School in Spain at 2.9 - should I stick to my guns...?

[bebespain]

I am in Spain and although NOT obligatory children here can start school the year they turn 3. My DS will be 3 in Sep and so is eligible to start in Sep, he will be one of the youngest if not the youngest.

I really don´t want him to go. I realise its the norm here and it seems that 99% of parents send their DC to school as soon as they can. However I believe DS is far too young, I´m not sure how going to school all day every day will actually benefit him, there´s plenty of time for that later, surely.

On the other hand I worry that because he isn´t mixing with peers this may be detrimental to him but there´s no half-way house here,ie play group or somewhere he could go for a couple of hours

In addition I am receiving huge pressure from Spanish in-laws. They see no reason why he shouldn´t go, in fact they say he needs to go to learn to share, to socialise etc... DH is pretty much sitting on the fence and I feel I have nobody to really back me up.

Any advice, anyone???

No advice, sorry, just interested. We were in Tarragona last Easter. DD was 18 months. Spanish friends shocked that she wasn't in nursery yet.

Is it 'school' as we know it in England? ie all day and involving academic learing? Or is it more like nursery?

I feel 4 is too young for school, let alone 3, and am trying to work out how to get DD out of schooling at the age of 4.

Good luck; will watch with interest.

Meant to say DS will be 3 in December not Sep

Racingsnake - Yes I´m not surprised about your friends being shocked. It really is quite usual for children to go to Nursery full-time from a very early age.

Good question, I suppose its more like nursery but within a primary school with pupils up to the age of 11/12. I think most of the day involves playing but there is also some academic learning in the form of work books.

I am also shocked by the hours. When I spoke to the HT she said they do 9-1 have lunch and then continue til 4. I was gobsmacked and when I mentioned DS isn´t even potty trained yet she just changed the subject.

do they get the chance to sleep in the afternoon?? Mine would have struggled being in this environment without a nap at this age i think. I think you should stick to your guns, I agree it is too young for school and I would feel the same as you. It must be very hard to go against the grain though if its so normal to send them at this age.

Geraldine - I doubt very much they get the chance to sleep in the afternoon.

However they can go home for lunch and I would imagine my DS would be fast asleep soon after. He still naps everyday and unless there´s a great change come Sep he would find it impossible to stay awake.

That´s exactly how I feel, that I´m going against the grain and that by living in a foreign country it means I have to go along with the way it is here

My ds1 didnt give up his daytime sleep till he was over 3. Hes four now and still is tired out by the afternoon, and Im worried he'll struggle starting school at four and a half!! His brother is the same. I know someone who moved to spain and was raving about how fantastic it was that they took the kids so young to school and I felt a bit sad that she was so pleased to get rid of her 3 year old for the day!!
I feel for you, this must be a big worry, I want to say just stick to your guns, but know i would find that hard to do myself. I think you should though, and if people question it, maybe say something like "Im having too much fun with him myself, we are enjoying spending days together!" Sounds a bit naff, but maybe if you explain it in a really positive way, people will be less likely to question it. Also maybe you could point out that it isnt the norm in your home country and the kids do fine with sharing and so on, so youre not worried about it.

good luck, hope it all works out ok

Personally I'd send him, maybe just for the morning?