An examination of the views of parents whose children started primary school at an earlier age regarding their experiences and observations

The main purpose of this research, conducted during the 2024-2025 academic year, is to examine the views of parents whose children started primary school at an earlier age, regarding their experiences and observations. The study employed a phenomenological design, a qualitative research method, and employed criterion sampling. In determining the participants for the study, the parents of children who started the first grade of primary school before the chronological age of 72 months were taken as the criterion. The study group consisted of 48 participants, and a semi-structured interview form developed by the researcher was used as the data collection tool. Content analysis was used to analyze the collected data. Analyses revealed that the vast majority of parents indicated that starting primary school earlier is not an advantage for their child; on the contrary, it is a disadvantage for both the child and the family. A child's academic difficulties were seen as the biggest disadvantage of starting primary school earlier. The belief of a child's being physically ready for school age and his/her eagerness and enthusiasm were among the factors why some parents consented to send their children to school earlier than its time. Almost all parents expressed negative feelings about starting primary school earlier, with the most dominant feeling throughout the process being "regret." Parents have been observed developing strategies to address these challenges and seeking support. Intense family involvement, private tutor support, and course and private teaching are the most frequently used solutions. While the majority of parents have experienced negative changes in their children's educational expectations, some parents also maintain positive expectations. A large portion of these parents advised parents who are new to primary school not to start their children early. Key Words: Primary school, 1st grade, parent, school starting age, early start to primary school