I know everything is done different btwn our countries, and your school year is at a different time of the year than ours...but I'm wondering what age kids start school in USA?

In Australia the school year starts the last week of January and finishes mid December thereabouts. Mason being born in January means I get to chose whether he starts school next year aged 5 or wait until he turns 6 in 2010. He'll either be one of the youngest or one of the eldest, depending on my choice. With all the information I've been bombarded with since his birth I had decided to wait until he was a little more mature - more to do with the later years (puberty). It's become the fashion here for especially boys to be held back until they are 6. If he had been born after 1 April, then I wouldn't have a choice, he would be starting in January 2010 at about 5 1/2. Now his daycare "teacher" is recommending I send him next year. She thinks he needs more than the daycare environment can offer - even though the room he is in now (and would have to stay in next year as it's the 4-5yo room) is like Kindergarten. She says he needs more stimulation and learning, more structure to his day, more room to run about. I think she may be right. My mum did comment to me that the daycare is very small, and that the room the 4-5yo are in is too small for such big and boistrous boys (this year most are boys!). Even the outside play area is small, specially compared to the play areas offered at schools. Now I'm busily researching the local government schools in our area (free schools - of course there is always some costs associated, but nothing like the private independent/church schools which I certainly can not afford). I'm trying to find out what the average age of kids in prep this year are, looking online they can be anywhere from 41/2 to 6 when they started. I guess it doesn't really matter because the bottom line is Mason needs something more than he is getting, and the only alternative is school. There is the suggestion that if he seems younger than the others, he can always repeat prep grade? Actually, in the same breath as saying she recommended he start school next year, she said he is quite immature. But that we had 7+ months still before the school year started. He is rather clingy to me this year - started when he turned 4, he cries when I drop him off at daycare or if I go off and do something on the weekend without him (rarely). Seems I'm haven't cut the apron strings or something....

What ages did or will your children start school? Whats the norm for USA?

Our usual set up is:

4yo Kindergarten (often deferred until 5yo)

5yo or 6yo start Primary School in Grade Prep
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Grade 6

Start High School in Year 7
Year 8
Year 9 (can legally leave at the end of this year or continue)
Year 10
Year 11
Year 12 usually finishing school aged 17 or 18

go on to University or to learn a trade or into the work force

I was kinda hoping I had another year before I had to think about my baby growing up and going off to school!

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Kids in the US usually start kindergarten at age 5 in September. The cutoff is usally December 1 so they technically could be 4 1/2. My 2 older, born in June and July, both started at 5. My twins born in February will be 5 1/2. It has always been my opinion that it is better to hold them back if you think they are not ready - either academically, socially or emotionally - than to push them into a situation where they struggle. If they start school off on a bad foot that may well follow them through their school years. You want them to enjoy school. Also, holding them back has some emotional issues associated with it when they see all their friends going to the next grade. Also, I think for boys especially they are less mature and less able to focus than girls their age and they can greatly benefit from entering school later.

That said, he needs to be challenged also. If the school he is at can't provide that maybe someone else can. Maybe from home? Or another school? Maybe it is okay if he has one more year where he gets to be a child?

A very hard decision. I am so not ready for my twins to go to kindergarten. Thank god I have one more year with them.

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In Arizona (or at least in Tucson) the kids start K in September and have to be five by August 31. So, we have the dilemma that Avery is very ready to start Kindergarten in all areas but she can't until the following year.

I have read the studies too that say that the way you start school is likely the way you will be ending school. Which of course means, if Avery starts K advanced and with a running head start she will probably finish school that way as well. So, besides the fact that I'd like to keep her home with me another year, I am okay with her not going to school early. The only thing we are really worried about is if she is going to find school dull and boring. She is starting to read now and she is doing math at home. She writes her words and letters well, is learning Spanish and ASL and also has been a nurturer and leader at her preschool. But then again, she is not completely potty trained! (somebody just shoot me, would ya?)

Have you considered preschool for Mason at least part of the day and then day care the rest of the day? At the very least can he get into a bigger daycare?

What dilemmas! Who would have thought all this school stuff would be upon us already??! Jenn we were just pregnant yesterday, wasn't it?


~m

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I''ll be back later to share some info... I have a Homeschool meeting that i am late for.

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Thanks Dawna and Marian for your replies (I'll come back later for yours Valerie!). I'm a big believer in not starting school too early, and found your input very interesting and along the lines of what I already believe. I really would like Mason to just be a little kid for a bit longer.

It's hard, although may be Mason IS ready - but how do I really know - what if he isn't? This really is an important decision, which can effect the rest of his schooling years (and beyond?). I wish the daycare teacher hadn't come to me with this recommendation. I wish others I had spoken to since, that know Mason, hadn't encouraged school next year also. Ideally I wish the daycare had another room for the 5yo kids - another "step up" from the room he is in, one with a little more structure maybe? He is easily bored and I think that can be a worry too - he will start to play up and stop listening to instruction.

As far as alternatives other than sending him to Primary School, I need to work full time to support my family, there is no way around this (as it is we are struggling on my income), so can't stay home with him. I've visited other daycares in the area, but they are smaller if anything, and are nowhere near as good as the one he is already at. We are blessed with this one, just wish they thought they'd be good for him for another year! I've been doing my homework on the local schools, and am organising to visit them, hopefully I can talk to some teachers and get their input. Although in the end, it is all up to me (oh, and Andy!)

Oh dear oh dear, if he was born later in the year this would not be an issue!

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Oh you never know!

I think you are doing the right things though by researching and talking to the teachers. They would be the best ones to assess Mason. I talked to Avery's preschool teachers about starting her in a private school and we all agreed that beside the expense (which I can't deal with right now) it's not a realistic picture of the world either. So what's a parent to do?

I say go with your instincts. You know him the best. You and Andy can just trust yourselves.


~m

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My opinion doesn't seem to totally mesh with what's been said so far. I think his academic readiness is more important than his social maturity. I would rather see a child challenged and pushed (within reason) than bored. If he is ready to start now, he may be totally bored with school if he starts in a year. Boredom tends to translate into misbehavior.

It sounds like the size of his daycare facility really could be an issue. He might be better of with more room - indoors and out.

What will most of his friends be doing - the daycare pals that he thinks of as being his age? If they will all be heading off to school, he may be wondering why he doesn't get to go.

Finances - OK, you shouldn't base the decision 100% on this, but let's admit it - it is a factor. I'm assuming that you have to pay for daycare and wouldn't have to pay for school. I know you've mentioned the budget being tight. If the change meant less stress for you, that's a huge positive for your whole family.

Marian - Flagstaff basically has the same cut-off date (ridiculously early in my book). However, a friend of mine with a daughter who has a September birthday was able to get her tested and admitted into Kindergarten for last fall. There might be something similar in Tucson for children really close to the cut-off. If my guys had fallen into that trap, I would have seriously considered home-school or private school until they could place into the appropriate grade in public school.

I'm tired right now, so I hope I'm making sense.

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Co-host of Hearing Loss - Sign Language Support

Thanks Schenley, it's good to hear that point of view too. You being a mom of dudes, I was interested to hear your thoughts. I think you've hit the nail on the head when it comes to Mason. I think everybodies concern is that he isn't being challenged, and boredom may be detrimental.

Sadly I've gotten some really bad feedback about the school that was top of our list, and some other almost as bad feedback about the other school in our zone. That is leading me to look further into the small country school which is just out of our zone, but still only about 5 minutes drive away. Mason and Andy wouldn't be able to walk there which is a pity as we had hoped she could walk Mason to and from school. But I've been hearing really good things about his little school. I'm going to arrange a visit and chat with the principal and a teacher. I like that it has a family oriented community feel to it - from what I've been told. It is a "hands on school" where children don't have to sit still at a desk for all their classroom time. I'll find out more about it, and share with you. Fingers crossed it suits our needs, as the other two are scareing me!

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Sorry your choice isn't easy. Visit all of them, and then trust your gut impression.

As another thought, Nicholas is on the young end of his class with a mid-July birthday. People did ask when were planning to send him to school. I can't imagine him being a year behind where he is now.

My brother had big behavior problems in Kindergarten because he was bored. The next year my parents sent him to a different school.

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Co-host of Hearing Loss - Sign Language Support

We did send my niece Shelby (in Sedona) to K early (mid December b-day). (we had to have her tested, had letters of recommendation from doctors and had to meet with the superintendent of the schools) For years she was the littlest kid in her class. Although at 14yo now she has caught up in size. She is also still academically at the top of her class as well. I think she is a lot like Schenley's boys. Way on the intelligent side. But I don't think it was easy always being the "little" kid. And now that she's in high school she will also be the last person to get her driver's license. But I'm getting way away from my point here...

We did send her to school early and now at 14 she is looking at private schools because the local high school does not offer the education she needs and desires. So what that translates into to me is that it's not so much the age but what the child needs. And the school itself! Sending her to school early wasn't the answer, finding the right school that would take her early would have been the answer.

So, Jenn, I think the small country school that you are talking about might be the perfect solution for your little guy. Any place that figures out that little kids have to move around and use their bodies a lot to learn is light years ahead of many public school philosophies! I hope that you really like them.

The preschool that Avery is going to will hopefully be enough to keep her from becoming bored. She will be going five mornings a week next year instead of three and then they have an hour and a half after-school program where kids explore things like different countries, gymnastics, science projects, things like that. She couldn't go to after-school enrichment this year as she was still in diapers when she started school and they don't take un-trained kids.

But anyway, I hope she doesn't become bored. Bored for Avery translates into her taking care of all the other kids she sees as needing help and she does things like clean up the classroom. Her teachers love her, but sheesh. She does better at her Sunday school classes and children's church I think. She is with kids from 4-6 in those classes and she hangs out with the bigger kids.

So, now that I've completely hijacked this post again... I hope you update us when you visit the new school Jenn. I wish I was at least able to make a choice.


~m

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Marian and Schenley I think you are right, it's about finding the right school for him. Looks like I'll be taking some school tours next Tuesday. I'll feel better once I've seen them and can see what they have to offer Mason.

Marian I think the extra hours at pre-school and the after school program will be great for Avery. But still getting time at home with her mommy! This way she gets the best of everything. Let us know how she does. I can just picture her helping out with the other children...a real little "mommy"!

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Let us know how the school visits go. That may help you decide the '09 vs '10 decision, too. Even Jan, 2009 is pretty far in the future at this point.

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Co-host of Hearing Loss - Sign Language Support

That's true Schenley. January is quite a bit off... a ton of things will change with Mason between now and then and I'm sure he'll be even more ready to be off to school.

KUP!


~m

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I have jumped in here way too late. Here in Northern Ireland the poor kids are shoved into school when they are 4! the scandanavians wait till they are 6 saying that children learn easier and faster if they have a bit of maturity. So its always going to different for everyone.

for example - my Hollie she is way ahead of her age group with regard to reading and math, all other subjects too. ashley too - but ellis, well there is another story. Ellis is a bright child, but he needs more time.

I like the sound of the country school all the same - good luck

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I wish parents here in the US had more input in to whether their kids should start school or not. It would make a ton more sense to have a starting class that is full of 4,5,& 6 year olds that were all READY to start school.


~m

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It's all about each individual child being ready isn't it? Of course not always easy to gauge. Mind you, if he really doesn't seem ok after the first days/weeks...I can pull him out and wait till the following January. The law is children aged btwn 6 and 16 must attend school. He is 6 on 13th Jan 2010. I've been broaching the subject of school with him and he is much more receptive than he was 3 months ago. Maybe he really will be ready in 8 months time!

This is what I copied from the Department of Education website:

Quick facts about school in Victoria
*Most children attend primary school from Prep to Year 6 and secondary school from Year 7 to 12.

Starting school
*Victorian children usually start their education by attending kindergarten prior to starting school; this is not compulsory
*Children start primary school in Prep. Children must be five years of age or older by 30 April of the year they start school
*Children between the age of six and 16 years must attend school

Secondary school
*In Year 6, parents decide which secondary school they will send their child to the following year
*In Year 10, students and their parents decide which studies or career paths they will take for the future
*After completing Year 12, students have the option of studying at university or TAFE (Technical and Further Education) institute, doing a traineeship or an apprenticeship, or being employed in the workforce

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I'm jumping in here REALLY late but I hope you have found what you want Jenn. Both my girls are born in Nov. so we have had to start them late. It was okay for Signe because I didn't start her early in preschool so she only had two years of it like normal kids and didn't get bored. But Zoe will be having three years of it before Kindergarten but she's also a special case because she is in Developmental preschool and gets speech therapy every day.
I was also a child who started late in school. (Born in Oct.) And I think it had an impact on how I viewed it socially in my school years. Some of it was good and some of it was not so good. I can't say as to how it impacted my academic skills. That would be one for the professionals.
I guess since I don't have to worry about when to send my kids to school, I can't really help you decide what to do. I've read what everyone says and they all make good points. I guess you're just going to have to trust your instinct and do what you think is best for Mason in the end.
Good luck Sweetie.

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Never too late in this discussion Marg!

The latest is that we are going to hold Mason back from starting school, therefore he will be just turned 6 when he starts in 2010. Now we are busily trying to sort out what he will be doing next year. Our biggest issue is to keep him stimulated and active - all at a local daycare centre. We are trying hard to get him into one of the local kindergartens also, that would be 2 or 3 afternoons (or mornings) each week and then the rest of his day at the daycare centre. That means the kindy must be in walking distance of the daycare, and the daycare must offer walking service! That's the problem with being a full time working mum!

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I hope you can find a way to work this all out Jenn!
~m

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Sounds complicated, but also sounds like a good plan assuming the details work out.

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Co-host of Hearing Loss - Sign Language Support