School Questions

[jwwb2000]

What is the birthday cut off for a child to enter into kindergarden? My dd will turn 4 on Wed of this week and I was curious due to her b-day falling late in the year if she will have to attend pre-k next year or will she be able to go into kindergarden.

TIA for the info

 

[Dymphna]

They are in the process of gradually moving up the cut off date. This year kids must be 5 by Oct 31st, next year they must be 5 by Septmeber 30th and in Fall 2006, they must be 5 by September 1st.

 

[kwillia]

Keep in mind that late year babies tend to have a "maturity level" issue following them throughout the majority of their school career. Your dd will be about 6 months behind in development of most other kids in class. It can make a huge difference. You may want to consider giving her a leg up and starting her in pre-k so that she will end up being one of the older kids in class. It could make a world of difference to her in a couple years. Just something to think about and possibly discuss with the school...:shrug:

 

[jwwb2000]

They are in the process of gradually moving up the cut off date. This year kids must be 5 by Oct 31st, next year they must be 5 by Septmeber 30th and in Fall 2006, they must be 5 by September 1st.

Oh My!!! She will be one board little girl when she does go to school.......She now writes her own name as well as other words.........And all she wants to do is go to school and ride the bus with the big kids.....

 

[kwillia]

Oh My!!! She will be one board little girl when she does go to school.......She now writes her own name as well as other words.........And all she wants to do is go to school and ride the bus with the big kids.....

There is more to pre-k than writing ones name.

 

[Dymphna]

Oh My!!! She will be one board little girl when she does go to school.......She now writes her own name as well as other words.........And all she wants to do is go to school and ride the bus with the big kids.....

There's always preschool. There are a number of private ones, mostly held in churches, 2-3 days a week. Or you can try for public pre-k, so she can ride the bus like a big girl. Those are based on need, though. An average or above average child with no medical issues and two loving concerned parents is out of luck. If dad's a deadbeat and you're a drug addict, your chances are good.

Please note, I'm not disparaging public pre-k, my slightly below average kid went to it and they were great.

 

[JabbaJawz]

Hey jwwb...did you ever get rid of that pug pooch?

 

[Dymphna]

There is more to pre-k than writing ones name.

According to one professor I had, who was a kindergarten teacher for 20 years, those kids tend to be average overall, (excelling in some areas, lacking in others) but their parents have a hard time adjusting.

This same teacher noted that there is no scientific evidence that backs up the state's decision to move the cut off date. 4 years, 8 months vs. 5 years makes no difference in the maturity of the child or his/her ability to learn. :shrug:

 

[Tina2001aniT]

According to one professor I had, who was a kindergarten teacher for 20 years, those kids tend to be average overall, (excelling in some areas, lacking in others) but their parents have a hard time adjusting.

This same teacher noted that there is no scientific evidence that backs up the state's decision to move the cut off date. 4 years, 8 months vs. 5 years makes no difference in the maturity of the child or his/her ability to learn. :shrug:

I do not understand the reasoning behind this either.....yes it is noticable when a child has a late birthday that they are somewhat behind (not all the time, but sometimes) but won't it just be the same, excpet with kids whose birthday is in july or august being behind??

 

[kwillia]

This same teacher noted that there is no scientific evidence that backs up the state's decision to move the cut off date. 4 years, 8 months vs. 5 years makes no difference in the maturity of the child or his/her ability to learn. :shrug:

I'm not just talking about learning ability, I'm talking about social maturity as well.

 

[pixiegirl]

I'm not just talking about learning ability, I'm talking about social maturity as well.

But then you have to take into consideration the flip side of the coin. Take Noah for example. His birthday is Dec. 7th. By the new standard he'll be almost 6 when he goes into kindergarden. He'll be in the same class as kids that turned 5 Aug. 30th.

While it may benefit some kids it also holds back some kids as well.

 

[Dymphna]

I'm not just talking about learning ability, I'm talking about social maturity as well.

I know, I was agreeing with you.

 

[jwwb2000]

There is more to pre-k than writing ones name.

I know there is more than just writing her name but she knows her alphabet, counts up to thirty, knows colors, shapes, sounds of animals, ect; she is already in a home daycare and is learning all of this as we speak. She also does very well with interacting with other children her age as well as children older. My concern is she will be bored out of her mind when she does get to go. With her know all of the mentioned stuff above I highly doubt she will be able to attend public pre-k due to her knowing what she knows and plus mom and dad are not walking great mills road for money....

 

[kwillia]

But then you have to take into consideration the flip side of the coin. Take Noah for example. His birthday is Dec. 7th. By the new standard he'll be almost 6 when he goes into kindergarden. He'll be in the same class as kids that turned 5 Aug. 30th.

While it may benefit some kids it also holds back some kids as well.

Believe me, Pixie... You are much better off having him ahead in maturity level rather than behind. It will benefit the both of you in the long run.

 

[jwwb2000]

Hey jwwb...did you ever get rid of that pug pooch?

Morph we did find a new home for but we still have Neo!! I am looking to stud him........your couch pooper fixed yet

 

[JabbaJawz]

Morph we did find a new home for but we still have Neo!! I am looking to stud him........your couch pooper fixed yet

Yes, she was fixed about 6 mos. ago.

 

[Dymphna]

But then you have to take into consideration the flip side of the coin. Take Noah for example. His birthday is Dec. 7th. By the new standard he'll be almost 6 when he goes into kindergarden. He'll be in the same class as kids that turned 5 Aug. 30th.

While it may benefit some kids it also holds back some kids as well.

Some states have cut off dates the begining of August. The date is completely arbitrary. But they have to pick some date. I don't see the point in changing it, though. There will always be some kids who are ahead of the curve and others who probably should've been kept home another year. I don't see where 4 months makes a difference.

 

[jwwb2000]

Yes, she was fixed about 6 mos. ago.

Darnit..........I will just have to find another one for a potential mate

 

[Dymphna]

I know there is more than just writing her name but she knows her alphabet, counts up to thirty, knows colors, shapes, sounds of animals, ect; she is already in a home daycare and is learning all of this as we speak. She also does very well with interacting with other children her age as well as children older. My concern is she will be bored out of her mind when she does get to go. With her know all of the mentioned stuff above I highly doubt she will be able to attend public pre-k due to her knowing what she knows and plus mom and dad are not walking great mills road for money....

Sounds like you've got a good childcare provider. If she's really good, she can keep your daughter from getting bored. Your daughter's just as likely to be bored going to school because they will have to go over all that stuff again to see where everyone is and to bring other kids up to speed.

 

[pixiegirl]

Some states have cut off dates the begining of August. The date is completely arbitrary. But they have to pick some date. I don't see the point in changing it, though. There will always be some kids who are ahead of the curve and others who probably should've been kept home another year. I don't see where 4 months makes a difference.

I just see the school system getting way too complicated these days. I'm not all that old and I can remember not much being expected of us in kindergarden.

My concern for Noah is that he'll be a problem child because he'll be so far ahead of the game. He's not even 3 and already knows as much as some kindergardeners. The poor kid has my genes and will seek out fun when he's bored.