Redshirting- when to hold back?

[Anonymous]

In general, most preschools (and many daycares, which at preschool age will usually be structured like a preschool) have relatively hard age boundaries. Your son is nowhere near a cut-off date, so you can expect that they will want to move him with his age cohort.

Also note that at those young ages, ratios matter. For instance, they are almost certain to object to a 3-year-old being with the twos, because their legally-mandated teacher-child ratio is smaller in the twos. So they will not want to keep a kid in the younger classroom if they can avoid doing so.

Also, it's nonsensical to do it at the earlier age. Two and three-year olds are really different from each other in both physical and cognitive aspects. Ditto three and four year olds. And you will see very different constructs and expectations for things like the potty, food, etc.

You have no idea what your kid will be like a few years down the line. Redshirting a kid who is developmentally normal and capable of doing age-appropriate schoolwork and behaving in an age-appropriate way doesn't make sense, and many schools will push back if that's what you want to do.

Make that decision as late as possible, and don't repeat anything. If for some reason you absolutely insist on redshirting (such as wanting your kid to have an edge for sports), do a transitional K year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Answer: when he is 4, decide whether to enroll him in a TK or Jr K program or send him to public or private kindergarten

This. I don't think you should decide anything now. He's only 2.

[Anonymous]

I have a June boy so I've floated this question in my head a few times too. He is 3 now. It seemed ridiculous to keep him with the 2 year olds another year at his preschool- when I pick him up, the 2 year olds look like little babies compared to him and the other 3 year olds. I'm assuming I'll feel the same next year when he's in 4s and I see the 3s class. I think the time to decide is after the 4s year, if your kiddo seems less mature and not ready for K then he repeats the 4s year or does a transitional half day K program at different school. Before that I think it's just too early to tell.

[Anonymous]

There is no reason to redshirt a child unless s/he is developmentally or academically behind. It is far too early for you to know that now.

[Anonymous]

I actually did what you are contemplating, OP, holding him back early on before he's aware of it. But the difference are:

- my child's birthday was within days of the cutoff, not months -- 5 days to be exact. It was ok with the daycare/preschool director because the rule was I am was a 1 year age span in the classroom. Because there wasn't a child who was born at the same time or later the following year, it was ok. But your kid is a few months from a cutoff so if he gets put with the younger group, it could be more than a year span or whatever state laws mandate. Also it worked for my kid because there happened to be several kids with birthdays just after his so he had several kids close in age. Your kid if held back might be oldest by far by several months, and at that age, the differences are larger. I wouldn't want that.

- I was going to send my kid to private school which has a different earlier cutoff than public. So it wasn't necessarily redshirting as putting him on that different schedule from the beginning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no reason to redshirt a child unless s/he is developmentally or academically behind. It is far too early for you to know that now.

If your kid is developmentally or academically behind, like mine was, it actually makes more sense to send them so they can get the social and the supports at school.

[Anonymous]

I have a girl with a December bday and we live somewhere with a 9/30 cutoff.

I sent her to preschool where they let her start in the 2s class at 21 months. At the end of that year, they asked me if I wanted her to move up to the 3s class the following year. I said NO because I would rather her repeat the 2s than the 4s - and she wasn’t going to K early so she would have to repeat something at some point.

I would not redshirt a boy just because of a June bday, indeed I sent my boy with an august bday on time. That said, I wouldn’t hold back in the 2s class if I was considering redshirting. I would continue on track with preschool and give myself the opportunity to make a final decision right before K. And then find a Jr K program for the last year if needed.

[Anonymous]

I am redshirting my 5 year old girl born 5 days before the cutoff. We decided to keep her in preschool with her friends whom were redshirted or had October- Dec birthdays. We decided when she was 4/4.5. I think 2 is WAY too early. At this age the difference is huge. He will be in class next year with kids that are currently 1. Wait oP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no reason to redshirt a child unless s/he is developmentally or academically behind. It is far too early for you to know that now.

If your kid is developmentally or academically behind, like mine was, it actually makes more sense to send them so they can get the social and the supports at school.

This. Tons of research is available on the importance of early screening and intervention if there are concerns.

[Anonymous]

It does seem way too early for you to be making this decision. My son was born a month before the deadline here and we ended up sending him to Prek at public school just before he turned 4. He was obviously the youngest kid in the class and behind in many things. We knew early on that repeating PK would be a distinct possibility. Then in February/March, he started going on all cylinders. By May I'd already registered him to repeat PK but his teacher said, he is ready for Kindergarten. So he went to K (and actually wasn't the youngest in his class by far). He rocked K. He is doing amazing in 1st.

So, my point is...don't make this decision now...you have no idea where your kid will be when he will be four. He may be totally ready for K. He may not. But there is a huge difference between 2 and 4/5. Relax. You have time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am redshirting my 5 year old girl born 5 days before the cutoff. We decided to keep her in preschool with her friends whom were redshirted or had October- Dec birthdays. We decided when she was 4/4.5. I think 2 is WAY too early. At this age the difference is huge. He will be in class next year with kids that are currently 1. Wait oP

This makes no sense as the friends your kid has in preschool are going to be different than elementary school and beyond.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no reason to redshirt a child unless s/he is developmentally or academically behind. It is far too early for you to know that now.

If your kid is developmentally or academically behind, like mine was, it actually makes more sense to send them so they can get the social and the supports at school.

This. Tons of research is available on the importance of early screening and intervention if there are concerns.

I don't fully agree. You can get early intervention AND redshirt your child - I know families that have done this. Your doesn't have to go to kindergarten to get services on time. Redshirting and ignoring developmental issues is a bad idea.

We chose not to redshirt my child with an IEP, and while that has worked out academically (because he's very engaged with the academics and doing well, and it give him confidence) he would be much better off socially with kids a year behind him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no reason to redshirt a child unless s/he is developmentally or academically behind. It is far too early for you to know that now.

If your kid is developmentally or academically behind, like mine was, it actually makes more sense to send them so they can get the social and the supports at school.

This. Tons of research is available on the importance of early screening and intervention if there are concerns.

I don't fully agree. You can get early intervention AND redshirt your child - I know families that have done this. Your doesn't have to go to kindergarten to get services on time. Redshirting and ignoring developmental issues is a bad idea.

We chose not to redshirt my child with an IEP, and while that has worked out academically (because he's very engaged with the academics and doing well, and it give him confidence) he would be much better off socially with kids a year behind him.

I agree with you - sending on time isn't the right answer for every kid that is behind. Every situation is different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no reason to redshirt a child unless s/he is developmentally or academically behind. It is far too early for you to know that now.

If your kid is developmentally or academically behind, like mine was, it actually makes more sense to send them so they can get the social and the supports at school.

This. Tons of research is available on the importance of early screening and intervention if there are concerns.

I don't fully agree. You can get early intervention AND redshirt your child - I know families that have done this. Your doesn't have to go to kindergarten to get services on time. Redshirting and ignoring developmental issues is a bad idea.

We chose not to redshirt my child with an IEP, and while that has worked out academically (because he's very engaged with the academics and doing well, and it give him confidence) he would be much better off socially with kids a year behind him.

We had a child with serious delays and were told to hold back but it was also a cut off issue. It was a huge mistake and child skipped a grade to make up as they needed stronger academics and the stronger academics and older kids helped with the delays. Years later I only regret holding back, not pushing ahead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no reason to redshirt a child unless s/he is developmentally or academically behind. It is far too early for you to know that now.

If your kid is developmentally or academically behind, like mine was, it actually makes more sense to send them so they can get the social and the supports at school.

This. Tons of research is available on the importance of early screening and intervention if there are concerns.

I don't fully agree. You can get early intervention AND redshirt your child - I know families that have done this. Your doesn't have to go to kindergarten to get services on time. Redshirting and ignoring developmental issues is a bad idea.

We chose not to redshirt my child with an IEP, and while that has worked out academically (because he's very engaged with the academics and doing well, and it give him confidence) he would be much better off socially with kids a year behind him.

Most families are not getting adequate and intensive services. Some of us did intensive private but many just rely on the school system which is not even comparable.