This age discrepancy due to "redshirting" is ridiculous

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know. It's weird that my 4 year old is in a kindergarten class with a boy who just turned 7.

Sounds like the child needed to repeat the year if he has already turned 7.

Then he should be in a special class for slower kids.

Yes, any child that has to repeat a grade because they are behind academically "should be in a special class for slower kids" instead of in a class with your snowflake

[Anonymous]

Schools have always made kids who were slower repeat grades.

[Anonymous]

In fact studies show redshirting results in application of incorrect behavioral expectations to the rest of the class.

Could you post a link to one of these studies please? I haven't seen any of these before and I'd be interested to read more about this topic.

[Anonymous]

Other countries send their kids to school at later ages and that works well. Is it possible that we are pushing academics down to earlier and earlier ages that are inappropriate for most kids?
K used to be all about play. Lots of people in their 50's and 60's are very successful in life, many of whom never even went to kindergarten. Are we shortchanging our kids in other areas by making K all about academics?

[Anonymous]

Other countries send their kids to school at later ages and that works well. Is it possible that we are pushing academics down to earlier and earlier ages that are inappropriate for most kids?
K used to be all about play. Lots of people in their 50's and 60's are very successful in life, many of whom never even went to kindergarten. Are we shortchanging our kids in other areas by making K all about academics?

Answer: Absolutely yes!

[Anonymous]

My daughter turned seven during Kindergarten. She is 40 inches tall and weighs 33 pounds. I don't see how her being in a classroom with your child impacts him in any way. She's hardly a threatening menace either physically or academically. She's where she needs to be and that's my main concern. My other concern is not wanting her to be harassed by four and five year olds who outweigh her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know. It's weird that my 4 year old is in a kindergarten class with a boy who just turned 7.

Sounds like the child needed to repeat the year if he has already turned 7.

Then he should be in a special class for slower kids.

You should google "least restrictive environment" and try to be a little smarter.

[Anonymous]

7 in kindergarten????? that doesnt seem right

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know. It's weird that my 4 year old is in a kindergarten class with a boy who just turned 7.

This happens in K-1 classes, but from your post, it doesn't sound like a K-1 class.

When will your 4 year old be turning 5?

[Anonymous]

The reason parents do this is simple: many, many 5yos, especially boys, are not physically ready to sit quietly for a full-day class working on fine-motor tasks like writing with only one short recess period per day. That is not an age-appropriate expectation, but it is what we expect of kindergarteners now. I have the money to send my wiggly 5-year-old who struggles with handwriting into a private school with lots of outdoor time and small class sizes that allow him to learn at his own speed. But if I had to go public or redshirt, you can bet I'd be redshirting in a heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reason parents do this is simple: many, many 5yos, especially boys, are not physically ready to sit quietly for a full-day class working on fine-motor tasks like writing with only one short recess period per day. That is not an age-appropriate expectation, but it is what we expect of kindergarteners now. I have the money to send my wiggly 5-year-old who struggles with handwriting into a private school with lots of outdoor time and small class sizes that allow him to learn at his own speed. But if I had to go public or redshirt, you can bet I'd be redshirting in a heartbeat.

That is what they are supposed to learn in preschool. Instead everything is play based and they are not gaining the skills to sit down, work, follow directions. My 3 year old who is very active with delays can sit, no recess for hours to get work done. Look at your parenting and the school. We changed preschools form 2-3. The two had no expectations but to play. He is now in a very structured program, with some play, and is thriving. I think its a general assumption like you are making and it does not apply to all kids. If we have to hold back our child due to birthday, it will be a disaster as there are few affordable that are a true prek that will give him the academic and other skills he needs. You supplement with physical activities after school, but I want school to be a learning process with academics. He can get plenty of park and activity time after school and on the weekends.

Try an OT for the handwriting.

[Anonymous]

For KG you have a few options...just turned 5 during the summer and will turn 6 after KG is over, turned 5 during PreK and will turn 6 during the KG year, or will not turn 5 until after KG begins, and will not turn 6 until after 1st grade begins. Our DC was in the last boat and we redshirted. Why? KG is full day, I am a SAHM, and only did PreK for 1 year. Best decision we ever made. DC was always beyond in academics, even as a toddler; however, we felt that being the youngest in academia would not be right or just for DC. DC is brilliant and could go to college in lieu of HS, but we won't send to college early, either, as there are too many negatives when it comes to being the youngest. If you can afford to wait another year, hold 'em back and enjoy them. For many on this board it is really about money and free day care, er KG, when deciding on summer or early fall birthdays and redshirting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reason parents do this is simple: many, many 5yos, especially boys, are not physically ready to sit quietly for a full-day class working on fine-motor tasks like writing with only one short recess period per day. That is not an age-appropriate expectation, but it is what we expect of kindergarteners now. I have the money to send my wiggly 5-year-old who struggles with handwriting into a private school with lots of outdoor time and small class sizes that allow him to learn at his own speed. But if I had to go public or redshirt, you can bet I'd be redshirting in a heartbeat.

++1

Kindergarten is no longer what it use to be. Kids are expected to sit still for the whole day - full day not half day! This is hard on boys (and I'm sure some girls). I'm sure when they change Kindergarten to be what it originally was - worksheet free learning!! Parents will stop redshirting. I have two summer boys. One we redshirted and one we didn't. Both boys are doing fine. Every child is different. Redshirting has been around for years. My 30 year old brother was redshirted in kindergarten. My mom said it was the best choice she ever made.

But, mind your own business. Who cares how old the kids are. Let each kid grow at their own rate. The girls are still going to be bigger than the boys from 4 - 6th grade. And the boys will still be dorks till high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reason parents do this is simple: many, many 5yos, especially boys, are not physically ready to sit quietly for a full-day class working on fine-motor tasks like writing with only one short recess period per day. That is not an age-appropriate expectation, but it is what we expect of kindergarteners now. I have the money to send my wiggly 5-year-old who struggles with handwriting into a private school with lots of outdoor time and small class sizes that allow him to learn at his own speed. But if I had to go public or redshirt, you can bet I'd be redshirting in a heartbeat.

That is what they are supposed to learn in preschool. Instead everything is play based and they are not gaining the skills to sit down, work, follow directions. My 3 year old who is very active with delays can sit, no recess for hours to get work done. Look at your parenting and the school. We changed preschools form 2-3. The two had no expectations but to play. He is now in a very structured program, with some play, and is thriving. I think its a general assumption like you are making and it does not apply to all kids. If we have to hold back our child due to birthday, it will be a disaster as there are few affordable that are a true prek that will give him the academic and other skills he needs. You supplement with physical activities after school, but I want school to be a learning process with academics. He can get plenty of park and activity time after school and on the weekends.

Try an OT for the handwriting.

Say what?!? Have you read anything about child development?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reason parents do this is simple: many, many 5yos, especially boys, are not physically ready to sit quietly for a full-day class working on fine-motor tasks like writing with only one short recess period per day. That is not an age-appropriate expectation, but it is what we expect of kindergarteners now. I have the money to send my wiggly 5-year-old who struggles with handwriting into a private school with lots of outdoor time and small class sizes that allow him to learn at his own speed. But if I had to go public or redshirt, you can bet I'd be redshirting in a heartbeat.

That is what they are supposed to learn in preschool. Instead everything is play based and they are not gaining the skills to sit down, work, follow directions. My 3 year old who is very active with delays can sit, no recess for hours to get work done. Look at your parenting and the school. We changed preschools form 2-3. The two had no expectations but to play. He is now in a very structured program, with some play, and is thriving. I think its a general assumption like you are making and it does not apply to all kids. If we have to hold back our child due to birthday, it will be a disaster as there are few affordable that are a true prek that will give him the academic and other skills he needs. You supplement with physical activities after school, but I want school to be a learning process with academics. He can get plenty of park and activity time after school and on the weekends.

Try an OT for the handwriting.

Clearly you know nothing about child development and what are appropriate age-based activities. It is very sad and harmful to make a 3 year old child sit for hours "to get work done.". Additionally, there is a lot do evidence that it is actually very harmful in the long run to take that sort of approach.