Not redshirting our May birthday boy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is an old thread.

But the topic never dies!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is an old thread.

The person who revived it specifically asked if the OP could share how the child was doing now.

I’m not the OP, but my non redshirted June boy is doing fine on the cusp of high school. He’s doing great academically and is fine socially. He is one of the smaller kids in his grade, but would be if he was in 7th as well. He’s just small. He has non redshirted, summer birthday friends who are some of the bigger boys in the class. I don’t regret starting him on time.

[Anonymous]

The OP’s son would have entered school in the fall of 2019 or fall of 2020. Either way, the first years were rough.

[Anonymous]

Don’t do this. It’s a stupid idea.

[Anonymous]

Warning: If you have as smart child DO NOT hold back. Your child will be SO bored. Standards are ridiculously low in public school. They are still counting to 100 and learning shapes in 1st grade!

[Anonymous]

We did not redshirt our August boy. No issues so far.

[Anonymous]

We did not redshirt a late May boy. He's now a 5'5" 11 year old 6th grader. He's no more immature than any other 6th grader.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are in a wealthy public school district where the majority of parents who have February to August birthdays are choosing to redshirt their boys so they will be 6 when starting Kinder. My son’s teacher has not indicated he should be held back however I have a number of friends who work in elementary education who said they would without a doubt hold a late May birthday back.

Through preschool, our tight knit community and several activities over the last few years, my son knows a large number of kids that will be in his grade if he goes on time as planned. At least a dozen or so he is very comfortable with and sees and plays with regularly.

I am inclined to send him on time (incoming 2020 Kinder) when we will be 5 years old and 3 months and not hold him back, however a part of me is hesitant because he will be the absolute youngest in the grade and there will be children a full 1.5 years older than him. Am I making a mistake here? Any advice.

There is no way either of these things will be true. I have an end of June kid who went on time and there are at least 3-4 kids younger than him in the grade (kids born in July-august who also went on time). No way a May bday will be the youngest in the class. Also there will not be kids a full 1.5 years older. To be 1.5 years older than a May kid, the older kid would have to be born in November and redshirted. I have been a teacher for many years and never heard of a November bday kid being held back. That’s insanity. Oldest kid I know of who was redshirted was an April bday and even that was ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in a wealthy public school district where the majority of parents who have February to August birthdays are choosing to redshirt their boys so they will be 6 when starting Kinder. My son’s teacher has not indicated he should be held back however I have a number of friends who work in elementary education who said they would without a doubt hold a late May birthday back.

Through preschool, our tight knit community and several activities over the last few years, my son knows a large number of kids that will be in his grade if he goes on time as planned. At least a dozen or so he is very comfortable with and sees and plays with regularly.

I am inclined to send him on time (incoming 2020 Kinder) when we will be 5 years old and 3 months and not hold him back, however a part of me is hesitant because he will be the absolute youngest in the grade and there will be children a full 1.5 years older than him. Am I making a mistake here? Any advice.

There is no way either of these things will be true. I have an end of June kid who went on time and there are at least 3-4 kids younger than him in the grade (kids born in July-august who also went on time). No way a May bday will be the youngest in the class. Also there will not be kids a full 1.5 years older. To be 1.5 years older than a May kid, the older kid would have to be born in November and redshirted. I have been a teacher for many years and never heard of a November bday kid being held back. That’s insanity. Oldest kid I know of who was redshirted was an April bday and even that was ridiculous.

Omg sorry just saw that this thread is 5 years old!

[Anonymous]

WTH?? Of course you send him on time. This is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Warning: If you have as smart child DO NOT hold back. Your child will be SO bored. Standards are ridiculously low in public school. They are still counting to 100 and learning shapes in 1st grade!

It your kid is smart, they will STILL be bored without redshirting. You will still be heavily supplementing them at home if you want them to have academic growth and be challenged. So you might as well put them in the grade you feel their will fit in the best socially.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Warning: If you have as smart child DO NOT hold back. Your child will be SO bored. Standards are ridiculously low in public school. They are still counting to 100 and learning shapes in 1st grade!

It your kid is smart, they will STILL be bored without redshirting. You will still be heavily supplementing them at home if you want them to have academic growth and be challenged. So you might as well put them in the grade you feel their will fit in the best socially.

I agree with this for the average, bright child. DS2 made the cutoff by three days and didn't turn five until after the school year had started. He would've been soooo bored if we'd kept him back. Kindergarten is really easy, especially for a bright kid who'd already been in school (we came from a full-day Montessori program).

But every kid is different. I regret NOT holding my DS1 back with a summer birthday. He was so very verbal and advanced at 5. Now at 10, he has been diagnosed with ADHD and finds some social situations challenging. A year to mature and work on executive functioning skills would've likely benefitted him. The gap would've appear as big. He's also bright, but has a hard time getting his work done. . . . . . I don't care about sports.

DS2 is very different from his brother and is able to following directions and stay focused in a way DS1 still can't do. DS2 perceives a challenge and conquers it. Hence sending DS2 on time even after regretting not redshirting DS1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A MAY birthday?? Where the heck is this and what is the official cut off?

That's insane. These kids will need a class on shaving in elementary school.

+1 My June boy went on time. I predict soon we will have parents holding back children so much that these kids will be 7 when entering Ker.

+100 OP, you don't get a cookie for sending your kid to school on time. A May birthday is not abnormal. Unless your kid is struggling, why not send them to the grade level they're supposed to be in.

[Anonymous]

I’m pro redshirting of summer birthdays. February is NUTS. August, redshirt. June July, case by case. Everyone else should go on time.