Back in the States, the big thing is to hold young children back a grade.  With cutoffs like September 1st and previously it was December 1st, young kids aren’t typically ready for today’s rigorous kindergarten where expectations are writing stories and reading chapter books by year-end.  Both our boys have fall birthdays and we saw huge benefits in holding them back to start elementary school.

Last week, the boys started school here in Italy at the International School in the same grades.  It was immediately evident that Aidan was a head taller than the entire class and loved school because he got to play alot in Kindergarten.  After further discussions, we realized the cut-off for grades here is based on a calendar year.  So if a child turns 5 in the calendar year, they are in Kindergarten and it’s a pre-elementary class, so more play.  Children turning 6 in the calendar year are in 1st grade (first year of elementary) and has more of the curriculum of what we saw in Kindergarten in the States.

Today, the boys started again at the same school but in new grades.  Aidan started in 1st grade and Sean in 3rd.  At first it seemed backwards, but now I think it is much better and age appropriate.  I say this as I dropped them off for their first day of school in their new grades. 🙂  We’ll see if they agree when they get home and have more homework.  I think it will be a challenge for each of them, but better in the long run.