Howdy, Mamas!
A friend of mine has a little girl whose birthday falls on September 13th, so 12 days after the kindergarten cutoff (here in TX). This little girl is quite socially mature and is very bright. She is already reading and does simple addition & subtraction problems. Is there anything to be done about the age cutoff for kindergarten? She doesn't really want to make her little girl wait another year to start school when she is so clearly ready. Thanks, mamas!
Oh yeah! If any of you are familiar with Arlington ISD's policy specifically, then please let me know. That's where her daughter will be going.
EDIT: Um, sorry, but it does no good to tell me to wait. She's not my child. LOL My oldest just turned four, though my youngest will turn one on her daughter's birthday, so no worries on this same subject for me for another few years. =) She is set on her little girl going to kindergarten, and I can see why. There really is no reason why she shouldn't do well, socially and academically.
they can do home school or private school for kinder & then transfer for 1st grade. or some school districts will let children test into kinder, but not sure about that one...but I know when we lived in oklahoma they did that...
My kids are both early September birthdays and I waited until they were 6 to start. Best thing I ever did. Sure I had to cough up another year of childcare but they are by far the shining stars academically. Trust me, they were ready to start K. They are both in high school now. Do I really want my kids going off to college at 17? No. I will be happier that they will be almost 19.
I am wondering the same thing. My little one will be almost 6 (in Arlington isd) when she starts. Seems a little old since she's so smart and social!
I live in Arlington, and I know a couple of people who started their kids in a private school for kindergarten, then switched them in the first grade to public school. The kids were just going to miss the cutoff by a month or two, and they wanted them to go ahead and start.
My birthday is Sept 12. I started school when I was 4 and it has nothing to do with the social or academic readiness of the child at this age. It is the difference in the child during puberty and other life changes. I was valedictorian of my class but socially I had/have several issues because of this. I would encourage your friend to wait for the sake of her child's future. It is only a year now... it is a lifetime of difference.
my daughter has a sept birthday as well and i was concerned about this at first. she was the oldest in her K class this past year and i'm so glad i waited. she's the smartest one, the leader of the class and was selected to be in the Gifted and Talented classes. don't start them any younger than you have to. i would totally wait!
My oldest's birthday is Sept 7 so he missed the cutoff by 7 days. I have no regrets about waiting. I would wait. There are so many kids that this happens to. The only option would be to start in a private kindergarten and transfer to public school in 1st grade.
