Summer birthdays....do you redshirt them, or put them in the big leagues?

[Anonymous]

What are parents doing who have children with Summer birthdays. Its a difficult situation because your child is either the oldest or youngest in the class. I'm interested in knowing how many parents decided to redshirt their K-age child, and why. Girl or boy? Did you get into your school of choice?

[Anonymous]

I was just thinking, I wish we could have a thread about redshirting in private schools. Why doesn't anyone think of that?

[Anonymous]

Oh no, here we go again. This tends to be an explosive topic.

[Anonymous]

August boy and red shirted.

[Anonymous]

Two boys, two summer birthdays, redshirted one and sent one. It just depends on the kid, and since I don't know yours, I can't offer any useful advice.

[Anonymous]

Late July birthday, girl. Sent her. The preK teachers said they had absolutely nothing left to offer her/teach her and that she absolutely should move on.

[Anonymous]

Boy--late July birthday, redshirted. Did a prek year, then sent to public school and regretted the decision. He was too mature and too advanced academically. But, perhaps it was helpful later when he was admitted to a competitive private for an older grade. Long term, it works out, but I would say it can backfire in the very early years.

[Anonymous]

Read the lit review "Opportunity Deferred or Opportunity Taken? An Updated Look at Delaying Kindergarten Entry" by Hermine Marhsall. The conclusions from the literature review were the following:

1. On average, delaying kindergarten entry has no long term effect on academic achievement. By about 3rd grade, any early differences in ability disappear. However, the combination of low ability and youngness may have negative consequences for achievement.

2. Holding children out deprives them of instruction that, regardless of age, promotes learning many skills.

3. Holding children out does not result in any social advantage. There are no differences in peer acceptance or self-concept. On the contrary, some children who are redshirted worry that they have failed and develop poor attitudes toward school. They are more likely to have behavior problems and to drop out.

4. Children who have been held out are more likely to receive special education services later. Enrolling children when they are eligible may lead to their receiving help earlier.

[Anonymous]

It totally depends on the child. My DC was held back and it was absolutely the right thing to do. There is no one size fits all answer to this.

[Anonymous]

I think that if you have a reason to redshirt, make sure you have a good program for the child for the year before he or she enters kindergarten. Back when we did it, the school entry dates were being pushed forward, so many preschools in the area had special programs for kids who missed the cutoff or just barely made it and were being given "the gift of time," as I remember it being called. I don't know what equivalent programs exist today--I think that simply repeating the four-year-old program at the same place is not the best option.

[Anonymous]

Mid July boy. He's not being held back.

[Anonymous]

OP - you really need to gather as much info as you can about your child - and hear what your schools of choice recommend for your child. This discussion can go round and round, but the bottom line is that each family should make the best decision for their child. There is no wrong answer, in the end it is what you are most comfortable doing given what you know/perceive his/her strengths and areas that need to be nurtured. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Two boys, nether red shirted, both accepted and thriving at a "big 3". The red shirted kids stand out as much larger, but not necessarily more academically adept. If you think your kids is ready, go ahead and send them.

[Anonymous]

August girl, sent her. She did very well. She was ready.

[Anonymous]

It backfired for us in middle school. DS thinks the other kids are way less mature and academically capable, and from what I can tell from observation and from talking to teachers, he's right. You just can't predict that far out.