Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

 
Many parents worry about their kids entering school ‘late’In Indonesia, school year starts in July and ends in June. As long as you turn 6yo WHILE YOU ARE IN Primary One, you can be accepted by almost all schools here.

Many parents worry about their kids entering school ‘late’. The earlier, the better, many believe. Pressure from friends and parents (and in-laws!) seems to confirm their decision.

So, not few send their 5-year-olds to Primary One.

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Older children potentially are more able to grasp the lessons taughtAs for our family, we consciously choose to follow Singapore’s standard where a child turns 7yo while in Primary One.

Because we believe, the older the children, the more mature they potentially are, cognitively, emotionally and psychologically.

Older children potentially are more able to grasp the lessons taught, which in turn allows them to enjoy more time outside of school hours to explore other talents and passion (read: Instead of going for tuitions after tuitions on school days and weekends to cope with school)

Not being the tiniest / youngest in class also mean they’re ‘less likely’ to be bullied.

Note: I know some children who’re sent very early to Primary One who can cope well and score very well at school. That’s their cognitive ability. More often than not though, it’s not balanced well with their emotional and psychological maturity.

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Habits still need to be nurtured, misbehaviours corrected, guidance and discipline given, tooIf you ask me, I’d say: starting school when they turn 7yo in Primary One is especially even more necessary for young boys who tend to be more playful and less focused!

Sending them too early to formal school potentially invites ‘headaches’ for the mom and the teachers (and more stress for the child from the frequent scolding, disciplining and tuition classes to cope with school demands)

Btw, even when boys start going to Primary One when they turn 7yo that year, it doesn’t mean they automatically are responsible and focused little men (I know this very well! Hah!)

Habits still need to be nurtured, misbehaviours corrected, guidance and discipline given, too, where necessary.

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Anyway.

Brie will enter Primary One this July (Time flies!).

She’ll turn 7yo towards the end of Primary One.

As much as I feel she’s still so little to be entering Primary One so soon (read: Last-child-in-the-family syndrome😬), we hope she will enjoy her learning journey, friendships, and all its ups and downs.

Sigh.

Kids are growing up too fast and spending more and more time away from us.

One reality we have to face.

#cantkeepthemsmallforever