Kindergarten for Fall babies (Tampa: 2015, daycare, transfer)

[MinaNY]

My family and I will be relocating from Queens, NY to New Tampa in November. My son is 3 and was born in late October, so I see that he will have to start Kindergarten when he is 5 going on 6 because of the age requirements. In NY, he would be eligible to start at 4 in September, because he turns 5 the following month.

Do you find an issue with your kids being maybe too mature for kindergarten if they are a Fall/Winter baby?

[Stewabby]

He can start VPK here when he is 5. I think that happens whenever there is a cut-off and I don't know of anywhere where there is not some sort of cut-off.

My son is an October birthday as well so he will start pre-school at 3.5/4 and VPK the following year, followed by Kindergarten at 6. He will be bigger and more mature than his classmates and I don't think that will be a bad thing for him.

[MinaNY]

Thanks for your feedback! In NYC, we have the option to send them to Kindergarten in September even if they are 4 as long as they turn 5 before the following January. We also have the option to have them wait to attend the following year instead, as well, it's called "redshirting".

Maybe it's better that my son be older than most of the kids rather than younger, like you mentioned...I know I'm probably thinking about it too much, but just wanted to see how others viewed it.

[PhotoProIP]

I have two of them like that, and I think it is a great thing! They have a much better chance at comprehension, so we're pretty happy with that.

[PhotoProIP]

Originally Posted by Stewabby

He can start VPK here when he is 5. I think that happens whenever there is a cut-off and I don't know of anywhere where there is not some sort of cut-off.

My son is an October birthday as well so he will start pre-school at 3.5/4 and VPK the following year, followed by Kindergarten at 6. He will be bigger and more mature than his classmates and I don't think that will be a bad thing for him.

If he turns 4 in October of 2014, then in August of 2015 he can start VPK.

[MinaNY]

Originally Posted by PhotoProIP

If he turns 4 in October of 2014, then in August of 2015 he can start VPK.

Thank you very much!

[MinaNY]

Originally Posted by PhotoProIP

I have two of them like that, and I think it is a great thing! They have a much better chance at comprehension, so we're pretty happy with that.

And thank you for your feedback!

[floridagirl777]

Originally Posted by MinaNY

My family and I will be relocating from Queens, NY to New Tampa in November. My son is 3 and was born in late October, so I see that he will have to start Kindergarten when he is 5 going on 6 because of the age requirements. In NY, he would be eligible to start at 4 in September, because he turns 5 the following month.

Do you find an issue with your kids being maybe too mature for kindergarten if they are a Fall/Winter baby?

My son was almost 6 when he started kindergarten. (He had an early December b-day.) I am a teacher, and I had no problem at all with that. It is so much better to be older when starting kindergarten - especially for boys. There will be a greater chance that a little boy will be developmentally ready for academic learning than his just-turned-5 year old peers. My son has always had an easy time learning things in school because his brain was mature and developmentally ready for whatever was presented.

[EngGirl]

I think it depends on the particular child and his/her readiness for school. My oldest child is the youngest in class and doing as good as other children. My younger one should be the youngest one in his class as well, but at this point I am not sure if it's going to be a good idea to let him start school as he supposed to, but we will see.

In case we were missing a deadline with the oldest child, I would really consider enrolling her in private school for a year, so she could transfer grade to grade the following school year without loosing a year. It's just because she is ready for school and keeping her in daycare wont do any good for her.

[MinaNY]

Thank you so much for your advice, it makes a lot of sense!