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Siblings Starting Kindergarten Together?

My husband and I are pregnant with our second baby and due in February. Our first child was born in September 2016.

In our state, a child has to be 5 years old by August 1st to start kindergarten that fall. Our first child will turn 5 in September 2021, but isn't allowed to start kindergarten until fall of 2022 because of when her birthday falls. So she will be one of the older kids in her class, which is fine. She will turn 6 just sfer the school year starts.

Our second baby that is due in February 2018 will turn 5 I  February 2022. This means that he or she will be able to start kindergarten in fall of 2022 as well at 5 1/2 years.

Would you put them in the same grade or hold the younger one back so that they have their own class, friends, field trips, experiences, etc.?
10 Responses
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Avatar universal
You will want to wait to decide. It depends on the child. You have nore pressing decisions..and just enjoy the journey.
Helpful - 2
973741 tn?1342342773
Oh, I have a strong opinion on this.  LOL  Definitely separate them into different school years.  They will thank you and you will thank yourself.  I have two boys that are 15 months apart in age.  Very close.  That being said, they are not twins.  So, the first born is better at things that the second.  That frustrates the second.  And when the second is better at things than the first, that makes the first feel like poop and hurts his confidence.  And that's with a grade between them.  I can't imagine what it would have been like to have them in the same grade.  The competition would have been unrelenting.  And the fact is, they are never going to be equal like twins because they aren't twins.  They have that year between them for one to develop at their own rate as well as the other one without constant comparisons by others as well as themselves.  

Often too, parents regret early starts of school.  Those kids often lag behind a bit and are a bit socially less mature than peers.  So, I'd start child number too so they are older in their class verses youngest with the oldest being their own sibling.  :>)  (my answer is formed by having two kiddos in a similar situation.).  good luck
Helpful - 1
2 Comments
I'm concerned about the competition and such, but also concerned that if I hold this second baby back, then he or she won't stay kindergarten until he or she is 6 and a half. That seems WAY too old to be just then STARTING kindergarten.
Exactly. Almost 7 years of age is too old to be just starting Kindergarten. Try different school, and let them both start 2022.
Avatar universal
It's not your second child's fault they're so close together. It seems a bit unfair to hold them back based on that alone. They will be a lot younger than their peers and always feel awkward. More awkward then if you just started them together.
Helpful - 2
Avatar universal
I agree that it's not the second child's fault and it's better to have them start together.
Helpful - 3
Avatar universal
I think you should let them start together, but in different classrooms this will let them be independent yet together.
Helpful - 5
Avatar universal
How will the second child be 5 1/2 in 2022, when they are due in February 2018? Wouldn't they be 4 1/2 in 2022 instead of 5 1/2?
Helpful - 6
1 Comments
My mom brain messed up. Lol I realized this a coupe days ago that they wouldn't be starting the same year.
Avatar universal
I recently read a book that went in depth on why children should start kindergarten at age 6 rather than 5 1/2 and the easiest way to summarize it is that a child needs more time to develop so that they can become more attentive and it was proven in test scores that babies who had birthdays later in the year which made their parents wait to put them in school actually faired better, took more honors classes, etc because they had that extra time to develop. Just my thoughts though!
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I would let them start together but make sure they are in different classrooms.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I'm not understanding this either.. Your baby is due Feb 2018... So they would be 1 -Feb 2019. 2- February 2020. 3- February 2021. 4- February 2022. So fall of 2022 it will only be 4  1/2 years old. So they will have to be in seperate classes..
Helpful - 3
1 Comments
I didn't realize this until a couple of days ago. Lol I was counting 2018 as 1 year by mistake.
Avatar universal
I think she meant Feb 2017 there is no way she could be pregnant and due Feb 2018. She would be pregnant for 17 months. Clearly typo
Helpful - 1
7 Comments
Lol (slap against the forehead) dear we are already in the year 2017. She is due in 6 months***
Lol.  I know I saw that as soon as I posted. Didn't know how to take it down.  Pregnancy brain at its finest here.
Hehehe pregnancy brain is the worst.
Depends on how far along she is. I am due in February 2018 and I'm 15 weeks along.
Well, I was so curious about this that I made a chart by year for their ages.  LOL  The math is still off.  A baby born February of 2018 would be 5 in 2023 while a baby born September of 2016 would be 6 in 2022.  They will be a year apart it seems to me in school, which is better for them socially and in other ways.  
Maybe it comes down to something crazy like she is still 5 on 9/1/22?  But turns six a bit after?  Not sure but most districts will work with you. Our school has a law on minimum age and my friend went to the school, her daughter tested and she started.  She's only 2 months shy of the cut off but it made sense to send her so our district worked with her.  One month difference isn't like starting school early or young.  :>)
You ladies are correct. My math was off. I was thinking my baby would be 1 in 2018 for some reason. Lol I am due Feb 2018. I am 15w 3d today.  Sorry for the confusion! Lol my mom brain clearly isn't working either!

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