cympreni

In our district, school supplies are included in the book rental fee, you just provide a folder, backpack and a box or two of tissues. The downside, book rental fees start at $100, even for kindergarten. Then a two weeks later is school pictures, and if you want to buy any, they want the money upfront.

I can't wait until my guy starts 1st grade for my own selfish reasons. Kindergarten is 2 full days and one half day and I have an older son in school. We're walkers, every 2 1/2 hours, I'm walking. They have a very lengthy pick-up procedure that I have to endure twice. On his half days I spend about 2 hours total on my feet just dropping off or picking up.

iroc

Good exercise plan!


$100 book rental fee? For Kindergarten? That's bananas.

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Narnia

I started at 4 and turned 5 October of my first year. My mom gave me the option (I have a vague memory I meeting with the principle seeing if I wanted to start early..) I'm glad I went when I did! I graduated at 17 and got a head start on things! I wouldn't have wanted to be the oldest person in my grade if I'd started a year later.
It was also half days so I went home at 12 for the day


Sent from my "smart" phone, 'scuse crazy typos.

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cympreni

book rental, I know!!! I can't for the life of me figure out why they need so much. Crayons, pencils and paper is not that expensive. They do have a math book, but still it's just one book and workbook. They do send a few xeroxed sheets home every week for early reading practice, but still!

I don't mind the walk when the weather is nice even though my feet are sore by the end of the day. But when it's cold or raining, ugh. It's kinda annoying too. I don't have a good internal clock, I lose track of time easily. Full days aren't a problem because it feels like a long time before I have to leave. 2 hours is just enough time to busy enough that it flies by without me noticing. I've had to run to school a few times.

medussa

My son is end of July (me too). Our cutoff for kindergarten is December 2nd, so all of my July babies are pretty much in the middle of the pack, age-wise (not the youngest in the class, nor the oldest). He's also an honors student and doing great academically. But socially, I think he could have benefited from another year at home. I think certain boys could benefit from being the oldest in the class. My daughter did fine, but she has always been very mature.

I have another daughter starting kindergarten in September. Registration is next month. I don't feel sad at all. I'm so excited for her to learn and make friends. I think when my last baby starts kindergarten in 2014, it will be bittersweet. But going back to work will be exciting and I'm looking forward to it.

mad scientist

Our cut-off is Dec 31 here. Its very unusual to see kids held back here. In any case, my daughter was born Dec 25, and she was a preemie (due mid Jan). She's also very small and has a significant speech delay. Her peer group is really the kids born a year after her, if not even the ones born a year after that.

That said, it was a hard decision to hold her back. She qualified for special services for preschool but they end this year because she is now technically "school aged" and eligible for services in the public school. By holding her back, she'll have a gap year where we'll have to put the pieces together ourselves out-of-pocket. It should be fine, but its not ideal. Most parents with special needs kids don't hold back for that reason, but most have thought about it.

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inheritedcurls

Our cutoff is still September 1st...I wish they would change it to December 31st or something.

Both DH and I started when we were 4. My parents paid to start me early so I could be with my friends. I never had a problem with school work...and was just shy. It didn't bother me really to be younger than anyone. Hubby hated it...hated being last to drive, etc....which both of our experiences drove our decision for our son.

DS was 2 weeks before the cutoff so we held him a year. He will start kindergarten this fall ...and will barely be 6. I was glad I held him. I don't think he would have academic problems...just more social shyness. This year in Pre-K has really helped. He is looking forward to next fall.

We thankfully don't have this worry with DD. Her birthday is in October so she will be an older 5 year old...

sarah42

My older DS turned 5 at the end of December and will be starting kindergarten this fall. I'm a little nervous for him because he has a speech and language delay and a very stubborn personality. But, he's been in preschool, so he's had exposure to a school setting.

My younger DS has a July birthday, so he'll be one of the younger ones in his grade (our cutoff is July 31). I'm not worried about him though, because he's big for his age and has no speech/language issues.

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Munchy

My little one is going to kindergarten this fall too! I can't believe it. My nugget is all grown up.

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Like.Australia

Same here. I was young, but not the youngest in my grade. There were a number of kids born in Oct, Nov and Dec who I graduated with. There were also some kids whose parents held them back and who were a full year + older than me. I really think it depends on your kid's individual maturity level.

Amneris

I know - I just registered J, and I cried a little - but he's so excited to go and I am proud too to see him growing up. It's so bittersweet.

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crimsonshedemon

Our cut off is December 3 but there are very few students younger than my son. Most have been held back. A lot has to do with sports. We are in a very competetive "power league". There are sophmores who are older than my son who's a junior. It's crazy. Boys definitely do not mature like girls. My daughter is 20 months younger and she's always been ahead of my son in maturity/responsbility.

medussa

I've heard this is a big thing in certain communities. I'm not particularly fond of this practice. My son's passion is music, but I wouldn't have held him back for sports if that were his thing. It's just not a good enough reason for me. I believe in holding a child back for cognitive or physical reasons (like being very small for their age), or for plain ol' lack of maturity. Come to think of it, my son could have used an extra year to work on that dang handwriting of his!

Crimson, I'm reading your original post again. Your son sounds quite smart and doing very well academically. Do you think he might be bored with school because it's too easy for him?

cosmicfly

I know you are in Canada, but at least here, she would still qualify for services even if you choose not to send her to school. Typically, the parents need to transport the child to the school to receive therapy.

Some parents I know who do not have the resources to do so choose to send their child to kindergarten for 2 years.

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