Oldest kids in class do better, even through college - NPR

[Anonymous]

I have an October D.C. That's about to be the eldest in her 3 yo preschool class. I was hating that because she thrived with the older kids in daycare. She picked up so many advanced skills. I was feeling like she'd be "behind".


This article makes me feel better!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most "summer birthday boys"? Summer birthdays range from part of June through part of September. Who would redshirt a June or July kid?

So many in the DMV! I know it first hand, kids from public and private schools. While we get many pps here asking about skipping a grade, I can see that red shirting is actually more prevalent. I know a family that held both kids back by a year, they told kids that they can choose since they are June babies, so it is not being behind. It is an academic and athletic advantage, just depends on a family why they held kids back. I can count at least 15 kids on top of my head right now.

That is mind boggling.

In our private school, it seems the clear exception not to hold back a summer birthday boy. April/May is not uncommon. Most extreme redshirt I know of is family "re-classing" an October birthday (meaning he was one of the very oldest in the class before being redshirted) in sixth grade for the purpose of sports advantage alone.

[Anonymous]

I sent my son day's after he turned five. He wound up skipping a grade and graduating two months before turning 17. It was fine.

[Anonymous]

I sent my september kid who is the youngest. Best choice we made I cannot imagine him in a year lower. Public school is so slow and not challenging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most "summer birthday boys"? Summer birthdays range from part of June through part of September. Who would redshirt a June or July kid?

Tons of people. April and May, too.

That is pathetic.

Yep. My late August boy does laps around all of the older kids, physically and academically. It has actually served him well to be the youngest in the class, so I don't hold any grudges for all of the red shirts.

How has it "served him well?" Do you think maybe he would've been worse off if he were oldest, or in the middle? It sounds like it would be more accurate to say he would've done well no matter what.

[Anonymous]

I can only imagine these parents who redshirt are the same ones complaining when their kids aren't challenged enough because the teachers teach to the "slower" kids who "can't keep up."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most "summer birthday boys"? Summer birthdays range from part of June through part of September. Who would redshirt a June or July kid?

So many in the DMV! I know it first hand, kids from public and private schools. While we get many pps here asking about skipping a grade, I can see that red shirting is actually more prevalent. I know a family that held both kids back by a year, they told kids that they can choose since they are June babies, so it is not being behind. It is an academic and athletic advantage, just depends on a family why they held kids back. I can count at least 15 kids on top of my head right now.

This is why it was no question to us when our sept. birthday DD started school we "red-shirted" her. She would have started K as a 4 year old with boys who had turned 6 the previous April. Crazy.

[Anonymous]

Punahou school in Hawaii (the one Obama graduated from) has a very interesting way of dealing with "summer birthday boys" (under kindergarten admission)
http://www.punahou.edu/admission/index.aspx

I wish more schools would do the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Punahou school in Hawaii (the one Obama graduated from) has a very interesting way of dealing with "summer birthday boys" (under kindergarten admission)
http://www.punahou.edu/admission/index.aspx

I wish more schools would do the same.

Interesting! I've never seen that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most "summer birthday boys"? Summer birthdays range from part of June through part of September. Who would redshirt a June or July kid?

So many in the DMV! I know it first hand, kids from public and private schools. While we get many pps here asking about skipping a grade, I can see that red shirting is actually more prevalent. I know a family that held both kids back by a year, they told kids that they can choose since they are June babies, so it is not being behind. It is an academic and athletic advantage, just depends on a family why they held kids back. I can count at least 15 kids on top of my head right now.

That is mind boggling.

In our private school, it seems the clear exception not to hold back a summer birthday boy. April/May is not uncommon. Most extreme redshirt I know of is family "re-classing" an October birthday (meaning he was one of the very oldest in the class before being redshirted) in sixth grade for the purpose of sports advantage alone.

This is so fascinating to me. Had they earmarked him to be pro in a particular sport or something prior to K? If so, how did they decide on the sport? And if they wanted him to be pro, wouldn't it be better for him to get practice playing against bigger, faster kids to improve faster? Or was he just so dumb that they knew there's no way he'd get into college at all if not for an athletic scholarship/advantage?

[Anonymous]

This always makes me secretly glad for my middle of the pack January month kid.

[Anonymous]

I have a child who was born on cutoff day. She's also quite tiny.

Ugh. I hate this.

[Anonymous]

We red-shirted our son with a mid-August birthday and it worked out for him. He ended up playing a sport for an Ivy League University (being in this sport gave him a leg up in admission, without doubt although he was also an excellent student) and being a little older did give him a leg-up in his sport.

I don't regret starting him last and am not at all embarrassed that he was red-shirted. We made the best possible decision for our child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This always makes me secretly glad for my middle of the pack January month kid.

Yeah, uh, that kid will be one of the oldest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most "summer birthday boys"? Summer birthdays range from part of June through part of September. Who would redshirt a June or July kid?

So many in the DMV! I know it first hand, kids from public and private schools. While we get many pps here asking about skipping a grade, I can see that red shirting is actually more prevalent. I know a family that held both kids back by a year, they told kids that they can choose since they are June babies, so it is not being behind. It is an academic and athletic advantage, just depends on a family why they held kids back. I can count at least 15 kids on top of my head right now.

That is mind boggling.

In our private school, it seems the clear exception not to hold back a summer birthday boy. April/May is not uncommon. Most extreme redshirt I know of is family "re-classing" an October birthday (meaning he was one of the very oldest in the class before being redshirted) in sixth grade for the purpose of sports advantage alone.

It might make sense in Kindergarten, but based on your description this kid won't graduate high school until he's nearly 20. Extended adolescence.