Genuinely don't get why redshirting in K is allowed

[Anonymous]

I also hate the parents who redshirt. There should be a clear std for red shirting. Allowing parents to "decide" whether their child is ready for k or not is ridiculous.

Why do you care? Kindergarten isn't mandatory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why aren't the rules the rules? Why isn't the deadline hard and fast?

The cut-off in our area is September 1st, and DS was born September 9th. At first, we were somewhat relieved that he would have to wait till he was almost 6, but in the months leading up to his 5th birthday, it was very clear that he was ready for K and that waiting another year would drive him crazy. So we had him take an early entrance and he passed with flying colors, so he started kindergarten right before he turned 5. So technically, we didn't follow the rules either. Why? Because if we had just blindly followed the guidelines, he would be bored to tears. He's now 8 and in 3rd grade, reading at a 5th grade level, gets his work done early, and his teacher still has to find extra work to give him. I can't imagine what it would be like if he were in 2nd grade. The bottom line is that not one size fits all. If we had a child who made the cut-off, but had not been ready for K, we would have held him or her back. Kids need to be grouped by ability, not age. Just because a child misses the cut-off does not mean that he or she isn't ready for K, and just because a child makes the cut-off does not mean that he or she is ready for K. It all boils down to the individual.

but technically, you did follow the rules. you didn't just barge your way into K early. instead, your son took and passed the early entrance exam. those who pass go early, those who don't wait another year. got it?

I do get it. The point I was trying to make is that just like there are kids who are ready to go earlier than when they're "supposed to", there are kids who who aren't ready to go when they're "supposed to".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a kid who was in the sixth percentile for height and weight for years, even though she was academically very bright. There were times in kindergarten, first and second grade that I actually worried that she would get hurt because some of the kids were so much bigger than she was.
I also had kids who were at the extreme ends of the bell curve in terms of maturing late. One daughter got her period when she was 16. I think the humiliation and embarrassment of not having boobs, etc. in tenth grade was probably greater since there were kids getting their periods in fifth grade -- and it wasn't because of hormones in the chicken, etc. but rather because they were 12 years old in fifth grade.

In short, I think that the kids who are really small for their age or who mature late can be somewhat affected by routinely being in classes with kids so much bigger and older than they are. And yes, you could have said we should have held our kids back but 1. we couldn't afford the extra years of daycare and 2. we kept thinking our kids would mature and join the rest of the pack but they never did -- until 11th grade.

Unless at 5 you had a crystal ball telling you when said daughter was going to get her period.... What is the point of your story? You should have held her back 4 years to make her comfortable around all of the kids who menstruated at 12?? I was a June bday who went on time and was the last girl in my class to get my period (small private) at 15. Should my parents have held me back? What garbage. I learned that everyone is the first and someone has to be the last to get or do SOMETHING in life. Talk about helicopter parenting.

You people sound insane! Send your kids to school on time and stop micromanaging their loves!

-mom of three summer birthdays (2 boys) who all went on time and are thriving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I also hate the parents who redshirt. There should be a clear std for red shirting. Allowing parents to "decide" whether their child is ready for k or not is ridiculous.

Why do you care? Kindergarten isn't mandatory.

It's this attitude. Why does t matter? Kindergarten isn't mandatory. Okayyyyy. Did your redshirt your child?

[Anonymous]

I've met a few mins this year who have literally told me, "oh I have one ds in preK. He's a summer birthday so we decided to send him to K next year." A summer birthday doesn't mean you should hold your child back.

[Anonymous]

It's this attitude. Why does t matter? Kindergarten isn't mandatory. Okayyyyy. Did your redshirt your child?

Nope. Kind of wish I had.