To Begin Kindergarten or Not to Begin Kindergarten? That is the question.

3. “He hits the age requirement perfectly so I know it’s best because that’s what the schools accept.”

No. Just no. The age requirement now is that the child must turn five before August 1 in order to begin Kindergarten. This doesn’t mean that you have to start your child. You have the option to do daycare for another year or find a non-public preschool. But starting in Kindergarten with the intention of doing two years of Kindergarten is not an option anymore; schools will fight you on it and they have to. So don’t even try.

If you ask me, the age requirement should be five by March 1 of the year that children will begin school in August…that’s six months difference from what the requirement is now. The issue actually lies within maturity.

And for those of you saying your child is definitely ready maturity-wise too…guess what? Those issues usually don’t show up until around 2^nd grade or after. Do you know how much kids learn from other kids on the playground now? You can’t be there to protect him from that information. Another year of growing is a must. And don’t even get me started on middle school. As a middle school teacher, I could tell you within a day which kids are younger than all the other kids and were started too early. How about driving? When the others kids are turning 16 and your kid has another 9 months to go, how will that feel? How about turning 18 when your kid is already in college?

Not once have I ever met a parent who regretted waiting a year, but I meet parents all the time who regret starting their child in Kindergarten too early.

            So my hope is that I have helped you understand the benefits of holding your kid just one more year. The requirements of Kindergarten are not always openly expressed to parents. The amount of time kids are expected to be in “learning mode” is enormous. And if you did make the decision to send your child but are still kind of hesitant, it’s not too late. School has not started yet and even if Kindergarten roundup already happened, you have time to change your mind. So do it.

            On a personal note, my youngest will be one of the oldest in his class this coming year. He will begin Kindergarten in August. Asher turned SIX on May 5^th. There was never a question, my husband and I always knew we would wait until he was six. We are thrilled we decided to wait. You just can’t put a price on having that one more year of true childhood before the pressures of school begin. Happy pre-school graduation Asher! And have a blast in Kindergarten this year! We know you are ready!

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Articles by Bailey Koch

Bailey Koch

Bailey Koch is an advocate for those who can't easily advocate for themselves in every way. Married to her hottie hubby, whom has survived 5+ suicide attempts, and mom to two teenage boys, the oldest with High Functioning Autism and youngest with Epilepsy, Bailey is passionate about mental health and parenting through the messy realities. Additionally, Bailey is a Doctor of Special Education and works as an instructor at the University of Nebraska at Kearney preparing future special educators to be advocates for the learning of all. Bailey and her husband, Jeremy, have written and published two books. "Never Alone: A Husband and Wife's Journey with Depression and Faith" details their struggles with severe depression and the journey toward understanding their purpose, accepting help, and finding faith. "When the House Feels Sad: Helping You Understand Depression" is written for families, at a child's level, to open up a conversation about the reality of Depression. Follow their journey, the triumphs and the challenges, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/anchoringhopeformentalhealth and Instagram at @anchoringhopeformentalhealth.