Summer birthdays- start school early or later?

Question

Where you have the option of when to send your child to school because of where their birthday falls- would you send them early (so they’d be among the youngest in the class) or later (so they’d be among the oldest in the class?

Answer

My son is 2 days before the cutoff. We wrestled with the decision. We consulted his preschool teacher and she advised us to send him because she felt another year of preschool he would be extremely bored. He is in 1st grade and just brought home a report card with all As. There can be a difference socially for him with kids who are almost a year older than he is but there are plenty of kids in his classes that he has bonded with. I don't think there is a right or wrong answer I really just think it depends on the child.

Answer

Depends on the kid but in most cases I would say later.

Answer

My birthday was 2 days before the cutoff date. My stepmom got me ready for school, we walked down, and they told me I had to wait till next year. I was SO UPSET. I was the oldest in my grade when I finally went to school. I wish I would’ve been able to start earlier, especially since my mom held me back in 8th grade because I was being lazy and not doing my schoolwork. I was literally 2 years older than everyone, ended up dropping out in my 11th grade. I would’ve been 20 in my senior year. I would definitely start early!

Answer

As a teacher I would ups say generally it is better to start them later. There is a massive maturity difference between kids that are almost a year apart. Some kids do fine but for those that struggle, they usually struggle hard. I have a 2.5 year old with a summer birthday. I have no doubt she will be academically ready for school at a younger age but we will decide based on her social and emotional maturity.

Answer

It really depends on the kid. My oldest has always been super precocious. Her birthday is in November, so well past the 09/01 cutoff. However, we applied to a private school that evaluated her and accepted her early. We just finished 2nd trimester and even though she is the youngest by a couple months, her teacher said she is right on track socially and is near the top of her class academically. If it were my middle kid, though, we would not have done early enrollment. Her birthday is in January, though, so she’ll be right in the middle of the age range.￼ You really have to evaluate each child individually

Answer

I would wait it off.
Our son is born July 30th so EXACTLY in the middle of our summer holiday (july 1st to August 31st)
However he's 7,5 months old, and is not far behind his nephew in forms of size & development, who is about 9 months older.
I want to see where he is developmental closer to when the time comes.

Answer

My son’s birthday is 8/3 and the cutoff is 8/1 here. They will make an exception because obviously it’s a two day difference. It will depend on how he acts at that age, if he’s ready I will send him. If not, I’ll wait a year and he can do another year of pre-k.

Answer

My LO is 4 days before the cut off date (8/29) and a preemie so right now, we’re planning to wait.  My June baby went with her class though.  Studies show that those right on the edge of the cut off date tend to do better with peers and academics if they wait.

Answer

I have a July bday and wish my mom kept me back a year so I was the oldest instead of the youngest. 
I couldn't participate in some classes my peers were in because I was too young but the classes were only offered for a specific grade; job shadowing, driver's ed, government and psychology end of the year trips that required students being 18+ but I was only 17. I weirdly had a tough time with college interviews too because most only heard "I'm 17" and could immediately see the dismissal. It was frustrating.

Answer

Fascinating system. Here you go in class with the ones born in the same year as you - so everyone born in 2012 is in one class, if you're born 1/1-2013 you are in the next grade. Unless they suspect some kind of development delay there's rarely any exceptions.

Summer birthdays- start school early or later?

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