will my child be ok going to school at 4yrs and 4months?

[tc1965]

My 4yrs and 4months old daughter started school 3 weeks ago, Junior Infant in the Irish system, and today her teacher told me that she won't do or finish work for her, this being colour in ,tracing dots etc, and says she's tired. I'm worried about her future and yet we have to send her to the 'afterschoolers' service in her old creche due to our work commitments. She starts school at 8.50,up at 7am, we pick her up at 13,30 and bring her to the after school creche till 16.30-17.00, then home, dinner at 18.30 and bed at 20.30. Are we asking too much from her? She is a bright and energetic child, but also the youngest in her class. Holding her back another year isn't really an option as she couldn't possible be in the creche for another year as she's outgrown it having been going there since she was 2 years old. I'm going to make a few changes to her routine during the school week, such as getting her to go to bed earlier at 19.30, and stop any play dates during the week and no cartoons when hm from creche and leave those to the weekend..but aside of that I would welcome any suggestions on how to improve her chances of success in school. I'm not the kind of parent that likes to push her child to the extreme by getting her to do to much, but childcare is important to us as we need to work,so taking her out of the afterschoolers would need to be replaced by a childminder, would that make her school time any easier? She does love school and was one of the only children there not to cry and looks forward to it everyday.I also read The Outliers and I feel like a bad parent for starting her so soon, even though I'd felt she was ready.

[91004]

Yeah I agree. My son just turned 5 on the 10th he started kindergarden this year. He was in preschool last year. He goes to bed at 8:30pm and gets up at 7:30am. School from 8:10am-3:10pm. He is so exhausted when I pick him up. I let him come home and lay down awhile and watch cartoons or play or do what he wants. If he has homework we will do it around 7:30pm then bath, then we read a book, then bed. She is young to start if you schools are like ours most the teachers thought my son should start next yr because he is 5. I let him go because I think even if he has to be held back he will have a great start and he will be 6 so age wouldn't be much of a difference than the new ones that will start. He is doin okay, he still don't color in lines. I agree don't put extra pressure on her and don't take her fun at home away she does have a long day. Imagine how tire us adults are when we get home from work so think how tired they are with learning new things. She will get it and if she has to be held back then she will be a step ahead of the others.

[specialmom]

First of all, let me say that I am sure you are doing the best you can to make all things work in your life---  family, job, etc.  It's hard balancing it all.  And any suggestion given, you have to think about what is realistic for your family situation.

In the US, children usually don't start as young as yours into the school system as they usually don't have the emotional/ developmental maturity to get all they should out of the experience.  Generally, that extra year of preschool as we call it here (which is often part of a daycare setting) helps tremendously.  Your daughter is used to a long day as it sounds like she has had this for awhile but now there are extra demands being made of her.  It is a hard transition on any child.  I don't personally believe in sending early just because a child usually enjoys it more if they've matured enough.   But that is up to you.  I would say that I wouldn't be punative at home about it though.  She really  might not be quite fully ready and can't help it.  Taking away her little relaxation time of a cartoon, playdates, etc. will take away what she probably enjoys most during the week.  
I don't know about your system there as to why it would be bad to place her back in preschool-----  I'm sure many many children her age are there too.  I would consider this option.  Good luck and I'm sure you are a loving mom----  it is not bad to start your child early but just keep her needs in mind as well.  Take care.