Need some BTDT advice, should I send my young 5 yo DD to K? Decision today! - Page 2

[Linda on the move]

I'm looking at this from a middle school perspective. One of my DDs has a summer birthday and is on the young side for her grade. She is accelerated 2 years for math as it is, and will start taking high school classes as a 13 year old 8th grader. The idea that she should be in 7th grade and the school accommodate her -- when she wouldn't even be in her age appropriate grade -- seems silly to me.  We are very blessed to be in a flexible school that tries to meet kids needs, but I think parents play a role by putting them in the right grade to start with.

Sure, some kids are better off having a bit more time. I'm not arguing with that. I'm just saying that the OPers DD doesn't sound like one of them.

And it's 3 hours a day. It's not boarding school. She isn't loosing her family.

[whatsnextmom]

I've said it before but I'm very much against holding back kids who don't have any real reason to be held back. Your DD doesn't seem to have any special needs. She's tall and mature. She's strong academically. You, yourself said she's ready. It's half day.... believe me, there is still plenty of time to have adventures with you and her sister before and after. My DD did half day and it was a nice to have some 1-on-1 time with my youngest. If at the end of next summer she really seems incapable of a full-day class, give her another year of kindergarten at a different school. I seriously doubt you will feel that way though.

My eldest started at 5 and was so advanced and mature for grade they had to move her up to first after winter break for her own sanity. I can't even imagine how bad things would have been had we held her back. She's in 10th grade now at 14. No regrets. My youngest started full-day kindie at 4 and now he's 10 and a 6th grader. He's still considered the mature kid in class and still needs accomodation for advanced academics. No regrets.

I don't know that school will be bad during a difficult family situation. It would be a stability that is HERS and seperate from any instability at home. Lots of kids really cling to the routine of school when things are stressful at home. Having outside adults you can trust and count on, can really help when you perhaps questioning a parent.

It's sometimes hard to picture your babies in brand new situations. We often don't see how capable they are until they move outside what we personally expect of them.

[meetoo]

I sent my DS at  not quite 5 years old, last year and so far have no regrets. He was ready. I can not imagine him being in K this year. He would be waaaaaaay ahead of the other kids and bored out of his mind! I don't think it's fair to expect the school to accommodate him when he would technically be in the wrong grade to begin with.  I do not agree with the mentality to hold kids back just because they are younger.  If they are really young for the grade AND not ready,  sure, but to hold them out just because they are on the young side doesn't make sense to me. Someone has to be the youngest.