A question of age (Patreon)

I admit, I had this idea of the kids in Lucky Rabbit starting school at the same age as kids in our world, and it got stuck.

At this point, it's obvious that the kids think and act like they're older than six. Now, Eleanor is actually seven, and Geraldine is almost seven, while Isidor is a solid fourteen, but still, it's jarring. So I intend to change the youngest kids (Thaniel, Geraldine, Eleanor, and Abbington) so they're all eight or nine instead. There are some story adjustments that would go along with this (mainly that kids only go to Falconet for three years, rather than five, and Thaniel was six when his mother died, which means he should remember more than he does) but really, those are pretty minor, albeit pervasive. The older kids can all stay the age they are, including Suzanne and Matilda, so this would just close the age gap a bit.

Now, I've already decided to do this, so the question is, when? I can do it after the whole series is over, and just keep in my own mind that Thaniel is actually two years older, which is kind of what I've been doing up to now. I'm definitely not going to edit 189 chapters right now and change them all on three platforms 😅

So would it be completely crazy if I put a note at the beginning of several chapters, letting people know this age shift happened, and just write it as him being eight from here on, or do I go on with six for continuity and reduced mental strain on the readers, even knowing that he doesn't act six?

I'm inclined to just leave it be for now, but maybe acknowledge in the Summary on the main page that the kids should be older? As readers, what would make the most sense and allow you to just enjoy the story?