September 3 Birthday Problems????

Hi E., My son was 4 on September 10. I am in the same boat as you but have resigned to the fact that he will be the oldest in his class, which isn't necessarily a bad thing for boys. My son is the oldest in his preschool class by only a month. A lot of kids follow close behind with Oct and Nov birthdays. While my son is very big (97th percentile) and very smart, I still feel like I'm doing him a favor by not pushing him through the system. I asked the pediatrician what she thought and she said just because he is advanced now doesn't mean he will be when he's doing calculus and logic. So, basically, my 2 cents is to enjoy your son at home for an extra year and know he will be emotionally ready for school when he's 6! Feel free to contact me if you want to talk further. I have put a lot of time and thought into this matter myself.

I would check with your school district and find out how firm they are in enforcing the cut-off and what the requirements are to start him early, before you start to worry about it too much.

I found that most preschools we looked at took kids younger than 3 as long as they were potty-trained. (2.75 seemed to be a pretty common cutoff) and my older son started preschool in January, so it's definitely possible to be under 3 or to start in another month besides September.

My older son is one of the youngest in his class (July birthday) and my younger son will be the opposite - his birthday is in November. I worry a little bit about it, but you'd be surprised at the age spread. In our public school (Oak Park) my older son's K had a four-year-old start in September of that year, and his first grade had a kid who was 7.5 when school started. The boys, especially, seem to be older.

Hi Liz,

My son Kieran will turn 3 on September 24, 2007. Like you, I have spent time worrying about the fact that he won't be able to start school until 2008. From what I can tell, though, even if you can get your son into a pre-school or junior kindergarten with a less rigid cut-off date, he will end up repeating a year because September 1 is strictly enforced in the upper grades. I am no expert, but this is what I am seeing. I do have an older sone who is already in school, and trust me, you can be comforted by the the fact that many other kids are in your son's position. There will be other kids who just miss the cut-off and so you son will in fact be starting with "his" age group even if he is technically the oldest kid in the class. With a boy, I think it is better to be the oldest anyway because he will be bigger and may have an advantage in things like sports and socialization. I am trying to look at the bright side for Kieran. Good luck!

E., email me at ____@____.com for some suggestions you may find helpful.
L.

Hi!
Why are you trying to push him?? State law will not allow him into school the year before! As a kindergarten teacher in the public schools I often saw parents wanting to get their child in the year before. The cut off is made for a reason! They need time to mature and be ready--his age group is the one he will be in by the "rules". He will be at a big advantage being the "oldest" of his group and be much more ready for school than those with August birthdays. These oldests often end up being the leaders and most mature in the class b/c they are the oldest! This is a good thing!! There is no need to push him into school--he'll be there the rest of his life!!