Starting school dilemma

[lilithxx]

Hi,
My little boy is starting school in September a week after his 4th birthday. I am also expecting my second child at around this time.
The school have asked parents to ensure that the children can wipe their bottoms, put their coats on and get themselves changed after swimming and PE before they start school.
It is against my instinct to push him towards independence at the moment. He needs to feel happy and secure when his baby brother arrives, not that he is being pushed out of the nest.
I really feel that 4 is too young for school, but his school do not have a January or Easter intake, so it would be a case of waiting till he's 5.
What do you think?
Liz

I would go with your instincts. Some children are just not ready to be able to do all those things at just turned 4y. I think your instincts are spot on.

totally agree with you, trust your instincts! My dd1 got 'littler' for a while after her sister was born, its very natural...not the best time to be expected to be 'bigger'.

Ooh, just seen your thread in primary school section - some v good answers, lots of options!

Wait till 5... but I'll go and check out the other thread too

I think the list of things they want your child to do before school is generally a very hopefully wish list. My DS1 has learned to do some of them in his first year at school so I wouldn't sweat it. Wiping bottoms is quite important as the teacher won't do that and he might end up sore and smelly, but they will help them get changed for PE (for the first 6 months of reception year, my DS' class did it in their clothes and bare feat, otherwise they would have 10 minutes of PE), and they probably won't go swimming in reception class anyway. Don't worry about it.