only in 3rd grade and our public schools where we are would have him in the 3rd grade. So...because he's a boy, socially he'd probably fair better to hold him back but I know it's hard when they are ahead academically.

Just my 2 cents! Hope it helps you in some way.

Jennifer