Assessing a 5 yr old

[jeteaa]

I've known my 5 yr old all her life.... yet I feel very nervous about "labeling" her. Not in the negative sense, but with "what type of kid is she, what kind of activities would she like, what is her learning style". And I feel that we are at a point (K-school years) and at 5 yrs old, she is old enough to participate in many classes and activities that she was too young for just a few months ago. We obviously can't try out everything, and then rule out what works and what doesn't. We were wanting to homeschool (we did through the pre-school yrs), but at the last minute we enrolled her in public K, and now after 2 months of seeing her in K, I'm leaning towards homeschooling again. But I wonder if it is to early, or she is too young to label her as "better off being homeschooled". One of my main reasons for wanting to try out ps K was that I felt she needed to be in a school every day environment to make friends. And after 2 months, she is not connecting with any of the kids, and she seems fine with that. I know she would get a better education at home/ out in the real world though, but if in a few years she blossoms into this very extrovert child who needs the social situation found in schools, then I might regret having pulled her out. What are your thoughts?

[BellinghamCrunchie]

Well, I am biased towards homeschooling, so I think there are far more advantages to homeschooling than public schooling, and if the only reason you want her to go to school is for socialization, then I would definitely pull her out.

There are plenty of ways to meet her socialization needs if she wants more friends, and you could also try to find or start a homeschool coop (I'm in if you do!).

[mamakay]

Conflict of interest: I'm a homeschooler (K, as well)

But I think if you make sure she's at or ahead of PS grade level, there's little chance you'll regret it if she later needs PS socialization.

Are there kids around her age in the neighborhood? Do you have any friends with kids her age?