I recently read in another thread that children who attend Private Pre-K programs are typically better prepared for those who attend public or none at all.
I go back and forth on the issue of having your child tested into Kindergarden. My son who is 4 but will be 5 this year, but after the cut off date, will be starting Pre-K this year. He attends a private center and I absolutely love it. He can write all his letters, our entire families name and pretty much any word I give him if I spell it out. He can read simple words...etc. (sorry to brag just a proud mama). I know he would be just fine entering into Kindergarten this year accademically but I worry about socially and emotionally. I had a friend in hs who was born in december. She was always the "young" one and acted that way too. When we all turned 16 she just turned 15, and so on. I didnt want my son to feel "left out".
But then I see my son with my nephew who will be 4 in July and he is also entering Pre-K this year and they seem worlds apart. My nephew does not know colors, letters, count to 20 anything that I think a typical 4 year old should know. He still acts more like a toddler than a pre-schooler and this makes me want to re-think the pre-k idea. And then I have a niece who turned 4 in April and my son and her are basically on the same level socially, emotionally and accademically.
I think its a matter of preferance. And your child. Do you want your child to be the youngest or the oldest in his class?
I did that. My parents used to complain that I hung out with older friends. Welll... dur. They WERE my classmates. 