Homeschool World Forum

Hi all. It's been a while since I have posted and I come to you with a question about my youngest son. We are currently homeschooling our oldest son (6) and each day during school my 3 year old will sit with us some and he knows all of his colors, can count to at least 20, knows the alphabet (wouldn't recongnize them but can say them all), can write a capital D (his name is Dalton), can write a circle, and a number 1. I think it would make school time a lot easier for me if he would sit in his desk and do work and he is showing an interest. Well when my oldest starts first grade in August or September I thought about starting a 4K program with Dalton. The only thing that I wonder about is that I already have his kindergarten materials ordered (I did them at the same time as I got my other childs so that the teacher material and all would work for the same books) I know that in 4K he would learn his letters..to identify them and know their sounds and to write them. Well the program we are using is Abeka...the first 70 lessons in Abeka kindergarten is just that. His birthday falls in August so when I start him with a pre-k curriculum he will have just turned 4. I seriuosly have thought about using the Kindergarten Abeka program just to start it and see how he does. If he has trouble then I can just stop and start it again later. I guess my biggest thing is what if he does really well and hangs in there is it crazy to have a child start first grade when he has just turned 5 years old?? I mean, I want them to do well but I don't want them graduating when they are 14...kwim? My oldest son is just the opposite..he has a late birthday so we started him with kindergarten just this past August and he turned 6 in September. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

This "what stuff at what age/grade" was one of the reasons we decided to homeschool. Our oldest is usually doing things before he's "supposed to" and our youngest is quite the opposite. We wanted the freedom to introduce things when we thought the kids were ready for each thing. Whether that be a grade or two "ahead of time" or a couple grades "behind". So I hear what you are saying, and I don't think its crazy! Although I know its kind of "weird" to think you have a five year old doing first grade work...if that is what the five year old is ready for, then why not!? It might all even out at the end, too. So you may not have to worry about a 14 year old graduating. You never can tell what will happen!

Thank you all for your suggestions! I appreciate it. It does make a lot of sense and I will start him while he has an interest and see how it goes...he might need 2 years of kindergarten or he might be ready as can be for first grade when he is 5. Being fairly new to this it's hard for me to remember just how much flexibility that I have.

I dont think it is crazy if he is ready. My son was 4 and doing first grade work. He just completely skipped over K because he already knew it all. Thats why we homeschool.