My middle child had learning issues and it was suggested that she stay back in kindy for another year but I decided against it. The school that she went to was one with multigrade classrooms so she did grade 1 in a class that was a 123. and she stayed in that class and so it was as she rose through school until one year grade 5 or 6 the teacher told me that she had caught up to everyone else and she was average. Brilliant. At no point did she ever know that she was kind of doing a grade below her class mates as the multi level classes hid that from her. She managed to graduate high school with the same kids she went to kindy with.

Hi! I’m just wondering how this decision turned out? I could have written your words exactly. My daughter is born 10 days before the age cutoff, and she was so ready for kindergarten, it makes me physically sick with guilt that we didn’t send her. My husband did not want her being that young for her grade. Are you glad you did not send her?

Do so agree that it won’t hurt if you hold your child back for a year. One of mine started school at only 4.1/2 because the headmaster told me that if he had another child at his school they would be able to get another teacher and it would benefit everyone. Said she was so bright she would be OK. My daughter struggled throughout her school life and I always felt sorry that I listened to the headmaster’s pleas.

Each child is unique and I believe you will know what’s right for them.

Boys more so than girls might need an extra year. I would only do this if the benefits far outweighed the negatives. I would make a list of pros and cons first

If there is a pre kindy class at the local primary school I will definitely enrol my little one into that, if not I will be putting her into Kindergarten as soon as she is old enough,

Most kids don’t even realise they are doing another year of kinder, talk to the kinder teachers as they have so much experience to support the decision

Some children definitely need the extra year

I waited the extra year to send my son (April birthday). Instead of going to school, we travelled abroad and had lots of fun excursions. My son is smart, confident and social. I feel regret all the time as know he is embarrassed to be a year below his friends and he finds the work is too simple. He wins most of the class competitions and awards which I feel guilty about. So definitely the person who says no one ever regrets waiting is definitely wrong in my case.

It’s so hard to know when to send your babies to school. No cut-off date is ideal; it wouldn’t matter if the cut-off date was 31 December-if one child turns 5 in December and one is already 5 but turns 6 in March, there’s still going to be a huge difference in their age.
I think maturity has a lot to do with when to send your child. Bright children can be given more challenging work to do. There is more stigma (for the children) to repeat a year and often means having to change schools so probably best to delay starting school.
I sent my March boy to sessional kindergarten as well as attending childcare to make sure he was stimulated and challenged because we decided to start school when he was 5.
It will all work itself out so don’t beat yourself up Mumma.

Mum knows what is the best for her kids. Every child is different.

I feel you have made the best decision holding your child back. They will be learning so many wonderful social and educational skills whilst in preschool. I feel your child will thrive even better when they begin school the following year. If you are worried you can begin some sight words reading and writing at home. There are loads of activities and suggestions online. You are a fabulous mother please don’t worry.

I started my son early (4 turning 5) and it was my biggest regret. He’s got a learning disability that couldn’t be diagnosed until he was six when he was in year 1. If I had of waited a year, he could have started and been diagnosed in kindy and we could have addressed it earlier.
My daughter was started at the right age of 5 turning 6 and I’ll do the same for my third little boy.

Can you really know either way which was the right decision, because you’re only playing out one reality. We have decided to hold our son back, and just hope that in the long run it is the best decision. Ultimately, if he’d that tad bit older, it will hopefully allow him to learn a lot easier than the year before, and he would also have another year of maturity and learning to deal with his emotions. All in all, in a supportive environment, either way kids should thrive in either situation.

My son is now 19 and this conversation is still being had. I really wish there was a national standard with the cut off date 31 Dec so there’s no question about it. I sent my son early, and did I regret it initially, no? Everyone said he was ready. The issues he had throughout school with bullying etc. I don’t believe were related to his young age. And I always looked at and followed the kids the year below him and felt we’d done the right thing. I don’t know if there is a right or wrong answer. We just made sure we worked harder for and with him.

Don’t beat yourself up mumma ! I’m sure you didn’t take this decision lightly, so nu use to feel regretful about it.
We arrived in Australia from Europe in April when my eldest was 4 turning 5, so we waited till the next yr when she was 5tyrning 6. My son followed her the next year at the same age.
My third was nearly 5 when she started and my youngest was 5turning 6 and repeated prep

I think this is a hard decision to make but you know your child & would have an instinct. I could tell mine was getting bored and needed more stimulation so sent her as soon as she started 5 (and she turned 5 the week before she started!)

I didn’t have the option to keep my youngest back for a year but I think it may have been more beneficial for him. He struggled until year 3 when he ended up with a wonderful teacher who helped him by giving him responsibility. It was done in a way that made him feel proud and he just went from strength to strength after that.

I totally agree with BecBec comment below, as someone who works in the field I totally see the benefit of maturity.

We are keeping all three of our boys back a year, from pre-Kindy, essentially they are all turning or have already turned 6 when starting prep. I am a high school teacher and cannot fully express how much of a difference I see in students who are younger in a year to those who are older. The maturity and ability to handle the workload, communicate and deal with social pressures is so glaringly obvious. I’ve spoken with a great number of parents for my own reasons who have kept their children back a year, and none have regrets. I have met many parents who wished they had, for the reasons I mentioned above, and many others who also ended up having their children repeat a year later on, and they wished they’d just bitten the bullet and done it before prep or grade 1. If you’re worried about friends, it’s not a big deal; most children are fine making friends with new children at a young age. Play is so vital in children’s development and it is being neglected. If you’ve got doubts, go check out Maggie Dent for some further info, or have a look at what is happening in WA at the moment. Many other countries delay formal schooling, for good reason.