Ella has always been advanced for her age. She started walking at 9.5 mos. She started talking before the age of 12 mos, was speaking in full sentences and singing complete songs at the age of 18 mos. When she turned 2 she began asking if she could ride the school bus and go to school. Every time she saw a school bus drive by she got excited the way a little boy gets excited over a fire truck :)At almost 3 she took to school like a fish in water. Never cried or clung to me once. Barely said goodbye to me when I dropped her off in her class. I was lucky to get a kiss. She never said she didn't like it or didn't want to go. She actually begged to go more often and would be sad on the days she didn't have school. She has had 2 preschools and 3 different teachers. Every teacher she has ever had has told me you need to put her into Kindergarten early. And her latest development is she started writing words and reading books on her own at the age of 4 years, 3 mos. She also has developed a passion for the sciences i.e. insects, science experiments, and the human body. I mention all this as a an example of the fact that I think schools, teachers and parents have to look at and evaluate children on a case by case basis, which is why I am glad the KRT (Kindergarten Readiness Test) exists. Her teaches think I will be doing her more harm by keeping her home till she is almost 6 due to how advanced she is and how much challenging stimulation she craves and requires everyday.
This is a tough decision for us as parents and has long term implications. I have had many parents tell me I am wrong to put her into Kindergarten early. I have had people tell me they would rather keep their child home with them one more year or that they would rather their child be graduating high school and/or heading off to college at the age of 18 not 17 etc. That they would rather their kid be the oldest in their class and the most mature and not the youngest, (i.e. the most impressionable). While I respect the opinions of other parents and the choices they make for their kids, I have to make the best choice for mine. I don't judge anyone's decision to keep them home longer nor do I judge anyone's decision to put them in early. Even if someone were to put their kid in early and they had to repeat Kindergarten, I wouldn't judge it. You gave it the best shot, and challenged your child and no one ever suffered from having two years of Kindergarten ;) I also think some of the viewpoints against me putting Ella in early, come with a lot of assumptions. I do not believe that being older in age necessarily = more maturity or better judgment. Nor do I necessarily believe that being younger in age = more impressionable. These factors are completely determined by things like personality, socio-economic factors, birth order, home environment, intelligence level, emotional readiness etc. and again should be on a case by case basis.
Am I thrilled that Ella will be one of the youngest kids in her class? No. Am I thrilled she wont be eligible for her license until her Junior Year, Yes. LOL. Am I thrilled that she will going off to college at the age of 17 instead of 18? I am indifferent. Maybe it is because I was in her shoes when I was her age. When my sister and I entered Kindergarten the age cut off was Dec 31st. I made the cut off by 3 days (Dec 28th) so I actually was the youngest person in my class of 425 students. Literally. I was 4 when I started Kindergarten. Not only was I READY for school, I excelled at it. I never had a grade where I struggled and in fact I graduated high school in 3.5 years, graduating 6 mos early at the age of 16. (ok so I turned 17 a week after finishing high school, but still... you get the point)
If Ella was born August 30th not many would have concerns because she would "make the cut". But to me there may not be much difference between a child born Aug 31st and Nov 2nd of the same year. Or there could be a huge difference or sometimes the younger child can be more ready, more mature and more developed. Ella misses the cut off by 8 wks 2 days. To me I don't think that is a big difference to overcome. I am ok with her turning 5 three mos after the school year starts. I am ok with her turning 18 just over two months into her freshman year at college. I know I was still making stupid decisions at 18, 19, 20 and 21 just as I did at 17. She will make stupid decisions and learn from the outcome at all those ages. I can just hope that no matter what age she stumbles out into the world, I have taught her enough to make good decisions, be smart, be careful, be trusting but cautious, be kind and selfless and hope she finds like minded people that will become her best friends in life and that together they will get through it all unscathed. And she will always have me here to help her do just that and protect her as much as I can.
That's all we can ever hope for in life. I have much more pressing battles and things to worry about like her getting hurt, fights over clothes, friends, boys, curfews, drinking, grades, money etc. In the meantime her KRT is scheduled for May 7th at 1pm. We will see how that goes :) Wish her luck.
And here is a picture "book" she drew and glued together last night.
She brought it to me and Jimmy and "read" it to us as follows:
1. Is her stopping to smell pretty flowers,
2. Is her performing outside on a stage
3. Is her praying for love
4. Is her making rainbows
5. Is her smiling and happy cause it is Springtime.
This... is me smiling and happy cause she is such a bright, funny and challenging little girl. :)
