Using HOD at the younger or older end of the guidelines

[SillyMamaLuvsU]

I hope I worded that title to convey what I'm asking. I am just curious for future reference since I have a soon-to-be 2yo who I plan on using HOD with. You know how the programs will say "for first or second grade"? Have you found that you use it w/ your dc on the younger end or older end of the spectrum. For example (I'm getting wordy, forgive me) would you use Beyond for first or second?

I'm sure everyones' opinions and preferences will differ according to their dc's ability but I just wanted to ask.

[inHistiming]

We have used Beyond...as a second grade curriculum.

[lmercon]

Just my opinion here, but for the most part, I would usually suggest staying closer to the upper age range. It is easier to add to something than water it down. I think the child will get more out of these wonderful programs. My son is in the middle of the age range for each program. He was eight all last year and used Bigger. I can't imagine him doing that program the year before last. He would have struggled rather than thrived. I would suggest middle to upper age range if possible.
Laura

[psreit]

My dd is going to do LHFHG. She just turned 7 and will be in 1st grade. She is at the very highest in the age range. I had planned to do Beyond with her and I had even purchased it, but after reading different threads about the transition from Beyond to Bigger, I decided to drop her down to Little Hearts. Many 7 year olds are ready for Beyond with no problem, but I know my decision to use Little Hearts will be best for my dd. Each child is different, so, as you stated, it would depend on the child's ability. One benefit of doing Little Hearts for 1st is that it gives me one more guide to use in the coming years

[my3good&perfectgifts]

I used LHFHG for my 7 year old first grade ds. He will turn 8 this fall and we will be doing Beyond for second grade. Both of my boys are on the older side of the age ranges for HOD. My 11 year old ds will be finishing PHFHG this fall and move to CTC.

[annaz]

We're using it on the older spectrum, so if it says from 7-9, dd is "9" using it. So she's just 10 as of a week ago and we'll start Preparing in a month. Last year we did Bigger at 9 and the year before Beyond at 8.

[MomtoJGJE]

It also depends on how you want to space multiple children... DD1 used Beyond as first grade this past year. I have DD2 and DD3 combined, so DD2 will use Beyond for 2nd grade (8) and technically speaking DD3 will use it as K (6), but then DD4 will use it for who knows what grade, but she'll be 7 most likely when we start it. So I guess she'd be back around to 1st grade.

[Mommamo]

I think it depends on the child and his or her individual skill levels. I think I would go by the different aspects on the placement chart as opposed to focusing on the age or grade. With my oldest, she is on the lower end of the "age range," and that's ideal for her. My middle guy will be on the upper end of the age range, and that's not even just to combine with the next youngest one. I do hope that we'll be able to combine, but that has more to do with my youngest than with him. I'm keeping him on the upper end, at least for now, because that's what looks like will fit best for him. We did LHTH last year in the preschool class I taught at church, and now we're doing it half speed at home to give him a little time to grow. He'll use it for both preschool and kindegarten. When he's kindergarten age I'll possibly add the right side of LHFHG, but we'll see. I love how with HOD you can adjust things to fit your individual children.