<p>Our twins went to pre-K and therefore are older than virtually all of their classmates. As a result, they can do certain things before their peers.</p>
<p>For example, this summer one earned money as a counselor. His classmates are not old enough to hold a paying job in our state.</p>
<p>obviously, others major events, such as driving, are coming along and will raise the same issue.</p>
<p>Should we allow our twins to do what their age allows, or should we make them wait until their classmates also can do these things?</p>
<p>FWIW, our twins are quite well-behaved in school.</p>
<p>Although I am young and jealous of my classmates who can already drive, I don’t think you should hold back your kids but let them be happy that they will be the first to drive :)</p>
<p>My kids were both the youngest in their years. Some kids are young, some aren’t. So what? The issue with driving, though, is that they <em>will</em> give rides to friends, so you need to make sure they are safe drivers.</p>
<p>The obvious easy (worthless) answer is, let them do what they are ready to do when they are ready. My personal bias with older kids is to not hold them back a full year to get “even” with their younger classmates, but not rush into things early. For example, instead of having a car waiting for them in the driveway and getting their permit on their birthday, maybe wait 4 - 6 months. They are still ahead of most of their classmates.</p>
<p>I think you’ll find that there are other “older” kids. My son went to pre-first and started school in a district with an earlier cut off date. When it came time to get his licence, there were a handful of kids just like him and no one made a big deal of it, except to ask for rides. Fortunately, we live in a state that does a progressive license deal - permit at 16 then 50 hours of driving with parent, then a road test at no less then age 16 1/2 , get junior license with a curfew at midnight. I really did feel that he was pretty well trained when he finally got his license at almost 17.</p>
<p>THese days it doesn’t matter. I think letting them do what is age appropriate can, in a way, make up for being the oldest in the class. It can be hard sometimes being almost a year older than classmates, and no matter the reason, other kids, go hmmm, were they held back or what…so having the chance to do some cool stuff a little bit before their classmates balances things out</p>
<p>But as NJres says, there is no rush to do anything too soon.</p>
<p>The advantage to having your kids drive earlier than their friends is that you know how they drive, but you don’t know how their friends will drive. Let them test for their licenses when you feel confident that they are ready. By the time their friends are driving you will be glad that yours are “seasoned” drivers.
Then, be prepared for those astronomical auto insurance bills with two teenage drivers!</p>
My personal bias with older kids is to not hold them back a full year to get “even” with their younger classmates, but not rush into things early. For example, instead of having a car waiting for them in the driveway and getting their permit on their birthday, maybe wait 4 - 6 months. They are still ahead of most of their classmates.</p>