School closures/delays?

I’ve been scrolling through these last two pages and my blood is starting to boil. Honestly, who am I even supposed to argue with here!?

Do you seriously think there’s some idiot out there who would hold their kid back from school just so they could enjoy an extra-long weekend for another year? Give me a break. 😠

It’s easy for people like you to talk—you know, the ones whose kids don't face any actual hurdles—so the idea of delaying school seems totally alien. But some of us are actually out here doing the work, regularly hitting up speech therapists, child psychologists, or specialists. There are real issues at play: emotional immaturity, health concerns, neurodivergence, speech delays... things aren't always black and white.

I started school when I was six, but those were different times. I distinctly remember having a reading list of ten to fifteen books in first grade alone. Back then, nobody expected us to walk in already knowing every single letter of the alphabet or basic math, and heaven knows no one was "prepping" us in preschool the way they try to do everything nowadays.
You can't even compare the two eras.

Personally, I’d love nothing more than for my kid to start at six and just be ready to go. But he isn't! And let’s get one thing straight: delaying enrollment isn't some impulsive whim; it's a decision made alongside a team of professionals.

Look, I honestly don't quite follow why you're pushing for a delay. I was chatting with a mom at one of our local preschools—one of those kids who actually got an extra year before starting kindergarten—and she was so lovely about it. She explained that she requested the deferral simply because she wanted her little one to have another full year of pure playtime. And she isn't the outlier here, either. Of course, that doesn't mean every parent requesting more time doesn't have much more pressing or complex reasons behind it.

Brian Jones8 said:I’ve been scrolling through these last two pages and my blood is starting to boil. Honestly, who am I even supposed to argue with here!?

Do you seriously think there’s some idiot out there who would hold their kid back from school just so they could enjoy an extra-long weekend for another year? Give me a break. 😠

It’s easy for people like you to talk—you know, the ones whose kids don't face any actual hurdles—so the idea of delaying school seems totally alien. But some of us are actually out here doing the work, regularly hitting up speech therapists, child psychologists, or specialists. There are real issues at play: emotional immaturity, health concerns, neurodivergence, speech delays... things aren't always black and white.

I started school when I was six, but those were different times. I distinctly remember having a reading list of ten to fifteen books in first grade alone. Back then, nobody expected us to walk in already knowing every single letter of the alphabet or basic math, and heaven knows no one was "prepping" us in preschool the way they try to do everything nowadays.
You can't even compare the two eras.

Personally, I’d love nothing more than for my kid to start at six and just be ready to go. But he isn't! And let’s get one thing straight: delaying enrollment isn't some impulsive whim; it's a decision made alongside a team of professionals.

I'm totally with you on all of this.
And that’s exactly why we’re asking for a delay.
It really ticks me off when certain people act all shocked by the idea of delaying, like we’re asking for something crazy.

Brian Jones8 said:I’ve been scrolling through these last two pages and my blood is starting to boil. Honestly, who am I even supposed to argue with here!?

Do you seriously think there’s some idiot out there who would hold their kid back from school just so they could enjoy an extra-long weekend for another year? Give me a break. 😠

It’s easy for people like you to talk—you know, the ones whose kids don't face any actual hurdles—so the idea of delaying school seems totally alien. But some of us are actually out here doing the work, regularly hitting up speech therapists, child psychologists, or specialists. There are real issues at play: emotional immaturity, health concerns, neurodivergence, speech delays... things aren't always black and white.

I started school when I was six, but those were different times. I distinctly remember having a reading list of ten to fifteen books in first grade alone. Back then, nobody expected us to walk in already knowing every single letter of the alphabet or basic math, and heaven knows no one was "prepping" us in preschool the way they try to do everything nowadays.
You can't even compare the two eras.

Personally, I’d love nothing more than for my kid to start at six and just be ready to go. But he isn't! And let’s get one thing straight: delaying enrollment isn't some impulsive whim; it's a decision made alongside a team of professionals.

oh, absolutely.😉

And, I guess, it was already pretty clearly stated that we aren't talking about kids who have legitimate, objective reasons to delay their enrollment, so I'm not entirely sure why you're getting so worked up about it.

Michelle Nelson4 said:Look, I honestly don't quite follow why you're pushing for a delay. I was chatting with a mom at one of our local preschools—one of those kids who actually got an extra year before starting kindergarten—and she was so lovely about it. She explained that she requested the deferral simply because she wanted her little one to have another full year of pure playtime. And she isn't the outlier here, either. Of course, that doesn't mean every parent requesting more time doesn't have much more pressing or complex reasons behind it.

In my oldest child's group, there are three girls who were held back.
And, if I'm being honest, all three of them were kept back just to give them more time to play.
I know one of them pretty well, and she’s incredibly mature for her age—I'd say she's actually more advanced than most of her peers, let alone the younger kids.
The decision to delay her start was really just a whim, nothing more. She was born in January, so when she finally starts school, she'll be about seven years and eight months old.

urbantinker8 said:In my oldest child's group, there are three girls who were held back.
And, if I'm being honest, all three of them were kept back just to give them more time to play.
I know one of them pretty well, and she’s incredibly mature for her age—I'd say she's actually more advanced than most of her peers, let alone the younger kids.
The decision to delay her start was really just a whim, nothing more. She was born in January, so when she finally starts school, she'll be about seven years and eight months old.

Look, my little one is going to be almost that age too, so I don't see what the big deal is.
I finished high school at 17, while some people in my class were 19. Seriously, I have no clue what anyone gained from that extra time.

His birthday is January 31st, which means if he had been born just two months later, he wouldn't even be required to enroll. He’s already made it clear he isn't interested in school, and his performance during testing reflected that. We actually saw a speech therapist yesterday who also recommended delaying his start. He didn't start talking until he was three and has always been slightly behind his peers in certain developmental areas; why force him into the classroom now only to risk him struggling? If we wait a year, he has the chance to catch up and actually excel. To put it plainly, there are multiple layers to our decision to delay—it isn't just about letting him enjoy being a kid a little longer. 😁 If he were performing at the same level as his peers and was actually eager to start school, of course I wouldn't be advocating for a delay.

How can you actually believe people when they claim the delay is just because they want more playtime? I’m an open book about my own struggles, and honestly, the more I talk, the more I realize that maybe the ones who keep everything bottled up have it easier—they just let out these little, harmless outbursts instead. Besides, nobody really cares about my drama anyway. ☕

They’d be shocked at how mature they act, yet they still fail those standardized tests in school. So, what makes you think their moms aren't going to blast them all over Facebook?

And please, there is absolutely zero practical difference between a kid starting at 7.5 months versus 7.8 months! 🤦

Harold Cook2 said:Look, my little one is going to be almost that age too, so I don't see what the big deal is.
I finished high school at 17, while some people in my class were 19. Seriously, I have no clue what anyone gained from that extra time.

The focus shouldn't be on how old they are when they finish school.
The real issue here is that some parents, out of pure whim, panic, or just general discomfort—whatever it may be—refuse to let their child start school when, by most standards, they should actually be heading there.
They end up grasping at straws for excuses, even when the child is perfectly fine. Everyone seems to label a six-and-a-half-year-old as "too energetic," "unreliable," "hyperactive," or "immature," but that doesn't mean they need to stay in preschool until they're ten. Some kids who get held back like that end up staying through the end of high school.
Moving a kid away from their peer group—kids they've been playing with for years—just to put them in a younger group because of a delay doesn't seem like a particularly happy solution either.
I realize a lot of parents don't see any problem with this.
And I suppose that’s precisely where the problem lies.😁

Douglas Booth22 said:His birthday is January 31st, which means if he had been born just two months later, he wouldn't even be required to enroll. He’s already made it clear he isn't interested in school, and his performance during testing reflected that. We actually saw a speech therapist yesterday who also recommended delaying his start. He didn't start talking until he was three and has always been slightly behind his peers in certain developmental areas; why force him into the classroom now only to risk him struggling? If we wait a year, he has the chance to catch up and actually excel. To put it plainly, there are multiple layers to our decision to delay—it isn't just about letting him enjoy being a kid a little longer. 😁 If he were performing at the same level as his peers and was actually eager to start school, of course I wouldn't be advocating for a delay.

I hope you aren't under the impression that in cases like this, we should just respect the child's wishes.
For instance, my kid once told me he didn't want to go to elementary school, but wanted to go straight to high school instead.
A few days before that, he said he'd rather join his sister's daycare group than go to first grade.

To be clear, nobody is arguing against delaying enrollment for legitimate, practical reasons.
But these arguments like "they'll progress better in preschool than in school" or "they aren't advanced enough yet" or "they'll definitely be worse off than the others"—well, those feel a bit silly to me, if not something else entirely.

Brian Jones8 said:How can you actually believe people when they claim the delay is just because they want more playtime? I’m an open book about my own struggles, and honestly, the more I talk, the more I realize that maybe the ones who keep everything bottled up have it easier—they just let out these little, harmless outbursts instead. Besides, nobody really cares about my drama anyway. ☕

They’d be shocked at how mature they act, yet they still fail those standardized tests in school. So, what makes you think their moms aren't going to blast them all over Facebook?

And please, there is absolutely zero practical difference between a kid starting at 7.5 months versus 7.8 months! 🤦

well, I guess... I have people in my inner circle that I've been close with for ages, and I know their kids too, so, since I work in education, I suppose I'm not exactly naive enough to misread the situation.

urbantinker8 said:well, I guess... I have people in my inner circle that I've been close with for ages, and I know their kids too, so, since I work in education, I suppose I'm not exactly naive enough to misread the situation.

Alright, fine, I get what you mean. There are definitely liars all around us. 😁

I wouldn't pin this "unjustified" anxiety on parents; I'd pin it on society. Why are we teaching English in first grade now? We all know everyone knows it, but it wasn't even part of the curriculum until a few years later. And why is there this massive, forced obsession with getting straight A's? (Don't try to tell me otherwise, because it's happening.) Every time I ask someone how their kid is doing in school, the answer is always, "Oh, they have straight A's!" 🙄 But if I ask, "Do they actually have friends?" or "Do they even enjoy being there?"—it's usually followed by, "Well, as long as they have those A's." 😁 What happened to the C's? Where did they go?
How is it possible for a kid to have homework assigned in the first semester when they're still struggling to learn the alphabet???

And why does my kid need to be shoved into a cookie-cutter mold? It doesn't work for everyone. If my kid is a math whiz but struggles with English or social studies, can they get into a top-tier STEM academy? Of course not.

Quincy:

I haven't seen any posts from you yet! If you have something to share, feel free to jump in. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts. kaže: Honestly, I’m not quite sure why you're pushing for a deferral. I was chatting with a mom recently whose son had a delayed start in preschool, and she mentioned quite clearly that she just wanted him to have an extra year to play and be a kid. She wasn't alone in that feeling, either. Of course, that doesn't mean every parent is looking for the same thing—some definitely have much more pressing reasons for wanting to wait.

Honestly, I don't think that reason is bad at all. In my book, it actually makes quite a bit of sense. 🤷
If a daycare center is actually stimulating and engaging, I honestly see nothing but upside. If my little one can pick up extra skills and learn more while they're there, that’s a huge win in my book!
I see you guys haven't really gotten into this yet (and honestly, whatever). 😂Back when I was in my penultimate year at the little rhino group, this kid joined us after taking a gap year. He ended up studying English right alongside the rest of us in our mixed group, and he really made the most of that year before heading off to college.
She hit it off with him almost immediately. Honestly, I was so relieved she had him as a buddy this year because he’s such a great kid. He’s doing awesome in school, too!
If my memory serves me right, I didn't get the feeling at all that the kid actually needed the delay, but then again, it didn't seem like he was bored or understimulated at preschool either.

Quincy:

I noticed that proab hasn't weighed in on this yet! I'm really curious to hear what they think about the current situation. It reminds me of a discussion I had over coffee last week where we couldn't quite agree on the best way to move forward. I'd love to get their perspective whenever they have a moment to chime in. kaže: I started school just under the age of six, and honestly, I was already hitting that 6.5 mark. Looking back, I never had any trouble keeping up with my classes. Plus, we never really missed out on those early preschool years, and it wasn't like we suddenly had to stop playing just because we started formal schooling. It all felt very natural. 🤷

The kids are going to be at school from 8:00 to 4:00 today—at least—and they’ll probably have some extracurricular activities running late after that, too.
It’s pretty rare to see them out on the field playing.
That’s just the reality of the situation.
Lunch is at noon, followed by some outdoor time until we head back inside around 2:00 PM. Sometimes they get out a little earlier, though—it’s funny how the teacher tries to motivate them by promising an early finish if they work fast, but that almost never actually happens! There are always a few kids who just struggle to wrap up their assignments, and they end up needing extra time to finish writing. I usually find myself waiting around for them, which means I'm often stuck sitting in the car waiting for them to be ready for pickup.

I honestly don't judge parents one bit when they decide to hold off on sending their kids to school just so they can play more video games. I get it—sometimes you just need that extra time to unwind or enjoy a little downtime.
It’s especially tough when you're dealing with parents who work those standard 9-to-5 shifts, only to rush over to pick up their kid from after-school care at 5:25. It just adds that extra layer of stress to an already long day.

Even if this all feels like a bit of a whim right now, that kid is clearly bright. I honestly think we can make this final year count. It’s a perfect window to dive into a new language—something they don't cover in the local school district, but kids at that age soak up like sponges. Beyond that, there are so many cool extracurriculars to explore. We could look into some robotics clubs, or maybe sign them up for swimming lessons, skiing trips, ice skating, or even horseback riding. There's so much potential to turn this time into something really productive!
I was thinking about how much easier things would be if I could just practice ball tossing with my kid to help them catch up on what half their class has already mastered. It’s one of those little things that makes such a huge difference in coordination! 🥳

Brian Jones8 said:Alright, fine, I get what you mean. There are definitely liars all around us. 😁

I wouldn't pin this "unjustified" anxiety on parents; I'd pin it on society. Why are we teaching English in first grade now? We all know everyone knows it, but it wasn't even part of the curriculum until a few years later. And why is there this massive, forced obsession with getting straight A's? (Don't try to tell me otherwise, because it's happening.) Every time I ask someone how their kid is doing in school, the answer is always, "Oh, they have straight A's!" 🙄 But if I ask, "Do they actually have friends?" or "Do they even enjoy being there?"—it's usually followed by, "Well, as long as they have those A's." 😁 What happened to the C's? Where did they go?
How is it possible for a kid to have homework assigned in the first semester when they're still struggling to learn the alphabet???

And why does my kid need to be shoved into a cookie-cutter mold? It doesn't work for everyone. If my kid is a math whiz but struggles with English or social studies, can they get into a top-tier STEM academy? Of course not.

I realize there are dishonest people out there.
I tend to agree with you that society bears the brunt of the blame.
Starting a second language earlier seems reasonable to me; kids pick it up so naturally, it feels less like work and more like play, and it’s genuinely useful in a way that most other subjects might not be in their daily lives.🙂)
As for the obsession with perfect grades, I'd rather not get into that, since we've already exhausted that topic and it feels a bit off-topic here.
It's not like they're being asked to read > in the first semester; it's not the academic monster people make it out to be through all those urban legends passed around.
And I don't think anyone needs to be forced into a box, which is exactly why we have so many different types of specialized and individualized programs available now.
Maybe we shouldn't make such a huge drama out of schooling. I guess an average kid just needs to get started at the right time without too much overthinking or unnecessary panic.

Brian Jones8 said:Alright, fine, I get what you mean. There are definitely liars all around us. 😁

I wouldn't pin this "unjustified" anxiety on parents; I'd pin it on society. Why are we teaching English in first grade now? We all know everyone knows it, but it wasn't even part of the curriculum until a few years later. And why is there this massive, forced obsession with getting straight A's? (Don't try to tell me otherwise, because it's happening.) Every time I ask someone how their kid is doing in school, the answer is always, "Oh, they have straight A's!" 🙄 But if I ask, "Do they actually have friends?" or "Do they even enjoy being there?"—it's usually followed by, "Well, as long as they have those A's." 😁 What happened to the C's? Where did they go?
How is it possible for a kid to have homework assigned in the first semester when they're still struggling to learn the alphabet???

And why does my kid need to be shoved into a cookie-cutter mold? It doesn't work for everyone. If my kid is a math whiz but struggles with English or social studies, can they get into a top-tier STEM academy? Of course not.

Now you're going to tell me English was added because that's what parents demanded. 😂

Personally, I am strongly against making a foreign language mandatory in first grade. It should be an elective, not a requirement.
Kids who already have some background or talent (and have mastered reading and writing in English) can spend that class coloring pictures or looking at mushrooms. They can learn the language on their own time (and pay for it), since that's actually the best age to pick it up.
But kids who are still struggling with basic reading and writing have to put in extra effort for a foreign language where the spelling is completely different from what they're learning in English. Because of them, the whole class ends up suffering.

On top of that, a child has to deal with five different teachers (the main teacher, the after-school instructor, the language/religion teacher, and maybe a substitute or a coach/music teacher). Each one has a different personality and often very different ways of handling discipline. Some kids struggle just to adjust to the school environment because it's all such a chaotic mess and they don't know who to listen to. 🥳

For a child who isn't emotionally mature yet, it's a bit of a nightmare. I remember how proponents of delaying school enrollment used to claim that children would just adapt and "grow up" once they were forced to start school and face responsibilities.
🙄

And yes, school definitely molds you. The system isn't designed for individual differences; it doesn't want the gifted kids or the ones struggling (because both require extra work). It wants to maintain a certain "average"—even if that average is more of a myth than reality.

Just delay school for your child and don't worry about what anyone else thinks. Just be clear with your little one about why you felt this was the right choice for them.
And make sure to enjoy this next year.
(Who knows, maybe a reform will actually happen and grades won't even matter in the first three grades anymore! 🙂 🙂)

It’s just more of that same old demagoguery, following the usual playbook.🤣

Never mind.

I suppose I should just mention that there are so many parents who decide to hold off on starting school just so their kid can have a little more unstructured playtime without being "forced" to learn anything, and then, by some strange logic, they won't enroll them in any extracurriculars either because that would feel contradictory.
I mean, you aren't exactly going to go out of your way to pile responsibilities onto a child if you already pushed back their schooling just to avoid those very same obligations.

So, I'm feeling pretty certain that this extra year isn't always being used "productively" when it comes to their developmental or educational growth.

Again, I'm talking about the average kid here, and I really hope nobody tries to single me out or claim I'm ignoring someone with actual neurodivergent needs, which obviously could be a valid reason for delaying enrollment.

urbantinker8 said:The focus shouldn't be on how old they are when they finish school.
The real issue here is that some parents, out of pure whim, panic, or just general discomfort—whatever it may be—refuse to let their child start school when, by most standards, they should actually be heading there.
They end up grasping at straws for excuses, even when the child is perfectly fine. Everyone seems to label a six-and-a-half-year-old as "too energetic," "unreliable," "hyperactive," or "immature," but that doesn't mean they need to stay in preschool until they're ten. Some kids who get held back like that end up staying through the end of high school.
Moving a kid away from their peer group—kids they've been playing with for years—just to put them in a younger group because of a delay doesn't seem like a particularly happy solution either.
I realize a lot of parents don't see any problem with this.
And I suppose that’s precisely where the problem lies.😁

I hope you aren't under the impression that in cases like this, we should just respect the child's wishes.
For instance, my kid once told me he didn't want to go to elementary school, but wanted to go straight to high school instead.
A few days before that, he said he'd rather join his sister's daycare group than go to first grade.

To be clear, nobody is arguing against delaying enrollment for legitimate, practical reasons.
But these arguments like "they'll progress better in preschool than in school" or "they aren't advanced enough yet" or "they'll definitely be worse off than the others"—well, those feel a bit silly to me, if not something else entirely.

But what if the situation is different? If my little one had been born just two or three weeks earlier, she would have been the only one in her group heading to elementary school.
That’s why I think we need to be flexible during those few months. You shouldn't hold back a child who was born ten months early unless there are actual issues, but I really don't get why it's such a big deal to delay school for a child born on March 25th for whatever reason.

Susan James said:Quincy:

I haven't seen any posts from you yet! If you have something to share, feel free to jump in. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts. kaže: Honestly, I’m not quite sure why you're pushing for a deferral. I was chatting with a mom recently whose son had a delayed start in preschool, and she mentioned quite clearly that she just wanted him to have an extra year to play and be a kid. She wasn't alone in that feeling, either. Of course, that doesn't mean every parent is looking for the same thing—some definitely have much more pressing reasons for wanting to wait.

Honestly, I don't think that reason is bad at all. In my book, it actually makes quite a bit of sense. 🤷
If a daycare center is actually stimulating and engaging, I honestly see nothing but upside. If my little one can pick up extra skills and learn more while they're there, that’s a huge win in my book!
I see you guys haven't really gotten into this yet (and honestly, whatever). 😂Back when I was in my penultimate year at the little rhino group, this kid joined us after taking a gap year. He ended up studying English right alongside the rest of us in our mixed group, and he really made the most of that year before heading off to college.
She hit it off with him almost immediately. Honestly, I was so relieved she had him as a buddy this year because he’s such a great kid. He’s doing awesome in school, too!
If my memory serves me right, I didn't get the feeling at all that the kid actually needed the delay, but then again, it didn't seem like he was bored or understimulated at preschool either.

Quincy:

I noticed that proab hasn't weighed in on this yet! I'm really curious to hear what they think about the current situation. It reminds me of a discussion I had over coffee last week where we couldn't quite agree on the best way to move forward. I'd love to get their perspective whenever they have a moment to chime in. kaže: I started school just under the age of six, and honestly, I was already hitting that 6.5 mark. Looking back, I never had any trouble keeping up with my classes. Plus, we never really missed out on those early preschool years, and it wasn't like we suddenly had to stop playing just because we started formal schooling. It all felt very natural. 🤷

The kids are going to be at school from 8:00 to 4:00 today—at least—and they’ll probably have some extracurricular activities running late after that, too.
It’s pretty rare to see them out on the field playing.
That’s just the reality of the situation.
Lunch is at noon, followed by some outdoor time until we head back inside around 2:00 PM. Sometimes they get out a little earlier, though—it’s funny how the teacher tries to motivate them by promising an early finish if they work fast, but that almost never actually happens! There are always a few kids who just struggle to wrap up their assignments, and they end up needing extra time to finish writing. I usually find myself waiting around for them, which means I'm often stuck sitting in the car waiting for them to be ready for pickup.

I honestly don't judge parents one bit when they decide to hold off on sending their kids to school just so they can play more video games. I get it—sometimes you just need that extra time to unwind or enjoy a little downtime.
It’s especially tough when you're dealing with parents who work those standard 9-to-5 shifts, only to rush over to pick up their kid from after-school care at 5:25. It just adds that extra layer of stress to an already long day.

Even if this all feels like a bit of a whim right now, that kid is clearly bright. I honestly think we can make this final year count. It’s a perfect window to dive into a new language—something they don't cover in the local school district, but kids at that age soak up like sponges. Beyond that, there are so many cool extracurriculars to explore. We could look into some robotics clubs, or maybe sign them up for swimming lessons, skiing trips, ice skating, or even horseback riding. There's so much potential to turn this time into something really productive!
I was thinking about how much easier things would be if I could just practice ball tossing with my kid to help them catch up on what half their class has already mastered. It’s one of those little things that makes such a huge difference in coordination! 🥳

In our after-school program, they tackle homework from 2:00 to 3:35. That's an hour and a half right there. Before and after that block, they get to play. The kids who power through their assignments early spend their free time playing string instruments in the classroom.
My son absolutely refuses to leave when I come to get him. 😁

EDIT: I'm not sure if this is totally on-topic, but I honestly feel like the jump from preschool to elementary school here in America happens way too fast.

In the Netherlands, kids don't even start formal schooling until they're four!😲
In those early years, it's mostly all about play, with just a tiny bit of structured work. As the years go by, that balance between playing and studying shifts gradually.
They start learning letters around age five, along with basic math, but they actually push off many other subjects much later than we do here in the States.

Brian Jones8 said:I’ve been scrolling through these last two pages and my blood is starting to boil. Honestly, who am I even supposed to argue with here!?

Do you seriously think there’s some idiot out there who would hold their kid back from school just so they could enjoy an extra-long weekend for another year? Give me a break. 😠

It’s easy for people like you to talk—you know, the ones whose kids don't face any actual hurdles—so the idea of delaying school seems totally alien. But some of us are actually out here doing the work, regularly hitting up speech therapists, child psychologists, or specialists. There are real issues at play: emotional immaturity, health concerns, neurodivergence, speech delays... things aren't always black and white.

I started school when I was six, but those were different times. I distinctly remember having a reading list of ten to fifteen books in first grade alone. Back then, nobody expected us to walk in already knowing every single letter of the alphabet or basic math, and heaven knows no one was "prepping" us in preschool the way they try to do everything nowadays.
You can't even compare the two eras.

Personally, I’d love nothing more than for my kid to start at six and just be ready to go. But he isn't! And let’s get one thing straight: delaying enrollment isn't some impulsive whim; it's a decision made alongside a team of professionals.

👍

Michelle Nelson4 said:Look, I honestly don't quite follow why you're pushing for a delay. I was chatting with a mom at one of our local preschools—one of those kids who actually got an extra year before starting kindergarten—and she was so lovely about it. She explained that she requested the deferral simply because she wanted her little one to have another full year of pure playtime. And she isn't the outlier here, either. Of course, that doesn't mean every parent requesting more time doesn't have much more pressing or complex reasons behind it.

And you actually buy that "just playing" story?
I certainly don't—because behind that excuse, there is almost always a legitimate issue with the child that parents are too embarrassed to admit to anyone. Besides, it isn't up to the parents' whims; it is the professional team that makes the call. 😉

Plus, let's be realistic—today, schools expect a level of prerequisite knowledge for kindergarteners that everyone pretends doesn't exist, even though it absolutely does. Then, after a month or two, you listen to teachers whining because thirty percent of their class can't read 🕺 and then they turn around and tell parents to keep practicing at home. Expecting kids to do more reading practice after school—especially those stuck in after-school care—is practically like holding a gun to their heads. These kids have zero concentration left; surviving those eight hours in a classroom is harder on them than an eight-hour shift is on most adults.

So they’re telling us at school now that kids shouldn't actually learn anything...
Like, they don't even need to know how to write letters or numbers properly.
The logic is that if they try to teach themselves, they'll just pick up bad habits, you know, like messing up the stroke order or where to start and end a letter...
And don't even get me started on math. They say they don't need to learn how to calculate either, but then these kids hit standardized testing and suddenly everyone's asking them what 3+2 is.

But whatever, I guess since public school is mandatory anyway, everyone's just gonna trudge through and somehow scrape by those eight grades...

What if they actually ask? It’s not a strict requirement for enrollment; they just use it as one metric when they're grouping kids into classes,

I'm not really sure about needing prior knowledge. My daughter couldn't even read at first, and she turned out fine. She could spell things out and understood what she was looking at, which helped her read words faster, but it wasn't true reading yet. She didn't really start reading properly until about two months into school.

hiddendriver34 said:In our after-school program, they tackle homework from 2:00 to 3:35. That's an hour and a half right there. Before and after that block, they get to play. The kids who power through their assignments early spend their free time playing string instruments in the classroom.
My son absolutely refuses to leave when I come to get him. 😁

EDIT: I'm not sure if this is totally on-topic, but I honestly feel like the jump from preschool to elementary school here in America happens way too fast.

In the Netherlands, kids don't even start formal schooling until they're four!😲
In those early years, it's mostly all about play, with just a tiny bit of structured work. As the years go by, that balance between playing and studying shifts gradually.
They start learning letters around age five, along with basic math, but they actually push off many other subjects much later than we do here in the States.

I completely agree with this. That's why we enrolled our little one in English classes last year—just so she could slowly get used to the feeling of having actual responsibilities and homework.