How old is the child who wrote this letter to Santa

[RealReginaPhalange]

I am wondering what are your guesses lovely people! (Picture uploading)

He looks like he is doing fine to me, and I wouldn't worry about the feedback - trust your own judgement.

Nursery used to give us the most bizarre assessments of dad's progress. I just ignored them. She's my daughter - I knew what she could do and what she couldn't. Didn't much care how it compared to others.

Yes, that's batshit.

I’m guessing 4.

Just saw the update was as I’d guessed. His writing looks just fine for reception.

This is a good point. It sounds like a batshit comment, but we have no idea who said he should be doing better, or what they were referring to when they made the comment.

Whoever told you that had no idea of 4 year olds, many of which cannot form letters still at this stage of the year in reception so I wouldn't be paying any attention to what they have to say.

Because this is Mumsnet-4. In the real world, maybe 6? Hard to tell because it’s not independent writing.

Jesus my DD is 4 in march and I can’t imagine her being close to this good by then. Is the school very pushy?

5

I’d say 5/6 but tbh my son is 9 and can’t write that well (and I’m not great) so could be be older

Read your answer after (so I could guess honestly) fab writing for a four year old.

Who told you that????

Handwriting wise, he’s doing just fine for reception age so I wouldn’t worry. If anything, I think it’s very neat for age 4.

I was thinking it could be my 21 year old DS.

As a teacher that could be anywhere in the range of age 4 to 14

I voted 4 - the letters aren’t formed properly at all so looks like a new school starter. The correct spellings probably made people vote older.

I think he's doing fine with that writing for a 4 year old in reception. Is he left-handed by any chance? That can cause some teachers to get their knickers in a twist about writing.

@Spudthespanner @CraftyPlayer cool 🙄

And yes. Meant the handwriting.

That’s very neat handwriting for a 4YO in reception. Is it a very pushy private school? Or did you get the wrong end of the stick and it’s actually about spelling/making attempts to write on his own? Or does it look totally different at school when there are distractions and he’s having to have a go with the spellings himself? Weird that the teacher would mention that as an issue.

I’d say the handwriting is lower end of average for a Year 1 at this point. Or a keen older Reception child. So I’d say they’re about 5. The letter formation is incorrect (they’re clearly making some other letters however they can, rather than following proper method) so them being 4 doesn’t surprise me.

They’re clearly working hard and keen. My son is 4 (September born starting school in 2026) and he can’t form letters anywhere near that well and I’m not concerned at all. I’d not be impressed with a teacher who was pushing this child to improve!

I completely agree. I also find it baffling that a teacher thinks a 4 year old with this handwriting needs to improve. This is neater than a lot of children in year 1.

A left handed six year old boy.

I would have said 4.

Spelling is good. I'd say maybe five or six? With help from someone on spelling?