Is Five Too Young to Start School?

Here's bits of an interesting BBC article I found about the concerns of starting school too early. There has been a lot of research done on this subject. It ends up that the best way for kids up to seven to learn is through play. Just using their imagination develops brain power. They will draw pictures and write stories for fun. Memorizing poems and songs is fun for kids, which builds those dendrites in the brain and teaches good language skills! When we give too much structure and require too much at too young an age, it is detrimental. They are finding a link to this kind of preschool/kindergarten structure and ADD/ADHD. They have also found self-esteem down and aggression up with these kids who start formal schooling at 4/5. Kids are meant to play!

Is five too soon to start school?

By Sean Coughlan
BBC News education reporter

The origin of such an early start, introduced in 1870, had little to do with education, says the Primary Review report.
Entering full-time education at such a tender age meant reducing the malign influence of Victorian feckless parents - it was about child protection and social conditioning rather than learning.
And it was an attempt to appease suspicious employers, who were worried that starting any later would remove their supply of juvenile workers. An early start meant an early school leaving age.

Last year's teachers' conferences heard concerns that children were spending so little time with their own families that they were showing signs of aggression and de-socialisation, taking their behaviour from their peer group rather than absent adult role models.

Finland, a global superstar in education terms, is consistently among the top performers. But it is also at the very bottom of the league in terms of the hours spent in the classroom.
Finnish pupils start formal education at seven and then enjoy 11-week summer holidays - and they end up with the highest educational standards in Europe.
Poland, a rapid-climber in international education league tables and overtaking England at reading skills, is also another country where pupils do not start until the age of seven.