my daughter's birthday is on the 28th of August, am I able to defer her school entry to the next year?

Question

So she's not the youngest in the class? She's so tiny and I'm worried she'll not keep up with children almost a year older.

Answer 1

It is not the size of the child that should impact your decision at all. I was smaller than all the other kids - because i grew up to be a short person. If my parents held me back until I got to be the same size of the other kids, I would not have gone to kindergarten until I was 8! And I always got good grades.

Is she mentally ready for kindergarten and is she socially ready. I am sure that there are assessments available. That is what is important, not her size. And you may find that while she is tiny compared to kids you know, there are bound to be other small children once you get them all in the classroom together.

Answer 2

Depending on your state's cut off date (in our state it isn't until December 1) for the child to be 5 when entering kindergarten, she may not be the youngest in her class. Make your judgment based more on her readiness rather than her age and size. Some one has to be the youngest in the class and if your daughter is ready for school, then don't delay her solely based on her age. My son has a September birthday and my middle daughter has a November 12 birthday. With our school cut-off date being December 1, I had to contemplate whether they were ready or not. I sent them both when they were still 4 and going to be 5. They did very well in school, for them it was a good choice. Our school has a kindergarten orientation in May when all potential kindergartners come in and visit the school. They get to see the classrooms, meet the teachers, make a craft (using scissors, glue, crayons to see how their fine motor skills are developing), have a snack, and take a ride on the school bus. It is a good time to see how your child "measures up" to others potentially going to school with her plus you'll have a chance to express your concerns to the kindergarten teachers and principal about your child's readiness. If your school doesn't offer this type of event, contact the school to make an appointment to come in and talk to the principal and kindergarten teachers. They can help you make the decision that is right for your daughter.

Answer 3

I don't know, but I will comment that my daughters birthday is shortly after yours, but she was born after the cut off date and ended up going into the following year. So she is the oldest in the class. I did not mind at the time but I think she would have been better in the older year, because by the time they go the following year the work seems to be a bit young for them. The teachers will hold back her learning level, for the young ones to catch up.I also know a child that is the youngest in a class, she is doing fine and is really happy. Kids are pretty capable in exceeding whats expected of them.

Answer 4

I think that you should base your decision on your daughter's mental age and not on the fact that "She's so tiny."

My eldest is a August 25th baby. Mentally and intellectually she is well past her older classmates. Physically she has been able to keep up with the other children and even surpasses some older kids. My daughter has friends in higher grades and even in lower grades as she is friendly and open-minded.

My daughter is "gifted" (school label-not mine--to me she is just a "normal" kid like I was) so that might be why she has done so well. Being petite, she was and continues to be one of the smallest then again, so do a few boys who were a full year older. Kids come in all sizes.

Keeping "up with the children almost a year older" will depend more on her personality--the content of her heart and the way that she treats others than on her age. Most other parents are in shock when I've had birthday parties for my daughter and they find out she is so young. She is the kid in class who always gets the As, wins science fairs and spelling bees, gets commended on tests, is in school activities, and is chosen for top honors in her classes, so she is hard to miss. She isn't boisterous or bossy so her classmates readily praise her acomplishments. She is respectful, well-mannered, kind, and humble. There is a boy in her class who isn't praised even when he went to the state science fair and she did not get past regionals. My daughter said that it is because he is bossy and controlling. I've talked to him many times over the years--(I'm the Mom who most of the kids know by name since I never miss a school function and children tend to naturally gravitate towards me--I listen to them!!)--and he has a really good heart and can be very respectful. Unfortunately, even though his age is more in tune with his classmates, he finds it harder to deal with his peers than my daughter does.

Answer 5

If you're in UK then you probably know that children who reach school age by August 31st should attend from September 1st of that year. I very much doubt you would be able to, legally, defer your daughter's start at school. You should also consider how things would be if she was not to be in a school learning situation for another year ie until she was 6 and was then probably the oldest in her class.
I can understand your concerns and it would be useful for you to raise these with the head of the school your daughter is due to attend and/or her prospective class teacher. Schools are used to this problem of late August births and the spread of ages and abilities within a class group and should be in a position to assure you that all your daughter's needs will be well looked after.
Try not to pass on your anxieties to your daughter, though. She is probably more than ready for school and looking forward to going, whatever your fears and it is important that you are positive about her schooling, at least in front of her, from the outset. I have seen children enter reception class and they are usually far more confident and less concerned than many of their parents!
Good luck with this!

Answer 6

Well my daughter was born on the 31st August, so as you can see she was literaly the youngest in her year at school. I didnt know at the time that you could sometimes keep them home an extra year so i didnt question it. But as it happens she does well at school. She is only an average student so in a way i wish i had desputed it but it isnt too bad. All children are different though.

Answer 7

she'll be fine my sons birthday is the 29th of august hes the youngest in his class and has had no problem keeping up with the other children and the teachers take into account that they are younger.

Answer 8

My daughter became born on August 19. She did very properly in nursery college, so I, a instructor, did not think of roughly retaining her back yet another twelve months. because it became out, she became somewhat immature while in comparison with different pupils. She behaved properly and he or she found out properly, yet she became extra fragile emotionally. She became categorised as proficient while she entered 2d grade. I now understand that proficient babies react extra strongly while the instructor or pupils say something damaging. they're additionally extra well-off to what others say. She could have benefitted from yet another twelve months in nursery college. that is definitely a complicated question. the respond i could provide as an experienced kindergarten instructor is which you could not circulate incorrect by making use of retaining her back; you ought to be taking a probability by making use of sending her directly to ok this twelve months. solid luck.

Answer 9

I dont think dates really are that important-I think its more of a case of if you think she is not ready then you need to speak to someone about holding her back regardless of when her birthday is. I do believe the system is more flexible than what people say. Only you know your child best. Contact the education board in your local area, if you dont get any luck with the first person you speak to, make sure you speak to a few people as not everyone knows what they are talking about. Good Luck

Answer 10

My bitrthday is august 28 too i'm turning 19. she couldn't be the youngest because there are kids born in sept, october , nov and dec which is at the end of the year. you could let her star the next year even though she would be starting school later. its not that big of a deal though alot of kids graduate the year they turn 19 instead of 18. i'm graduating two months before turning 19 so she should be good.