Compulsory starting ages in various countries

[2littleboys]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-24058227

Interesting how differently people see children in different countries. IMO, children should start when they're ready. For my kids, that wasn't exactly the same... not even close. My oldest was eating up regular curriculum at 3, and my youngest, 5, still doesn't care about anything but playing ... we "do school" when he asks to do it.

 

[*Angie*]

I 100% agree with that article. The compulsory school age in my province is 6 years old, though kindergarten in public schools starts at age 5. One of the reasons we first considered homeschooling was because I felt so strongly that 5 years old was way too young to be handing over my child for the majority of his day.

Reading that, it makes me feel better that we didn't push my middle boy too hard with learning to read right from kinder age, because he really wasn't ready. Here, a child going into kindergarten is pretty much expected to already know all their letters by sight, most of their letter sounds and to be able to write their name.

 

[Actressdancer]

I agree 99%.

[There was one hang up: "These extra few years, in my view, provide a crucial opportunity, when supported by well-trained, well-paid and highly educated staff, for children to be children." The implication clearly being that only a well-trained, well-paid, and highly educated staff is capable of guiding a child through childhood.]

 

[*Angie*]

I agree 99%.

[There was one hang up: "These extra few years, in my view, provide a crucial opportunity, when supported by well-trained, well-paid and highly educated staff, for children to be children." The implication clearly being that only a well-trained, well-paid, and highly educated staff is capable of guiding a child through childhood.]

Um, yeah, good point!