How old will your child be when they start college?

calmom
Sun, 19 Jul 2009 05:37:21 +0000

My advice is to have your kids born in the spring. (March-May birthdays). :)

Many years ago I started school early (winter birthday, youngest in class), skipped a year of high school, and started college at 16. Law school at 20. Academically and socially I felt fine… but as a parent I did not think it was such a good idea for my own kids.

Since my kids had those spring birthdays, they “fit” well within cut offs. They started school at the “normal” time. I think that this particularly made a difference with my daughter, who was very precocious academically and well ahead of the curve socially. (With my son, it probably was simply a good fit – he was the right age for his grade all along). My daughter did feel frustrated at times academically… but she actually was given the choice as to whether to skip at the end of 1st grade and decided against it.

I think looking back at my own experience compared with the experience of my offspring, both now grown and in their 20’s, is that they were able to develop leadership skills that I lacked. I just think it can come with the territory of being on the older end of spectrum among peers & the social confidence that develops over time, especially when reaching the age at which certain societal privileges are bestowed. (Driving, employment, voting, then reaching legal drinking age).

So while I do think it depends on individual circumstances, I am glad that my kids were 18 when they headed off to college.