Is it better for kids to start Kindergarten at 5 or 6? Why?

Question

My son will turn 5 in June 2009. Should he start Kindergarten the year he turns 5 or is it better to wait unitl he is 6.

Answer 1

The cutoff to enter Kindergarten where we live is December 2nd (they have to be turning 5 by then to start the August before) my daighter missed it by 10 days. She is very bright and even her pediatrician said to try to get her in, she was ready. They would not accept her. I was so upset, thinking she was going to be older than everyone and would ature faster when she got to highschool and stuff. But the year that I kept her home was fantastic. I started teaching her spanish, and she took riding lessons. She is a very confident child, moreso now than last year. They will be in school for a long time, but there is only a small window where we can keep them home and offer them something other than what school does. In our case, it was great that she stayed home. Think about how you would spend the year with him. Will he go to daycare anyway?? You might as well. Will you be home with him and be able to spend time with him that will forever be treasured??? Your call. :)

Answer 2

Most likely he'll be able to start Kindergarten at 5, but you can go by his personality and maturity level. I have a friend who waited until her daughter was 6, and the girl did well and is now in 1st grade. I know 2 boys who started kindergarten last year with my daughter, one had barely turned 5 over the summer, the other was actually a 4 year old and turned 5 after school started. Both of those boys are now taking Kindergarten again because they just weren't ready to move to 1st grade. My daughter turned 6 shortly after school started last year, she missed the school's cut-off date to turn 5 by 12 days the year before. When we had our meeting with her teacher the week before Kindergarten started and the teacher found out she was going to turn 6 soon, she was thrilled, she said she loves teaching 6 year olds the kindergarten skills. Now in 1st grade and 7 years old my daughter and the other kids in the class who are older are reading better and behaving better than the younger kids in the class. I'm not saying that's always the case for kids, but it's something to consider. In the mean-time, just enjoy your boy, they grow up too fast.

Answer 3

I started Kindergarten at 4, and while I was fine with it, it was kind of a bummer to be the youngest in my class throughout school...I drove later than everyone in my class and graduated at 17. It turned out okay, but if I could have chosen, I might have waited until I was at least 5.

I have heard from several sources that girls develop socially about 2 years ahead of boys - which was one of the reasons I had my son start Kindergarten at 6. He is doing very well - in fact I think the extra year helped tune his social and listening skills before placing him in an environment with lots of other kids and teachers.

Answer 4

My oldest is five, and will be six November 2007. He starts Kindergarten in August. He'll probably be there for two years.

My youngest is three, and will be five at the end of July, 2008. He's starting kindergarten when he's five and will also probably be there for two years.

We have our reasons.

I know a lot of guys who had late birthdays and were held back a year, either by being in kindergarten a year late or being there for two years. There are all kinds of reasons, but if you decide to, he won't be the only one.

Answer 5

I am a kindergarten teacher and if he turns five before September, he will be fine to start kindergarten. I've actually had children start at four years of age because their birthday is in September. These children are a bit immature, but they eventually catch up with the others, some even exceed the older children academically.

Answer 6

Usually, it's fine at 5. It really depends on him and his readiness to be in school. Worry about his needs only, not what anyone else thinks or advises. My son turned 5 in May, and started Kindergarten that August. He had one year of K4 before that, and was a stay-home kid until he started K4. But, what matters is what's best for YOUR son and your son only. Best wishes!

Answer 7

I would say 5 so he is not almost a whole year older then other kids if he starts later. Most 6 year old born around the same time will be in first grade.

Answer 8

i began at the same time as i changed into 4. I surpassed compentency tests, yet then we had to petition the city of Philadelphia to allow me initiate Kindergarten. After ok, we moved out of the city, and the total ordeal all started back...human beings idea i changed into too youthful to be 5 and contained in the first grade, and now i'd be putting out my senior 12 months at 16, and that i may be the youngest graduate.

Answer 9

I think it depends on whether YOU think he's ready for Kindergarten. I know a lot of people who held their kids back when they had a birthday in October or November. My daughter turned 5 in November and she went and it turned out fine. But I did wonder if she'd be ready.

Answer 10

The school will tell you. They have to be five by a certain date. If not then they wait another year. All my children except one [I have four] started at 5. The other one started at 6, she wasn't really mature enough yet. We discussed it with the school and they agreed to wait one year.