We chose not to redshirt DS without considering the long-term consequences:

[Anonymous]

These are really good points and track with what I've seen for other kids with late summer/fall birthdays.

Parents get so excited about their 4 year old being ready for kindergarten and not having to pay for another year of nanny or daycare, but they forget the implications down the line in high school and college.

[Anonymous]

Had a friend who started her daughter early--she was "ready." Saw her ten years later. She said, "why didn't anyone tell me about high school?" Each child is different, but 4 year olds do not belong in K..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Had a friend who started her daughter early--she was "ready." Saw her ten years later. She said, "why didn't anyone tell me about high school?" Each child is different, but 4 year olds do not belong in K..

If she’s in high school, it’s not too late for her to take a gap year before college to ensure that she graduates in four years.

[Anonymous]

My niece was redshirted. Her parents had good intentions and wanted her to have another year to mature and play but she was always unhappy about it. By mid-elementary she was much more socially and emotionally mature than her classmates. Yet even though she was more socially mature than her grade level peers, she struggled academically so that extra year didn’t help. She chose to attend summer classes in HS to graduate early.

[Anonymous]

My kids female friends born in October through December went to kindergarten when they were 4 years old. The boys usually delayed for a year. Thy changed it to September cut offs now.

[Anonymous]

People get so caught up in free kindergarten that they don’t think about what’s best for the kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These are really good points and track with what I've seen for other kids with late summer/fall birthdays.

Parents get so excited about their 4 year old being ready for kindergarten and not having to pay for another year of nanny or daycare, but they forget the implications down the line in high school and college.

It’s not so much about paying for an extra year but how would your child feel being 18 all of senior year when most peers are in college. I have an older kid and cannot imagine holding them back, especially academically as they are in advanced classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are really good points and track with what I've seen for other kids with late summer/fall birthdays.

Parents get so excited about their 4 year old being ready for kindergarten and not having to pay for another year of nanny or daycare, but they forget the implications down the line in high school and college.

It’s not so much about paying for an extra year but how would your child feel being 18 all of senior year when most peers are in college. I have an older kid and cannot imagine holding them back, especially academically as they are in advanced classes.

It is always so odd to me how the same posters who claim their children are in advanced classes lack basic math skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are really good points and track with what I've seen for other kids with late summer/fall birthdays.

Parents get so excited about their 4 year old being ready for kindergarten and not having to pay for another year of nanny or daycare, but they forget the implications down the line in high school and college.

It’s not so much about paying for an extra year but how would your child feel being 18 all of senior year when most peers are in college. I have an older kid and cannot imagine holding them back, especially academically as they are in advanced classes.

My DD was just before the cut off and we sent her...no reason not to. She was successful. Went to an ivy. Has a great job. I did not read all pages but kids may not get an orchestra spot or struggle with a class regardless of age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are really good points and track with what I've seen for other kids with late summer/fall birthdays.

Parents get so excited about their 4 year old being ready for kindergarten and not having to pay for another year of nanny or daycare, but they forget the implications down the line in high school and college.

It’s not so much about paying for an extra year but how would your child feel being 18 all of senior year when most peers are in college. I have an older kid and cannot imagine holding them back, especially academically as they are in advanced classes.

But advanced academics is a moot point in high school. There are so many AP classes and DE classes now. I see zero downside to have a kid (especially boy) with a fall birthday starting K later rather earlier. We did this with my super advanced son and it was definitely the right decision. He wasn’t even immature or socially off, and it still was the right decision. Would he have been fine starting K at 4? Yes, I think he would have. But now he has extra time to get in many AP and college classes while still in high school (and either public school paying).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are really good points and track with what I've seen for other kids with late summer/fall birthdays.

Parents get so excited about their 4 year old being ready for kindergarten and not having to pay for another year of nanny or daycare, but they forget the implications down the line in high school and college.

It’s not so much about paying for an extra year but how would your child feel being 18 all of senior year when most peers are in college. I have an older kid and cannot imagine holding them back, especially academically as they are in advanced classes.

But advanced academics is a moot point in high school. There are so many AP classes and DE classes now. I see zero downside to have a kid (especially boy) with a fall birthday starting K later rather earlier. We did this with my super advanced son and it was definitely the right decision. He wasn’t even immature or socially off, and it still was the right decision. Would he have been fine starting K at 4? Yes, I think he would have. But now he has extra time to get in many AP and college classes while still in high school (and either public school paying).

As a girl, I ended up going through early puberty. I was 5 feet tall in 4th grade as a 9 year old. It was difficult enough. I can't imagine how much harder it would've been if my parents had redshirted me (something they strongly considered).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are really good points and track with what I've seen for other kids with late summer/fall birthdays.

Parents get so excited about their 4 year old being ready for kindergarten and not having to pay for another year of nanny or daycare, but they forget the implications down the line in high school and college.

It’s not so much about paying for an extra year but how would your child feel being 18 all of senior year when most peers are in college. I have an older kid and cannot imagine holding them back, especially academically as they are in advanced classes.

Yo lady my September and November birthday kids will be 18 all senior year. Take your outdated information and shove it. Most of their peers are right there with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are really good points and track with what I've seen for other kids with late summer/fall birthdays.

Parents get so excited about their 4 year old being ready for kindergarten and not having to pay for another year of nanny or daycare, but they forget the implications down the line in high school and college.

It’s not so much about paying for an extra year but how would your child feel being 18 all of senior year when most peers are in college. I have an older kid and cannot imagine holding them back, especially academically as they are in advanced classes.

But advanced academics is a moot point in high school. There are so many AP classes and DE classes now. I see zero downside to have a kid (especially boy) with a fall birthday starting K later rather earlier. We did this with my super advanced son and it was definitely the right decision. He wasn’t even immature or socially off, and it still was the right decision. Would he have been fine starting K at 4? Yes, I think he would have. But now he has extra time to get in many AP and college classes while still in high school (and either public school paying).

As a girl, I ended up going through early puberty. I was 5 feet tall in 4th grade as a 9 year old. It was difficult enough. I can't imagine how much harder it would've been if my parents had redshirted me (something they strongly considered).

My old for grade kids based on birthdays are late bloomers getting mocked for being short by the taller kids. You never know. And it's a boon for boys to be early bloomers.

[Anonymous]

My DS was on the cusp of the cut-off by days, and I'm so glad we chose to wait. He's a senior now, and looking back it is clear that the extra time helped him socially and athletically. He would have been fine from an academic standpoint, but he truly benefitted in the early years in having the extra time to mature and work on his social skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Had a friend who started her daughter early--she was "ready." Saw her ten years later. She said, "why didn't anyone tell me about high school?" Each child is different, but 4 year olds do not belong in K..

Why didn't she repeat 8th or 9th grade then?