https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 11:19:58 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/oldest-or-youngest-in-preschool#post-2301076 Thu, 24 Sep 2015 14:58:36 +0000 looch 2301076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Being the youngest was really tough on my son last year, but we were dealing with full year age differences. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/oldest-or-youngest-in-preschool#post-2301066 Thu, 24 Sep 2015 14:51:25 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2301066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is tiny for his age and he's in the older class, but I'm not always sure it's better. He's behind in potty training...he's small. But he's definitely not unhappy... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/oldest-or-youngest-in-preschool#post-2301061 Thu, 24 Sep 2015 14:46:58 +0000 daniellemybelle 2301061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Woolly Mammoth: That close to the cut off I would definitely move him up. My LO is almost 2 months past the cut off so it's a bit different. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/oldest-or-youngest-in-preschool#post-2301027 Thu, 24 Sep 2015 14:26:55 +0000 Woolly Mammoth 2301027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: His birthday is September 7th and the cutoff is September 1st. </p> <p>I'm worried about him being bored in elementary school, but I do like the idea of him having more time to run around and play before formal schooling starts. It sounds like kindergarten is so academic these days!</p> <p>Right now I definitely think he has more in common with a 2.5 or 3-year-old. Plus, he's really tall (36.5") so he shouldn't be the smallest one there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/oldest-or-youngest-in-preschool#post-2300242 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 23:52:46 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2300242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think in elementary, it's nice to be older, but in preschool, it's ok to be younger depending on the child. My dd is the youngest in her class and although she is struggling with transitioning to childcare, the age difference doesn't seem to be an issue. She will just do both pre-k and transitional-k (and I'm sure she's not the only one) before K. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/oldest-or-youngest-in-preschool#post-2300217 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 22:41:00 +0000 daniellemybelle 2300217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are thinking through this too, for next year though. When is your LO's birthday? My LO is an October birthday. I like it for kindergarten because I think it will be better for her to not be rushed into public school and have the opportunity to be a leader with her peers as the research points to. But for preschool, when 6 months is like a huge developmental gap, I don't know! I feel like a 2 year old has more in common with a 2.5-3 year old than a 1-1.5 year old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/oldest-or-youngest-in-preschool#post-2299857 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 19:11:24 +0000 Woolly Mammoth 2299857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone! I feel much more confident after seeing all the agreement.</p> <p>I just talked to the teacher and got him switched. :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/oldest-or-youngest-in-preschool#post-2299820 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 18:46:25 +0000 californiadreams 2299820@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd move him up to be with older kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/oldest-or-youngest-in-preschool#post-2299816 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 18:43:20 +0000 birdofafeather 2299816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i would move him up as well! the difference between 1 year and 2 years is way bigger than 2 and 3! also, i think the second morning without you is a good addition to socialization for a 2 year old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/oldest-or-youngest-in-preschool#post-2299810 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 18:38:34 +0000 travellingbee 2299810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes I agree. Being the younger one is always better for my DS. He learns more and is more stimulated. He also gets along better with older kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/oldest-or-youngest-in-preschool#post-2299808 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 18:38:14 +0000 ChelseaRose 2299808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We went through the same thing last year at a school that sounds somewhat similar, although the two year old class was still mommy and me only. My son was born in October and the age range was for the entire birth year. He went with the older kids and did really well. This year he's at a different school and again is one of the youngest in his 3s class at 2y10m, but he's doing fine. I think the biggest change will be once they are all in regular school and are the oldest kids in the class rather than the youngest. I'd try to have him with the older kids and if it's too much for him change to the younger class. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/oldest-or-youngest-in-preschool#post-2299805 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 18:32:17 +0000 hilsy85 2299805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would want him around older kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/oldest-or-youngest-in-preschool#post-2299792 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 18:18:43 +0000 lawbee11 2299792@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Youngest. My LO learns so much when she's around older kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/oldest-or-youngest-in-preschool#post-2299791 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 18:18:23 +0000 Truth Bombs 2299791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would move him up. My LO learns a lot when she's around older kids at school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/oldest-or-youngest-in-preschool#post-2299783 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 18:12:54 +0000 Woolly Mammoth 2299783@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son just turned two and is signed up for a cooperative preschool that starts this week.</p> <p>He just missed the school cutoff, so he is signed up for the toddler (12-24 month) group even though he's already two. He's the oldest in the class, but there are at least two others within a month of his age. The toddler class meets one morning a week, and I would always be there with him.</p> <p>I just found out that there are openings in the 2-year-old class and the school is willing to make age exceptions to fill the class. There is a waitlist for the toddler class, so someone would step into our spot if we moved up. The 2-year-old class is two mornings a week - I would work at one, but would be able to drop him off the other day.</p> <p>I think he would have fun either way, but my gut feeling is that he would get more out of being with the older kids. He likes to play with older kids at the park and at Gymboree. At the preschool open house, the younger kids ignored him and he played with trucks all by himself the whole time.</p> <p>I emailed the teacher to ask her opinion, but I'm curious what other parents think. What would you decide? Is there a downside I'm not considering?</p> <p>ETA: This school is play-based, not academic. </p>