Why you shouldn't redshirt for kindergarten:

[Anonymous]

My kid has a late august birthday and we did redshirt because his preschool teacher felt that was best for him. So far I think it's worked out well for him. So many kids in his class have October and November birthdays so he is really only a month of two older than them. I don't see a problem here at all. My daughter has a late May birthday and I would have never redshirted her even if she had a later birthday. It just depends on your child.

[Anonymous]

total troll post. don't feed the troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:total troll post. don't feed the troll.

I agree it is a troll post, but I still would like to hear from folks who think it was a mistake to redshirt their kid. It is a perspective that you really never run across. We all know folks who held kids back and feel that really helped them. We also all know folks who started kids young and they have always done fine. You just don't hear from folks who say it was a mistake to hold their kid back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:total troll post. don't feed the troll.

I agree it is a troll post, but I still would like to hear from folks who think it was a mistake to redshirt their kid. It is a perspective that you really never run across. We all know folks who held kids back and feel that really helped them. We also all know folks who started kids young and they have always done fine. You just don't hear from folks who say it was a mistake to hold their kid back.

I've said it. It was a mistake for us and we fixed it by skipping K.

[Anonymous]

I've said it. It was a mistake for us and we fixed it by skipping K.


How old is your child now? How do you think it is working out? If your child was struggling in middle school would you consider holding them back at that point? (Maybe with a school switch). In making your decision did you consider physical maturity issues - size relative to peers and likely timing of puberty?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was born in June, started school when I was supposed to, and graduated with honors at age 17. Why redshirt if there is no need? I never studied, because I never needed to. If your child is smart enough, they do not need the advantage of an extra year. My youngest daughter will also graduate with honors at age 17 because her birthday is at the end of July. She certainly didn't need to be held back. She has things to do, places to go, experiences to have. Life is waiting.

I don't think a parent would redshirt with no need. The point is that some parents don't think their kids are ready for K. It is their right to hold them back if they want to do so.

It is their "right" to do so but only because that's what the system allows. If your child is born before the cut-off and you don't think they're ready you can hold them back. But if they're born just after the cut-off and the parents deem them "ready" they are not allowed to send them. So it's not really a "right" for all parents to do what they think is in the best interest of their child.

[Anonymous]

I think this is a troll post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:total troll post. don't feed the troll.

I agree it is a troll post, but I still would like to hear from folks who think it was a mistake to redshirt their kid. It is a perspective that you really never run across. We all know folks who held kids back and feel that really helped them. We also all know folks who started kids young and they have always done fine. You just don't hear from folks who say it was a mistake to hold their kid back.

Google this perspective-- You will run across people who feel this way. There was a non-troll thread on DCUM not too long ago written by someone who regretted redshirting.

[Anonymous]

The thing about the regret/no regret is that you will never truly know the alternative. If it's bad it may have been worse the other way. If you feel your kid is bored or socially more mature than his peers and it was a mistake, other things that you didn't even think of may have come up the other way. Just will never know. There is no crystal ball. Like most things in life you need to be confident in your decision and move forward.

My child is a few days off from the cutoff and we are leaning toward doing the another year of preschool. Our child will still be learning, but through play. The year is not wasted IMO. It has been a very conplex decision, but I fee like DC would always be playing catch up if the youngest and what's the point? So I can say DC went on time and I didn't redshirt?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I've said it. It was a mistake for us and we fixed it by skipping K.


How old is your child now? How do you think it is working out? If your child was struggling in middle school would you consider holding them back at that point? (Maybe with a school switch). In making your decision did you consider physical maturity issues - size relative to peers and likely timing of puberty?

My child is going to be smaller either way due to genetics. He is 10 now. It worked out really well and he has been happier in the higher grade. I would not hold him back ever and instead if he struggles academically, I'd either tutor him myself (which we do anyway) or get him a tutor. He has plenty of friends at school and through sports and other activities so its a non-issue. Child had the option early on when we changed from private to public and he choose moving ahead knowing he'd be younger and smaller. He likes being the youngest. Why would you hold back a child doing well? Even if he was struggling, we could hold him back and have the same issues. It makes no sense to me. Socially, you find what your child likes and find friends through that - sports, academics, gaming, etc.