My girls have a September birthday. In any state other than the one we currently live in, they wouldn't be allowed to start. But we're military...and we'll move. I decided to keep them one more year in preschool. The school has a "bridge class" for young 5s, and it will provide them with some continuity...we moved in summer 08 and summer 09. They know where they are going next year, they know who their teacher will be etc.

Academically, they are more than ready to start kindergarten. They have pre-reading skills (they spell words for me when reading, so they know the words) and they can recognize sight words. They cannot read yet. They can add and subtract...one almost can add double digits...

Socially, they are ready...they're all outgoing girls, and are successfully navigating a preschool class that has mostly older kids.

BUT, and this is a big one, JUNIOR HIGH IS COMING. I don't want my almost 12 year olds in a 7th grade class with kids who are nearly 14....the age gap during those years is huge. I don't want them to wait until junior year to drive, and I don't want them to go away to college at 17.

I think those are the years where I will notice the immaturity...

So we'll spend one more year at preschool...and when we move, we'll be right on track!

Alice

GGG born 9/3/05 at 35w3d