Redshirt mom vs. Tiger mom -- seeking a competitive advantage?

[Anonymous]

Tiger moms usually prefer acceleration rather than red-shirting their kids (for example: teach 3 year olds to do 3rd grade math or skip a couple of grade in elementary school.

This observation is generally on mark in this country. The poor in this country can't afford to redshirt. Most of the poor do not know what this is. Redshirting is a foreign concept.

African and Asian immigrant children in this country prefer acceleration rather than red-shirting. Children are raised closer to the philosphy of Tiger mom rather than Redshirt mom. The belief, only with superb academic performance can children overcome the barriers to entry (subtle and not so subtle) to the American dream. These mothers and children are hesitant to leave potential success of their loved ones to chance and forces beyond their control!

[Anonymous]

My dear friend immigrated as a child. She is a fierce tiger mom who also chose to redshirt to give her child the competitive edge academically and in sports since he would be the oldest male in the class. Redshirting in her view gave him an additional competitive edge due to maturity.

Immigrated from where (Canada)... northern or southern hemishere?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Redshirt mom vs. Tiger mom -- seeking a competitive advantage?

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7400898n&tag=contentBody;storyMediaBox



They both make me want to puke.

We always train our kids to exercise some self control with these intestinal affairs.

[Anonymous]

I lot of schools around the DC area highly encourage, if not require, you to redshirt summer birthday boys - so often it's not the mom's decision or personality, it's the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lot of schools around the DC area highly encourage, if not require, you to redshirt summer birthday boys - so often it's not the mom's decision or personality, it's the school.

GDS has several summer birthday boys who are in PK and K "on time." I assume, given GDS' competitiveness for admissions, that the school could have filled their classes with only red-shirted or non-summer boys, but that is not the case. I can't speak for other schools, but I applaud GDS' very sane approach.

[Anonymous]

I lot of schools around the DC area highly encourage, if not require, you to redshirt summer birthday boys - so often it's not the mom's decision or personality, it's the school.

Are these the elite, prestigious or run of the mill private schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lot of schools around the DC area highly encourage, if not require, you to redshirt summer birthday boys - so often it's not the mom's decision or personality, it's the school.

GDS has several summer birthday boys who are in PK and K "on time." I assume, given GDS' competitiveness for admissions, that the school could have filled their classes with only red-shirted or non-summer boys, but that is not the case. I can't speak for other schools, but I applaud GDS' very sane approach.

Is 25% boys of the summer birthday boys? And you know that they are turning 6 and not 7, right? Also make sure they are not asked to repeat next year. I hope it is

[Anonymous]

PP continuation

I hope it turns out to be 5 year olds and 25% of the class but that is not what I have seen, heard or experienced at other schools. GDS could be the exception.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP continuation

I hope it turns out to be 5 year olds and 25% of the class but that is not what I have seen, heard or experienced at other schools. GDS could be the exception.

Yes, these children are "on time," turning entering PK at age 4 and entering K at age 5, turning 5 and 6 respectively during the summer. GDS may be the exception, I don't know.

I believe that parents are speculating that their children didn't get accepted into these competitive private schools because of their summer birthdays, when in fact admissions to these schools is largely a game of numbers. Summer, non-red-shirted boys do get accepted into these schools. But the simple fact of the matter is that your child may not have gotten in even with a fall birthday. When you have 200 children applying for 20 spots, and half of those are reserved for sibs/alum/faculty/staff, the numbers work against you.

[Anonymous]

Boys near the cutoff redshirting seems to be a generally good proposition. Girls mature earlier than boys and boys a half year to a year older would make things more equal in the middle and high school years. I was one of the youngest boys in my class and it sucked because I was smaller and got bullied. Academically I was fine, but male respect in school is about social dominance and athleticism - I was ok in the latter but terrible inthe former.

[Anonymous]

My summer boy was accepted into a "top 3" for pre-k, he will be 4 when he starts and he is on the small side. I hope he will be okay--that 60 minutes episode made me nervous!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My summer boy was accepted into a "top 3" for pre-k, he will be 4 when he starts and he is on the small side. I hope he will be okay--that 60 minutes episode made me nervous!

These admissions officers know their stuff. They've seen THOUSANDS of children pass through their doors. If they believe that your child will do well, trust them. There are a lot of bigger, older children to whom they could have offered a coveted slot. Congratulations!

[Anonymous]

Thanks, that really did make me feel better!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of my dearest friends is a red-shirting tiger mom. What a combination! Love her dearly even though we have very different parenting styles. I understand that her child-rearing is in keeping with cultural norms. She loves her boys dearly and is doing what she believes will help them be successful in life. Isn't that what all good parents do? The fact that I disagree with her approach doesn't mean that she is a horrible mom, anymore than my more laid back approach makes me a horrible mom. We respect one another's differences and have actually learned a thing or two from the other person's approach and have gained an understanding of the cultural and societal differences driving our decisions.

This except we're related. Their kids got tutored to get into GT. I don't say anything but feel sorry for their kids. When parents are like this it's more about them not their kids.

[Anonymous]

Most folk I know prepare their kids to get into GT (pre-K, after school enrichment, summer enrichment). Some for 4 to 6 years, others in crash course fashion the fall of the application process. Which did you do? Or your child did not get in and you are jealous and rationalise this because you neither offered your child a crash course or enriched her intellectually overtime at home?