Snack time. Smoke 'em if you've got 'em.

Did you see this? Preschoolers Grow Older as Parents Seek an Edge (New York Times). Here’s a choice quote:

Jack Haims, who turned 6 in late September, started kindergarten this year with an enviable skill set under his tiny belt: He could already read simple rhyming books, count to 100 and write his name.

“He has a lot more self-confidence if he tends to be the older one,” said his mother, Charlotte, 37. “I wanted him to have an easier time.”

Jack acquired his confidence and abilities thanks to an extra year of preschool, or perhaps simply an extra year of life.

We’re going to be up against this issue at the Plain household pretty soon. Mike was born in February 2002, so he’ll be going to kindergarten next September. He’ll be 5.5 when it starts, and he’ll be ready.

But then there’s Robbie. He was born in November 2002. He’s ‘young at heart.’ He’s going to be a trickier call. Technically he could go to kindergarten the same year Mike does (California’s cutoff is December), but he would start when he’s still 4. In our area tons of people have their kids start older, and according to the NYT we’re not alone.

The upside of sending the same year as Mike is that they could tackle kindergarten together. I wouldn’t put them in the same classroom, but they would both be learning a new school, doing homework (and that’s another post), and making new friends in the same year. It might be nice for them to have each other’s support.

But Robbie would only be 4! I was going to use the ‘take his lunch money’ expression when I realized that that might actually happen! I just don’t know. Talk to me next year in September…


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3 responses to “Snack time. Smoke 'em if you've got 'em.”

  1. crunchy carpets Avatar

    Yikes….Adam can barely handle pre school at 4.

    He will be 5 and 4 months when he starts kindergarten next sept and I just can’t picture it….

  2. Robin Avatar

    Here’s some unsolicited advice from a complete stranger… No child is ready to start kindergarten at 4. Especially a boy. 5.5 is a good age, almost 6 is even better.

  3. Plain Jane Mom Avatar

    crunchy carpets — I refuse to imagine my kids growing up, so I’m way ahead of (behind?) you.

    Robin — ‘unsolicited advice from strangers’ is what I signed up for when I started blogging, so bring it on! I doubt Robbie will go next year anyway.

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