My daughter will turn 3 this November, so she will miss the cutoff next year for the 4 year old preschool. I'm afraid if we wait until she's 4/almost 5 for preschool and 5/almost 6 for kindergarten, she's going to be bored in school - does anyone have any suggestions/opinions on waiting vs. trying to get them enrolled somewhere early?
In many ways this can be a positive situation for your daughter and for you. You will be surprised at the things they teach early on these days that can benefit her for the future. My 8 year old daughter has a September birthday and missed the cut off by 16 days, I was also worried about this when she started preschool, it has been a wonderful thing for her, it really does give them a step up. No need to worry, it will be great!
I agree with everyone else. Both of my kids have fall b-days and are among the oldest in their classes and I wouldn't have it any other way. I have even known parents to wait a year to start school even if they made the cutoff just so their children woudn't be so young.
I have a fall b-day and was the oldest in my class. School was very easy for me. On the other hand, my brother turned 5 less than a week befoe school started and struggled every day until my parents decided to hold him back in the 4th grade. By that time he thoroughly hated school.
Also even if you could find a preschool that would let her start early, the public schools might not. Then you're stuck repeating pre-k. Good luck and enjoy the extra year of having a preschooler.
I also agree with the other post, I think waiting is more conducive to a well rounded child. I think when they are older they can understand and are mature enough to get the most out of the school enviroment. Let them enjoy their time being a preschooler and I think you will be rewarded in the long run. BTW I have 1 son that has an early birthday, 1 son that is a late birthday.
As a teacher and as a parent of four who all have Fall birthdays, I have found that it is better to be the older, more mature one in the grade rather than the younger one. (I think you'll especially appreciate it when she reaches high school.) Good teachers will have ways to redirect boredom. As a teacher, I was almost always able to point out the students with summer birthdays. There's an obvious difference, especially in the younger grades.
My last son missed the cut-off by ONE day and I was elated!
