starting prep early

[mumsies]

We live in Victoria and our son was born in August so he cannot start school until he is 5 turning 6 unless he he has an IQ 130 or more. This is still a bit of a while away, but wanted to know if there were any families out there who have had there children earlier than legislated, how you found the journey, how your child did and how your school supported (or didn't) your child?

[BigRedV]

Just wondering why you would want to start your child early?

[bellalika]

Just wondering why you would want to start your child early?

Same. As a early years teacher it is something, without knowing all the facts, I would strongly discourage.

[mumsies]

Thanks ladies for your opinion. I purposely didn't put all information on, as I am not actually looking for people's opinions but rather their experience. If we thought this was an option worth looking at we would work with the opinions of professionals and carers who could assess, with all the information and knowing him, what they thought best, and his father and I would decide from that. Looking forward to hearing from anyone who would be able to tell me about their personal experience, so that we can learn from them.

[BigRedV]

I didn't give an opinion, but asked a question. I haven't had experience with my own children, but being a teacher, I've seen many children who started school too early, that is why I asked.

[bellalika]

I didn't give an opinion, but asked a question. I haven't had experience with my own children, but being a teacher, I've seen many children who started school too early, that is why I asked.

I think she meant my unsolicited opinion based on seeing too many kids start early. Stepping out now.

[haveheart]

Subscribing! I would like to hear other parents experiences too, I'm tossing up what to do with my daughter!

[Mia78]

I'm also subscribing. I believe the cutoff date in Victoria is 30th April ??? My DD2 will turn 5 on the 6th May, and although it is still years away, providing she knows her basics, it would be a shame to hold her back a year for the sake of 6 days...especially when her sister will be 1 year ahead in school.

[mim1]

My ds is born in January and so started kinder (in Vic) at age 4 (and a couple of weeks), aiming to start school at age 5. He hasn't had formal giftedness testing yet, but he is very advanced in literacy & numeracy and this has been evident since he was a young toddler. He learns things very quickly and ponders things very deeply. He can read quite well and has been reading for well over a year now.

BUT, he won't be starting school at age 5. His kinder teacher suggested (STRONGLY) that he waits til he is 6 to start school and we have followed her advice. Although one-on-one he is clearly very advanced in literacy & numeracy he is completely different in a group of his peers. He still plays mostly on his own, or with one other child (rather than in groups like most of the other children in his kinder). He doesn't do things readily when asked like go to the toilet, put on his jacket before going outside, etc ... even if all the other children are doing it. He won't talk up the front of the group at all, and yet at home we can't shut him up, or even with his cousins he's very much out the front, just not with a group of his peers. It's hard to explain, but socially he is appropriate for his 'young' age and we are watching him change slowly and are confident he will improve his social skills. He's not just a gifted child without necessary social skills, if that makes sense. His teacher is worried that if he goes onto Prep he'll get lost and underperform academically. Sure, he can read, but what point is that if he's too intimidated by his peers to actually put his hand up in response to a question? And so what if he's good at numbers, but he doesn't manage to organise himself to eat all his lunch before playing and then forgets to go to the toilet, so spends the afternoon in agony, not able to tell the teacher he needs to go to the toilet?

So, he will start school at 6 and he'll be advanced academically, but he would be anyway. He'll progress through the year levels, learning things along the way at his pace, whatever that is.

Do not let the April 30th cut-off fool you. You will find that most parents are holding back their children born from Jan - April until closer to their 6th Birthday. My ds is a January baby and I think there are 2 children younger than him in his Kinder class and the 5th Birthday's started in March. This is especially the case for boys. I know giftedness has been associated with 'skipping grades' and 'being accelerated' through school, but I'm not sure this is a good idea, and even if it is, I suspect it's done better if they don't rush starting school. The logistics of everyday school life are hard enough, without forcing them on an immature child, gifted or otherwise.

[Hollywood]

I agree with Mim1. DS was 4 in Feb this year but we've held him back after recommendation from his 3yo kinder teacher last year. He's a bright kid but really needed the extra year for social development, so he will be doing 4yo kinder next year and start prep the year he turns 6.