5 year old to late to start Montessori?

[mykidsmyworld]

Hi,

I have two little boys 5 and 2 and am planning on sending them both to Montessori school.
Starting in Sept. my 5yo will be attending half day 5 days a week, this is his first schooling ever. I kept him out of preschool b/c I didn't feel he was ready and he had been sick so much the last two years.
Now I fear I made a huge mistake not letting him attend school earlier b/c it's been mentioned to me twice that he may not do well in montessor now that he is so old. He should have completed the 3 year cycle in order to have gained the montessori knowledge and that he might very well just observe and play the first yera and be very behind the other kids that started earlier.
I want so bad to send them to montessori but I don't want him to be behind and not understanding the way they learn.
Am I over concerned or is this something that could happen.
My son is so shy and sensitive and I am afraid he may just sit and observe with out actually participating or learn anything.

Thanks for listening

[mykidsmyworld]

Anyone have any thoughts on this? It would really help

[carmel23]

Of course it is better to do everything perfectly from the very beginning, but who does that?

Ideally, a child would be in a prepared montessori nursery from birth, right? But many children do not experience that, either. And then in a casa from 18 months to 3 years... and then primary from 3 to 6.

But not everyone is that lucky, or they're just doing other things.

Your child will do well. My son entered Montessori at 8 years! He is doing well and loves it.

Of course it would have been better for him to have had the complete sensory training, etc. from 3 onward, but he didn't.

I would just take some time to make sure your son knows the basics-- don't touch a work someone less is working on, etc. Make sure he can get his slippers or indoor shoes or socks on and off (my kids take their shoes off compulsively as soon as they enter home, so it was easy for them.)

Ask the guide if there is anything else he should know. Will he continue into elementary? and have another year in primary?

Any Montessori (well done, more then merely name alone) is better then nothing.

[KiwiMama]

I'm sure your son will be fine. My ds was at home with me until he started Kindergarten (at the age of 5) at a Montessori school. He went half days 5 days a week and he adjusted just fine. He's looking forward to starting 1st grade in the fall and going all day!

[mykidsmyworld]

Thank you so much
I think I'm already nervous/sad sending him so I want to make sure that I'm making the right choices.
It's nice to hear others stories and know that he'll be ok.
I don't know about me though

[Drummer's Wife]

Starting at 5 is better than not starting at all!

I have a 5 yo who starts Montessori on Tuesday. Yeah, he would have benefitted from having the complete 3 yr cycle, and he won't be teaching the 3 and 4 yo's as much as he would be if it were his 3rd yr in primary, but I am sure he is going to do well and enjoy it.

I also have a 9 yo who had one yr of Montessori at age 3, and then was homeschooled until 1st grade when she went back to Montessori in a 6-9 class. My now 7 yo started Montessori in 1st grade, too - completely missed out on 3-6, but has done really well. My youngest is the only one who will get the 3 yr cycle, as he is 3 and starting Montessori now.

Anyhow, I really think any Montessori is beneficial - even if it's only a year; or even if they don't start until lower or upper elementary.

[RiverTam]

My son was 5 when he started primary, and it went very well. He is in lower elementary now.

[SomedayMom]

I started my oldest at almost 5. He turned 5 3 months after he started. He has done extremely well. He had been to preschool previously, but not Montessori. He caught on to everything within a month or so and he did join in with helping the younger kids just as if he'd been there forever. I was worried too, but in the end, I did not need to be.

My youngest started with the toddler class at 2 and he'll be in the primary class this year. I am definitely excited to see him go through the whole cycle.