Unlocking Ireland - an unprecedented thread no. 6

[CherryValanc]

A sixth thread in Craicnet!!

Who thought that would ever happen!!? Has there even been a sixth page before?

I don't have DC, but I started at nearly four as the local primary needed the numbers up to keep teachers.
Academically I was fine but socially it was a bit harder, more in secondary.
Most of the year were at least one if not two years older and allowed to do things that I wasn't.
I did TY but was still only 17 starting college.
I recommend later to all my friends now by asking them at what age do they want to start fighting about going out in the evening and home time? 😆

I had as good as decided she was going in September earlier today and now I’m second guessing again! I spoke to the principal today and the class will be a mix of 4 and 5 yr olds (only 5 kids mind). Socially she would be very confident, independent and happy to get stuck in so long as there are other kids doing so as well, keeps up well with family member s who are 7/8 while playing for example.

In terms of reading, writing and maths.... not so great. She struggles with counting even up to 10, can write the first letter of her name well but that’s it.

@Ballygowenwater the social skills are a great start for her.
There's 6 months to go.
IME girl's are a bit more school ready than boys at that age.
DD was 4 starting, lots of the girls in her year are jan/feb/mar.
She turned 12 in sixth class.
disclaimer I know there is no difference between boy/girl behaviours on MN
Go with your gut, both of mine preferred primary over preschool.

I had started out on MM as well, never really took to RC, but haven't been on MM for years as it was after changing to a very "pg, baby and very young DC" focussed when I left (and a lot more SAHMs who couldn't understand WOHMs perspective), and I was needing more support for an older dc with SNs at that stage which MN seemed to have.

DH is getting stressed this morning that the uk (and US) are not allowing vaccine to be exported, although there's no official bans, so rollout here is getting further and further delayed. But we're seeing lots more yellow reg plates locally as visitors arrive while we won't be seeing level 5 lifted until cases are under 200/day, at least mid May having been said by Ministers.....His Dm is doing a great Job of irish mammy guilt on him at the minute - he saw her for lunch in December (and he had a day trip in September as well) and his DBro lives next door to her, whereas I last saw my DPs in July. But we're both getting really fed up now, and can see the protests only growing (we're not going anywhere near the protests ourselves, but can understand how it's building up).

At least the weather is starting to improve a bit generally, so coffee outdoors is a possibility again (and the wind that was pretty wild last night has died down again this morning).

Between the protests and the return of school lockdown will go on, there are positive cases every day in school not clusters yet.
They should open certain sectors but they can't trust some of the public or bar managers.
The rule was 90 minutes with food, many pubs allowed people drink all day.
One in particular my Dbro a 50 y.o all self made and his friends spent 7 hours in a pub where 27 tested positive in December.
St Patrick's day will bring party sessions.
The vaccine is the only hope.

@Ballygowenwater I didn't mean to make you doubt yourself.
I didn't struggle socially with making friends, it was more things like being allowed to stay up as late, watch programmes, join the same teams, as a teen I was 14 starting TY so my friends who were 15/16 had more freedoms and that grated.
But your DD will be more in line with her peers ages so that kind of stuff is unlikely to be as much of an issue. And if your in an area with class sizes that small she is more likely to have friends with a wider variety of ages anyway.
I wouldn't worry about the academics before she's started, teachers want to teach them using the correct methods from the start.

The whole international travel thing makes the whole situation worse. Why are we being held to 5km yet tens of thousands people are leaving and arriving and moving all over the country.

It's just doesn't help make people feel they should comply.

@Ballygowenwater

I had as good as decided she was going in September earlier today and now I’m second guessing again! I spoke to the principal today and the class will be a mix of 4 and 5 yr olds (only 5 kids mind). Socially she would be very confident, independent and happy to get stuck in so long as there are other kids doing so as well, keeps up well with family member s who are 7/8 while playing for example.

In terms of reading, writing and maths.... not so great. She struggles with counting even up to 10, can write the first letter of her name well but that’s it.

Where is she placed in the family?

We are very helpful! Do you know all the other potential classmates? And the teacher?

My view is that you give your child every advantage you can, and maturity is an advantage that really stands to them imo.

@Deadringer

My view is that you give your child every advantage you can, and maturity is an advantage that really stands to them imo.

Agree with this. Plus it goes beyond her being four starting school. It means she is younger doing the leaving or going to third level etc.

She’s an only child.

@Deadringer

My view is that you give your child every advantage you can, and maturity is an advantage that really stands to them imo.

I really agree with this.

Teacher here also and it may be a strange comment to make but they're in school long enough!!
I think you need to weigh up the pros and cons of her starting this year or the following and go with your gut.

Horrible hailstone showers here today
Anybody else get a headache when there's thunder and lightning? I feel like there's some to come judging by my headache

I get those as well @halfpasteleven something to do with air pressure.

@Ballygowenwater

She’s an only child.

I asked only because I'm sure I read that family position can influence a child regarding age starting school.

Now I can't find where I read it again (probably die to it been years since I reas it!!)

Me too @halfpasteleven - I call it my thundery head. It has been niggling at me all morning

I started my January baby at 4, and really regret so I would be inclined to keep her til 5.

My son started reception in the U.K. at 4.5yrs and then we moved here the following Easter and he started again in Junior Infants at 5.5. He definitely benefitted by starting from scratch and making friends with the other new starters.

He’s bright but not sporty in the slightest and they’re a bit (OTT) GAA daft here. He often spends playtimes walking around the perimeter of the playground like a caged Lion. (I can see the playground from our garden.)

However... now in 5th class he’s desperately bored. One of his friends is in 2nd year at the local Secondary and DS finds his schoolwork far more interesting.

DS has said on several occasions recently that he doesn’t want to return to school next week. He’d rather carry on with homeschooling.

Did you find the level of work in reception higher than junior infants? My daughter did year one in England, and the work was way more advanced than senior infants.
I found sixth class horrendous, three times! The girls were properly adolescent, the boys had too much energy. Moving between classes and staying in school longer would have been good, I pitied their teachers!
You think you are having a baby, you forget the long term complications kids bring. And this year has been a massive challenge!
It's springtime here now, it was winter earlier.

@BiddyPop whereabouts are you? I’m in the North, just over the border and we’ve never stopped having South reg cars here shopping etc as has always been the case.

I also know of quite a few from over the border trying to get vaccines up here too.

I haven’t heard of any ban on vaccines within the UK only the EU blocking exports, but it just goes to show the media will report what’s in its own interests 🙄

I'm in the Dublin hinterland so we wouldn't see that many NI or UK plates here on a regular basis, not like those in border areas.

And are there loads now? I’m just wondering if some are commuters who might be driving now instead of the train etc.

I’ve honestly heard of no one who is making any trips across the border unless for groceries as necessary. Everyone is far too concerned with not ruining the vaccination programme!

Where would people be staying though? And doing what/going where? Nothings open and the weather has been crap. We live in an area that has lots of really beautiful scenic tourist attractions and I've not seen any obvious signs of visitors yet. Last weekend though with it was lovely and sunny the place was overrun with locals. DH went out for coffees and came home grumbling about the huge queues at all the coffee shops! But sure what else can you do on a lovely day but go out within your 5k.

This year in particular I've noticed a big difference in the 4 year olds and 5 year olds heading to school. I can see the ones who will be fine, they are able to sit and do activities. They are .ore independent, able to open their lunch, get a scissor to open something, puf on their coats etc.
I see the ones who are really going to struggle, who can sit still, who's lunch ends up on the floor every day, who cant stand in a line to wash hands or go outside.
A lot of children are starting at 5 especially if they are born in March or after.
With afterschoolers I have a lot of trouble with Homework with the ones who started too early.

I see no fines were handed out in Carrick in Shannon today for the people attending a funeral. A marquee and portaloos were put up.
Once again I think of poor Lipz being fined. Makes my blood boil.