My oldest started at 3. To attend the school I wanted him to go to he had to take a mandatory pre-year. He adjusted to it just fine. I think I missed him more than he missed me. I am going to send my second son to the same school so he is going to start in September. THey have to go out into the world at some point.

First of all I had no idea when my child was starting school that K-4 is now like K-5. I didn't want to send her to K-4 thinking.. I didn't go. But I did it, and thank God I did! They are expected to be able to know the alphebet, write it, and count independantly to 30 by K-5. Then in K-5 they started writing words and sentences and count to 100. The teachers have a real hard time keeping the whole class on the same task when some of the kids who didn't have K-4 are just learning this for the first time.

But also my daughter has a June birthday due to prematurity. So I chose to keep her one year behind the schools birthday requirement. So at 5 she went to K-4. I am glad I gave her that one extra year.

We had the same concern when my son started kindergarten two years ago. His BD is also in August. We let him enroll KG even though he was almost the youngest one in class. Since my son was advanced academically, and physically, he adjusted school quickly in a way. However, he really catches up with other kids SOCIALLY around second half of first grade. There were some concerns and emotional struggles during kindergarten. But I believe he learns a lot while he is around older kids during the first year. Now he is in second grade, everyone says he is a responsible, respectful and kind friend. Looking back, we think we made the right decision to send him to KG right on when he turned 5. He struggled and learned, but most importantly, he matured faster.

It depends probably on the social maturity of your child. Most kids will rise to the challenge of academic work, but it's a tough fight if social adaptation is behind a year.
I was one who started my daughter in kindergarten at age 4. She turned 5 that October and she did just fine. She's now 7 and in the second grade and doing the gifted magnet and all of that and adjusted socially, seemingly without a hitch. (But blah blah blah on my own kid, right...)
I do see a potential problem when she is 17 and graduating high school. I don't like that thought. I think it's too young to go off to college or go on to play 'adult' in the real world. Not that 18 is so much more mature...
I guess I'll deal with that sandwich when it's served to me.
I think if I were to do it over again, I would wait that extra year.
Although, if your son is in a preschool and is well-adapted there, then kindergarten should just be another easy notch up.
In short---I dunno.

My son has a July birthday. Due to a number of issues we decided it was best for him to start now, even if he may have to repeat. We spoke to some of the teachers about this as well as some child specialists. His dad & I work full time so he was in daycare and we felt he would get bored there. This is challenging him and while he is borderline with knowing all he should know, we all thought it would be better to have him repeat and be at the head of his class at age 6 then to keep him in daycare any longer. We also thought it would help his maturity & its been amazing how much he has learned. Just for example, he went from coloring everything scribbles w/ one color to chosing many different colors and staying in the lines quite well. I do notice my same aged step daughter is much more advanced them him but I have also heard of and seen girls more advanced at this age then boys.

I think it depends on the maturity of the child...( I know..how mature can a 5 or 6 year old ever really be..right??lol). But some children really do need that extra year of growth to be mentally ready for schooling. My nephew is repeating KG this year because his teacher along with his parents strongly felt that he wasn't ready for grade one, based on his maturity....my sister was torn, feeling ppl would think she had a "stupid" child, or she wasn't teaching him well enough. But finally felt good, just wished she had waited that extra year...that being said the year gave him experience with school and other children...if u do opt for another year I would suggest a play group, preschooling or daycare so that interaction in a social environment is not missed out on...good luck!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPLIES. YOU ALL PROVIDED SOME REALLY GREAT INSIGHT AND "BEEN THERE" EXPERIENCE.

My oldest son has a Nov. bday and we waited until he was almost 6 to enroll him even though he made the cutoff to start kindy when he was 4. We have never regretted our decision (he is in 3rd grade now). He had an extra year to play and be a kid - he was ready to start when he was 4 academically (knew his letters, numbers, how to write his name, etc.) but he was more interested in playing than learning school things when he was 4. I don't think you can go wrong holding him out. There really are no cons in my opinion.

I think that it depends on the child, for sure, but I would also look at what is the norm at your school. In my daughter's class, almost all of the boys with late birthdays were held back by their parents and took the pre-k class that the school offers. So, a boy with an early birthday that were to go ahead might find himself more than a year younger than a lot of his peers. Just something to think about!

gosh things are so diffrent hear in the uk our children start school the september after ther 4th birthday and sart nusery at 3 (nursery is opptanal)my dughter didnt go to a propper nursery and was so far behind the other children when starting school at 4 1/2 that i will find a good nersery for vincent when he is 3