Only child starting Kindergarten, youngest/smallest kid in class/?

Question

My only child a girl, is starting Kindergarten in 3 days....
she's going to be the smallest and youngest in the class.
Anyone have any thing to say to make me feel a tad brave? I feel like cyring, but don't want to in front of her!

Answer 1

I have a feeling that your daughter has enough spunk in her that she can care for herself. At this age, there are some small kids, and some big kids, but soon they seem to average out.

Sometimes the mighty come in small packages, and for the little you have shared about her, she seems outgoing, and had a good personality, so I would say she will be fine.

For you - drop her off at school, tell her you will pick her up at whatever time it is, and walk away, don't look back, go home, have a good cry, have oj/coffee, and sit and enjoy a book in a quiet house.

You will adapt quickly, and it will be fun later when she comes home and tells you everything they did.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I can help. I had a similar problem when I started kindergarten, I was the tallest and I outweighed the other children too, by a lot. It was hard at first. The other kids knew I was different but they got used to it and now they accept me for who I am. In fact they kind of think its fun to have a kid in their class who's in his forty teens.

I'm graduating this year with a BA in milk and cookies!

Seriously though I don't see why you should worry, my daughter was the only Caucasian in her head start class among all Asians and she was treated like a celebrity at first, but then she was just one of the kids and she had a great time there. I think it made her more well rounded (no pun intended) to experience another culture. I think your daughter will blend right in and it will probably be good for her to be among older kids cause she'll catch up and be advanced. Tell her that too but don't make a big deal about it of course. I think she may even like it, I was always bored in school cause I knew how to read and write some before I started kindergarten. That's why I started smoking a pack a day and got into drugs and alcohol that year... Kidding again!!! I only smoked a half a pack a day.

Answer 3

I went to first grade (there was no kindergarten) at age 5, the school was so small it was mixed grades, with the result that I was a small 5-year-old in a class of six and seven-year olds. But I could read and kept up with the class.

I had some social adjustment issues but it came more from being the "baby" of my family than the classroom.

I was proud to be the youngest person in my graduating class, and it's STILL fun to be the "youngest" at the high school reunions.

She will be fine. SOMEONE has to be the youngest and the smallest!

Answer 4

Its always hard to send your "baby" off to school for the first time. Sometimes as much for you as it is them. But you must be strong. Because she might be scared and even cry or she might just have the oppsite reaction but most of this is probably going to be based on how you prepare her. Let her know what to expect. How she will meet new friends, she will have playtime, she will have a nice teacher who will show her new and different things. There will be stories and games to play with her new friends. She will be able to go outside and play. They will have snacks and every once in a while parties. I am sure with all this excitement if you tell it to her that way, she will not be too scared to go. And her being the smallest is probably a bigger worry of yours than hers or anybody elses. If the subject comes up later tell her that sometimes other kids can be mean and that they do that because they usually don't like something about themselves. Good luck and don't worry too much I am sure she will be fine. PS I have 3 kids 17, 19, and 25 and they all made it through their first day fine.

Answer 5

Hi, in Australia (where I am) kindergarten is the first year of school, and if that is the same for you there I would wait until the child is older. The age is very important to the maturity and that goes hand in hand with learning abilities. My son is the youngest and he is always never as talented as the older ones. Wait if you can.

They learn so much there, they will get used to it in a while. Talk to the child about it being a great thing to be doing, with all their friends and great carers and toys and outside things to do.

When you have left for the first time then it it time for your emotions - wear sunnies! it is hard, don't dwell on it at all, just keep going and it will get better!!

Answer 6

Most kids are excited at the thought of starting something new. Get excited with her and it will seem to be easier. The day will be tough on both of you - I think especially Mum, cos she's the one left alone to think. Your daughter will probably find it hard to begin with but with so many things to do and other children to play with, they generally settle reasonably quickly.

Children are experts at being able to sense moods. If she feels that you are anxous about this new adventure, your daughter will begin to feel the same.

Do you know any of the other mothers with children starting the same day? Perhaps getting together before Kindy starts so that the girls can get to know each other a bit, if they haven't already formed a friendship. Then on the day she goes to kindy, arrange for you both (mums) to go out for a coffee/shopping date so you can keep each other's minds off the big event or even so you can share how you are both feeling a bit nostalgic for the days when the girls were at home.

You will do fine and so will she! :-) Just remember the day is the start of a new stage of both your lives. Make it a celebration! Your baby is growing up but it doesn't mean that she doesn't need you anymore. Little girls always need their mothers - even when they are old!!

Answer 7

OK, so I was the youngest in my class starting kindergarten, and as I got older I still thought it was bad. But when it came time to graduate and I was 17 and everyone else was 18 and 19, it was the best feeling to know that I was the youngest. I kinda felt like I was getting out with a little bit more life left than them, lol.

Answer 8

She is so young that I am sure she does not think about being the smallest or youngest in her class. She just thinks of other kids as being other kids.

When my oldest started school the first day, I walked out of school in tears. I was so much more upset than he was. He was happy and had so much fun.

Just wait until she has been there for 2 weeks. You will wonder why you were ever worried.

Answer 9

I'm sure she'll have a great time and meet lots of friends. My sister was born right before the cut-off date and was the youngest in her class, and she still enjoyed it just as much as an older child would. It may be scary to spend so much time away from her, but remember that she will be learning a lot and will get used to spending time with other kids her age. It's only a half day!

Answer 10

If this were a boy, I would suggest waiting a year, but your daughter will be just fine. I do believe that you can pull her out and start again next year if she is struggling to keep up, but little girls tend to have an easier time. Her size shouldn't be a disadvantage as it might be with a little boy.
That was a hard day for me too. If it is of any comfort to you, it will be a tougher day for mom than daughter. Keep the tissue in your pocket until you're out of sight. Chances are pretty good that she won't even look back.
Good luck!