School closures/delays?

frozenrider15 said:No, that’s not an "extra plus." An extra plus only exists when people have a completely warped view of what school and after-school care actually entail. Look, I’m not saying after-school care is some kind of magical paradise for a kid, but it isn't the absolute catastrophe people make it out to be when they cherry-pick complaints out of context.

In a perfect world? My ideal scenario would be for parents to hang out with their kids after school. They’d eat a home-cooked meal, take a breather, knock out the homework while Mom and Dad double-check it, and spend the rest of the day just playing. Simple. Clean.

But let's be real—that isn't happening for most families. After-school programs don't look repulsive to me, and they certainly aren't a reason to delay starting school any later than we already do.

I think I'm on the exact same page as you here.
I honestly don't see how having an after-school program would somehow support the idea of pushing back school start ages?😕
I mean, by the time a kid is seven and a half, they're usually much more independent and responsible, so maybe they could just hang out at home for half the day and wouldn't even need the program anymore?🤷

urbantinker8 said:I think I'm on the exact same page as you here.
I honestly don't see how having an after-school program would somehow support the idea of pushing back school start ages?😕
I mean, by the time a kid is seven and a half, they're usually much more independent and responsible, so maybe they could just hang out at home for half the day and wouldn't even need the program anymore?🤷

Well, by the time they hit 8.5, they're already in second grade.
Plus, quite a few schools around JPMorgan Chase don't even offer after-school programs after first grade. So even if they were available, based on how this is being described, I wouldn't even sign my kid up for one until second grade (and honestly, that one year makes a huge difference).

And looking at it from the perspective of someone getting the chance to play in preschool versus spending 8 hours stuck in an elementary school;🤷 I much prefer the first option.

Just a side note: I'm sure preschools vary wildly in terms of what they offer and how engaging they are. Some kids just never "click" with preschool and find it much easier when they finally start formal school. Also, some after-school programs are wonderful, nurturing environments, while others are basically just an extension of the classroom where they have to grind through work—except maybe for Spanish homework, since the supervisor probably doesn't know it (and let's face it, most parents wouldn't either, so I'm not sure how much help a kid would actually get).

Susan James said:Well, by the time they hit 8.5, they're already in second grade.
Plus, quite a few schools around JPMorgan Chase don't even offer after-school programs after first grade. So even if they were available, based on how this is being described, I wouldn't even sign my kid up for one until second grade (and honestly, that one year makes a huge difference).

And looking at it from the perspective of someone getting the chance to play in preschool versus spending 8 hours stuck in an elementary school;🤷 I much prefer the first option.

Just a side note: I'm sure preschools vary wildly in terms of what they offer and how engaging they are. Some kids just never "click" with preschool and find it much easier when they finally start formal school. Also, some after-school programs are wonderful, nurturing environments, while others are basically just an extension of the classroom where they have to grind through work—except maybe for Spanish homework, since the supervisor probably doesn't know it (and let's face it, most parents wouldn't either, so I'm not sure how much help a kid would actually get).

Maybe they could just check their watches and solve the problem on their own without feeling such an urgent need to have someone double-check their work?🤷

urbantinker8 said:Maybe they could just check their watches and solve the problem on their own without feeling such an urgent need to have someone double-check their work?🤷

To be honest, I feel that way about pretty much every subject, not just foreign languages. Looking back at some of the comments from a few pages ago, it seems like things are viewed differently when it comes to staying in the US.🤷

In that sense, most kids are going to be more independent with their schoolwork if they're at a 7.5 level rather than a 6.5.🤷

Susan James said:To be honest, I feel that way about pretty much every subject, not just foreign languages. Looking back at some of the comments from a few pages ago, it seems like things are viewed differently when it comes to staying in the US.🤷

In that sense, most kids are going to be more independent with their schoolwork if they're at a 7.5 level rather than a 6.5.🤷

That shouldn't really be taken as an absolute rule, though.
There are so many different factors that go into how independent a child becomes, and I suppose age is really just one small part of the equation.

Susan James said:Well, by the time they hit 8.5, they're already in second grade.
Plus, quite a few schools around JPMorgan Chase don't even offer after-school programs after first grade. So even if they were available, based on how this is being described, I wouldn't even sign my kid up for one until second grade (and honestly, that one year makes a huge difference).

And looking at it from the perspective of someone getting the chance to play in preschool versus spending 8 hours stuck in an elementary school;🤷 I much prefer the first option.

Just a side note: I'm sure preschools vary wildly in terms of what they offer and how engaging they are. Some kids just never "click" with preschool and find it much easier when they finally start formal school. Also, some after-school programs are wonderful, nurturing environments, while others are basically just an extension of the classroom where they have to grind through work—except maybe for Spanish homework, since the supervisor probably doesn't know it (and let's face it, most parents wouldn't either, so I'm not sure how much help a kid would actually get).

Personally, I’d send my kids to school earlier rather than dragging it out, especially if they hate preschool or look like they never will enjoy it.

But hey, my oldest is already 9 months away from being ready, so he'll head to school at 7.
My little one will probably start at 6.5, since that's right around that cutoff age.

Karen Richardson3 said:Back when I was growing up, school used to offer these two totally different setups: full-day programs or after-school care.

The full-day option was this specific way they organized everything where you’d basically have two different teachers looking after the class, and the schedule was all mixed up—like, you’d have an hour of actual lessons, then an hour of playtime, then back to a lesson, and so on.

Then there was the after-school thing, which was more just hanging out in the classroom once the regular school day wrapped up; you'd be with whatever teacher was on duty, just grinding through homework and stuff.

I ended up being in the full-day program for my first four years of elementary school (though even then, I’d still beat my parents home most days, since they wouldn't get back until around 5:00 PM and my grandma lived way across town—I'm guessing that was pretty unusual back then, because whenever I read these old threads, everyone talks about how their parents were pulling into the driveway by 3:00, but mine definitely weren't 😁).

Honestly though, I wonder if anyone even does that old-school full-day style anymore?

Sure they do—just head down to Seattle!

mistywalker46 said:Sure they do—just head down to Seattle!

It actually spans several schools, roughly 19 across the Seattle area altogether.

Some offer after-school programs while others run full-day schedules.

There’s an official city council decision online regarding the municipal funding, which explicitly lists exactly which schools are participating.

I definitely made the right call enrolling him, and I don't have a single regret about it. Honestly, if he’d actually been settling in well at his preschool, I probably would’ve waited a bit longer.
The changes are already super obvious—he’s getting more mature by the day, especially since we pulled him out of that daycare setting.
Plus, it’s a total win because I’ll be home on maternity leave, so I can actually focus all my energy on him. And let me tell you, I am absolutely not giving him any homework, god knows why anyone would even think of that🤣

Thanks to everyone for the advice

I’m starting to feel like pushing back the start of school is just another way we try to smooth out the edges of life for our kids. We want everything to be easier, more comfortable, and totally stress-free for them—but honestly? In the long run, I think we’re doing them a massive disservice. It’s like trying to protect someone from a scraped knee by never letting them walk; you end up making them weaker. I actually stumbled upon this article that really drove home that point for me: link.

Really interesting read 👍

Daniel Gomez10 said:Really interesting read 👍

And I suppose it’s entirely true, too.🙂

hiddendriver34 said:I’m starting to feel like pushing back the start of school is just another way we try to smooth out the edges of life for our kids. We want everything to be easier, more comfortable, and totally stress-free for them—but honestly? In the long run, I think we’re doing them a massive disservice. It’s like trying to protect someone from a scraped knee by never letting them walk; you end up making them weaker. I actually stumbled upon this article that really drove home that point for me: link.

That article is excellent. Honestly, though, I think delaying school can actually help kids manage stress better and prevent parents from falling into the trap described in the piece.
I don't see extending preschool as a way to create an "easy" life. To me, it's a vital window where children, free from the pressure of schoolwork and extracurriculars, can just be on the playground or at daycare. It's where they practice social skills, learn how to handle anger, sadness, or fear, and figure out how to resolve conflicts with peers and adults. They get to learn without the constant pressure to be "the best" or the looming shadow of having to finish homework, make posters, or meet academic expectations and rankings.

I think if a child isn't emotionally ready for school yet, a parent can easily fall into the trap of overprotecting them compared to other kids. Since the child eventually has to attend school regularly and complete assignments, parents might think, "It's not good for them to stay upset or sad for too long because it might hurt their performance."
So then, the parent either fights those battles for them or prevents them from ever facing them.
It ends up turning a child's natural development into something artificial.

Free play hasn't hindered anyone's development; in fact, kids learn so much through play during these pre-school years. It should be their main activity. I personally wouldn't cut it short or swap it out for a mountain of obligations.
The real issue arises when it doesn't matter if a kid starts school at 5, 6, or 8, because the parent is essentially playing for them and teaching them *how* to play. Or even worse, when they are already overloaded with activities by the time they're three and a half.

hiddendriver34, look, I’m not talking about those kids who aren't ready for school because they haven't hit the right emotional or intellectual milestones according to the experts. I’m talking about children who *are* actually ready, but their parents decide to hold them back an extra year. Or even those kids who are right on the edge of the cutoff age and pass all the readiness tests, but most parents still opt out, thinking, "Why put them through the ringer if we don't have to?" or "They'll have plenty of time for responsibilities later; let's just give them one more year of being carefree." Isn't that basically just a way to make life easier and less stressful for the kid?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not judging here. These are caring parents doing what they think is best, and honestly, I can see some of those same traits in myself—even if I wouldn't dream of delaying school enrollment 😁. But maybe, despite having the best intentions, they're actually doing their kids a disservice in the long run.

My kid is starting at a school where they only offer after-school care for first graders—which is going to be a massive headache down the road. I definitely can't leave her home alone once she hits second grade. Honestly, I don't trust her to just sit there, get herself ready, and actually focus on schoolwork when she gets home in the afternoon. Plus, I really don't want her spending half the day just rotting in front of a screen. Look, I don't mind if she spends some time on a tablet or watching cartoons—that’s fine—but I refuse to let her spend five hours every single day glued to a device instead of doing homework, studying, or actually playing. It’s a dilemma. I’ll likely end up paying for an after-school program or asking my mom to help out, though that's easier said than done since she lives quite a distance away from us.

The link makes total sense, honestly. It’s a solid point. But look, there’s always another side to the story, right? I look at this country, our government, the whole mess up top... these people were basically raised in an era where you had to grow a thick skin just to survive the schoolyard, and let's be real, they grew up getting hustled and ripped off by the system too. But hey, at least they aren't moping around in a state of permanent depression, I guess 🤣

And personally, I truly believe that holding a kid back from school when they're clearly not ready might actually do them some good in the long run 🙂

Richard Morris43 said:The link makes total sense, honestly. It’s a solid point. But look, there’s always another side to the story, right? I look at this country, our government, the whole mess up top... these people were basically raised in an era where you had to grow a thick skin just to survive the schoolyard, and let's be real, they grew up getting hustled and ripped off by the system too. But hey, at least they aren't moping around in a state of permanent depression, I guess 🤣

And personally, I truly believe that holding a kid back from school when they're clearly not ready might actually do them some good in the long run 🙂

But honestly, we haven't really seen what happens when the current generation—the ones raised in a completely different social climate and under totally different rules—actually hits adulthood in twenty years.
They might end up being even more volatile, though I suppose you can never really say for sure.😳

If a kid is ready, there’s really no reason to stress about waiting an extra year before they start school. It’s not like you’re pulling them out of classes to homeschool them.
The child will just end up more mature and independent, which actually gives parents who tend to over-help less excuses to hover.
Personally, I don't see any real advantage to rushing them into kindergarten early. As long as daycare isn't an issue—because if they genuinely hate being at daycare, then I can see how it helps 😁.
Some people argue the child might get bored.
But let's be honest, most elementary school curricula are pretty tedious anyway. So what? Life is going to have boring moments, and they might as well learn now that everything doesn't always have to be a blast.

Honestly, I don't see any reason to hold a kid back from starting school if they're actually ready.🤷 If they've got the maturity and the independence down, then they're good to go. If you're pushing to make them even more mature or independent, isn't that just us trying to pave a smoother path for them? It’s like we're trying to give them an extra year of cushion just to make life easier—both before they even step foot in the classroom and once they're actually there. This article really calls out that exact mindset of constantly trying to make things "easier" for them.

Even without getting into the whole mess regarding shortened school hours—where they basically force you to leave a seven or eight-year-old alone for hours on end despite everything supposedly running smoothly—I still feel that the older a child gets, the more capable and mature they become. They’ll be much better equipped to handle their responsibilities on their own.
It isn't just about first or second grade; throughout their entire time in elementary school, they're gaining a year of maturity and growing up every single year. Whether or not they implement those new state testing requirements, by the time grades really start to matter for high school admissions, the kid will be a year older and more prepared.