to think 4 is far too young for school...

[StrongestMummyInTheWorld]

... and to wish all children didn't start school until age 7?

I don't want to take my child out of school and have her have a totally different experience to most other kids. But the night-terrors, screaming nightmares and worst of all the difficulty separating the bad dreams from what really happened is pretty hard to take. Other parents tell me their kids are similarly distressed. So what are we doing to our children starting them so young?

Dd is a mid Aug baby, and I am dreading it.

" Think it's done mostly for to provide childcare so parents can get back to work easier."

LOL. I doubt it, it was the same when I was at school when it was more likely that the mother would be a SAHM.

Here in Spain most children are at nursery by 1 year old as mat leave is only 16 weeks. GPs often look after children til they're a year, then nursery. School isn't obligatory til 5 but children can go at 3 and most do as it's free as opposed to nursery, also cos school exists most parents don't then want to pay for nursery and so there is little nursery provision after 3. School at 3 is almost exactly the same as nursery. For instance, we live in a village and the 3 yr olds have their own playground and are in classes of max 25 (DS is in a class of 15, like at nursery) and the day is 9am til 1.50pm (even "big" school is this timetable) and very similar to nursery in what they do and what's expected of them. They have to be out of nappies but other than that it's very like nursery. DS loves it.

I personally think it is too young, 5-6 is a better age. Just my opinion

It totally depends on the child, some are more than ready at that age and others need help to get used to the idea/settle.

DD was 4 in November and has been in a private prep school since last January (so only just 3), because cost wise it worked out less than a childminder around here and the environment is fantastic, she loves it, can't wait to get into school in the mornings. She is there 8am until 6pm 4 days a week and 8.30-3.15 on Friday's and is a very happy settled little girl.

My eldest would have hated it and did hate nursery/school so much so that my parents were her childcare at that age as she just wouldn't settle anywhere else.

Some love it, some hate it.