What age is the correct age to send our little ones to school?

Question

In the UK children start preschool and nursery at 3 and four years respectively. And then they progress to Year one by the time they are 5 or 6. All though I have nothing against the way children are learning I feel we are starting them far too young and overloading their poor craniums. No wonder by the time they finish primary school they become dilinquint and tired of the school system. Should we not rather encourage positive learning through play and less emphasis on performance and league tables? Suggest to parents who care for preschoolers and teach them from home, until they are at least 5 years of age?

And reintroduce subjects like cooking into the National Curicullum? This is likely to have a positive outcome in the fight against childhood obesity.

Yes I know this is the home schooling section. For this reason I put my question to you. I am all for keeping my kids at home and teaching them myself - as much as I can.

For any mum who has very young children, toddlers and preschoolers, don't you agree that our children benefit greatest from the time we spend with them and not packing them off for someone else to do the job?

Thanks Bev for you comments - I have noted and appreciate you output,

Answer 1

i started at 4 years old

Answer 2

I agree.My mother spent our very early years introducing words and numbers to us through play and stories.My three brothers and i had a greater head start in our infant school than any other child , we all had greater reading ages and we're keen to learn........little preschool infants are like sponges and will soak up all input both neg and pos...so please take the time mums to be there and get your input right so your children get the best from the system later too !.Cooking and to some extent child care and parenting skills and definitely social responsibilities should be "taught" as a guide to living with others too.League Tables and other experiments that apply pressure without a result for the child are counter productive,anything that doesn't help and costs money and teachers time is "criminally irresponsible" and stealing from those children (future adults) in the system at that time.........In effect i feel that too many parents these days pass their responsibilities to the school or home help/nanny and then blame the imperfect system...No system is ever going to be perfect,but most parents are felt to be by their young children (until they reach teens) and they are totally reliant on your guidance and teachings. Good luck . So in effect i am saying 5 is best age for schooling other than much earlier at home.

Answer 3

Well, I think children benefit from being at home and learning at a more relaxed pace in the early years. As for one correct age, I don't think any organized curriculum before 5 or 6 is necessary at all.

I know homeschooling is allowed in the UK, but if you choose the government schools, are you allowed to not start until Year 1 if you want to?

Answer 4

There is no correct age to send kids to school, unless 'never' counts as an age.

Here, those kids who do go to school, start when they're 6 yrs old.

I started learning to read, write and do simple maths when I was about 3 but that wasn't at school (I'm 15 and have only ever spent 5 weeks at school). The way I learnt was by pestering my older siblings' governess into 'playing school' with me. I learnt how to read, write etc on the back of playing a game...and it worked. I didn't even know that I was learning anything because all I knew at the time was that I was having heaps of fun.

Answer 5

I sent my son to pre-K for three hours a day, when he was nearly 4 years old, and if I had to do it over again, I would not send him. I was not familiar with the concept of homeschooling at that time, and as a single parent, I thought the only way to make a living was by working outside of my home. Thank God, I learned there was a better way!

I began homeschooling my son at the age of 6; now he is almost 8, and in second grade. He is thriving in our homeschool environment. I, myself, am working from home and all is well.

I would suggest that you continue to teach your children at home even when they are past the age of 5. Also, you can include learning how to cook/eat healthy meals as part of your homeschool curriculum.

Answer 6

There is no "correct" age. Kids are people - not robots - and each has their own internal timetable that tells when they are ready.

Some kids are ready for a preschool/nursery/kindergarten atmosphere at a young age. Some kids, even in high school, don't function well in a school environment. Each child should be able to attain the education that they need, IMO, when they are ready for it. If that means letting them go to K at age 5, then so be it (although I personally think that's a bit young for most kids). And if it means homeschooling through high school, or letting them proceed into college or concurrent enrollment classes at age 15, then so be it.

There is no one "correct" answer - the answer is to be a responsible parent, to know your child, and to give them the proper opportunities as they become developmentally ready.

Answer 7

Never. I don't think there is a correct age to send a child to a government school. I agree with you that schools are pushing literacy at younger and younger ages. My daughter could not read in kindergarten, so they decided she needed to be medicated for the rest of her life. It is not an age appropriate expectation for the majority of children. I'd rather they learn to share, take turns, love discovery, and not to eat boogers at that age. You cannot leave that step out. If you do you wind up with students who can read, but do not enjoy it. You also risk older children and even teens who never learned that they cannot always go first and that boogers are not appropriate mid-morning snacks.

Answer 8

College.
This is the home school section.
Personally we do not believe it to be in the best interest of young children to be separated from the comfort, teachings, and examples of their parents.
Often time age 5 is still way to early, especially for boys.
Read: Better Late Than Early by Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore.
They set out to prove the benefits of early childhood education, and found the opposite to be true; they became home school supporters.
Children develop best when in the care of those whole know, and love them most, in an encouraging, and warm environment.
We call it home.

About a national curriculum, that does not compute with home school families since we focus on individual attention, and take great care to adjust our teachings to allow each child to have such an individual education.

Obesity; well that again is a parental responsibility from teaching children good nutritional choices to moderation, and healthy eating habits.
To give children plenty of out side play, and running around time, as well as sports.
Sitting around in a classroom reading about it is part of a curriculum in schools who cut out PE and recess time is not the answer.

The schools are not the answer to raising children properly; parents are.

Addition:
Absolutely I agree that they benefit greatly from being with their mommies, we do not have little ones ourselves anymore; the youngest ones are now in their early teens, and up.
We do however have two wonderful grandchildren, so the need for involved parents, and grandparents continues ^_^

Answer 9

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Answer 10

In the US, each state has it's own education laws. In some states you're required to start compulsory education as early as 5, in other states as late as age 7.

In some states, kindergarten is mandatory, and there are people who are interested in making preschool mandatory.

Answer 11

Nursery is more of a choice...... i started going to school probably at the age of 4 to 5. x