Almost 7 year old in kindergarten!!

[Anonymous]

We redshirted our daughter on the recommendation of her preschool. She towers over the boys, will hit puberty earlier and be the first to drive. We considered all the above in our decision. She wasn't ready for K and happened to have a late cutoff bday.

Sibling could have gone 6 months early at 4. She was ready. Wasn't an option, but would have sent her early had it been an option.

In sum, parent the kid, not some social norm age idea of readiness. Kids are different. Stop judging from the outside.

[Anonymous]

I don't see what is so threatening about a limit by a month or two to redshirting and early admittance without evidence to back up the reason for either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You are insane if you dont think there are major developmental differences between early elementary kids who are 12-18 months apart.
- new poser

If there is only one first day of school per year, there will already be a 12-month range. Maybe you think that there should be two first days of school per year, one in September and one in March? If you turn 5 between March and September, you start in September in Kindergarten A, but if you turn 5 between September and March, you start in March in Kindergarten B?

While there are some schools that do this, no, it's not necessary. A 12 month range is normal and expected, isn't it? An 18 month range is very large, not normal and not expected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MYOB.

I disagree with this attitude. Those who put kids in Kindergarten who will be turning 7 DO affect others. I should be able to send my summer child on time without kids being THAT much older than them (unless there was good reason). Now my kid, who is following the age guidelines, is going to feel short or possibly behind in someway, when really they should be within the standard of normal. Older kids in the class also change the teachers expectations of normal, and therefore DO affect others!

My March birthday son ended up being one the youngest in his class and happens to be one of the smallest as well. All the summer birthday boys were already 6 when they started kindergarten and then the rest of the boys turned 6 by December. DS (born late March) and one other boy (born in May) were the 2 youngest boys. The other boys born in the late spring/summer were redshirted. Someone has to be the youngest and smallest. In our class, it is my son.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You are insane if you dont think there are major developmental differences between early elementary kids who are 12-18 months apart.
- new poser

If there is only one first day of school per year, there will already be a 12-month range. Maybe you think that there should be two first days of school per year, one in September and one in March? If you turn 5 between March and September, you start in September in Kindergarten A, but if you turn 5 between September and March, you start in March in Kindergarten B?

While there are some schools that do this, no, it's not necessary. A 12 month range is normal and expected, isn't it? An 18 month range is very large, not normal and not expected.

An 18 month range is 6 months larger than a 12 month range. That's a lot when Person A and Person B are babies; a whole lot less when Person A and Person B are in kindergarten; and basically nothing by the time Person A and Person B get to high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are many legitimate reasons to start kids in kindergarten a year later. Why on earth do people care!? My child will turn 6 right after school starts due to their birthday, so would be 7 most of kindergarten if held back (which we considered due to adoption at an older age). My sister's kids were born 3 months early and she doesn't plan to start them on time since they really are 3 months younger than their stated birthday.

People care because K is meant for 5 year olds. That's why.

What happens after they turn 6? Off to first grade?

And some kids will turn 6 right after starting K. And those aren't reds-hirted kids. They are on-time kids with Fall birthdays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't see what is so threatening about a limit by a month or two to redshirting and early admittance without evidence to back up the reason for either.

Sounds fair to me. My pediatrician was ready to back me up in holding back DD if it was needed (which it wasn't). But we would have happily provided it had their been any questions. DD is only 6 weeks from the cut off anyway.

[Anonymous]

Hey OP, one of my kindergarten students just celebrated his 7th birthday at school. Everyone was totally cool with it! Just wanted to keep you updated--so far all the children are still alive. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey OP, one of my kindergarten students just celebrated his 7th birthday at school. Everyone was totally cool with it! Just wanted to keep you updated--so far all the children are still alive. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

And how many kids in your class started at age 4 turning 5 in September per the actual cutoff?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey OP, one of my kindergarten students just celebrated his 7th birthday at school. Everyone was totally cool with it! Just wanted to keep you updated--so far all the children are still alive. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

And how many kids in your class started at age 4 turning 5 in September per the actual cutoff?

Cutoff is Sept. 1 in my district. No 4-year-olds this year, and two kids turned 6 in September.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All you people who think it's nbd, sure, maybe not in ES, but once in MS and HS, these 2 yr older boys will be in the same class as your on-time girls.

an 11 yr old 6th grader girl in class with a 13 yr old boy.
A 13 yr old 8th grader girl in class with a 15 yr old boy.

This boy will be almost 21 by the time he graduates HS.

A boy's maturity level will probably change as he gets older. What seems like an immature kid in K, may be a bit too mature by 10th grade because he will be 17. I wonder how that boy will feel knowing that he is 17 in 10th grade.

That's the business of the boy's parents. It's not my business, and it's not yours, either.

Also, here is what you're saying: "I am worried about older boys in my daughter's classes, so you should not be allowed to redshirt your son."

Also, could you please explain how, exactly, somebody would be "almost 21" when they graduate from high school? I know somebody with a winter birthday who was redshirted. She is in seventh grade and turned 14 a few months ago. When she graduates from high school, she will be 19 and several months. I don't consider that "almost 21".

And that's the great this about this forum. I can talk about things that are normally none of my business. And yes, I care about what other people do that may affect my child. No, I'm not a helicopter mom, but I care about my kids' environment in class.

I care too. Because it's a "trend" -- it's not a one off thing. It's not good for the kids who are held back or for the kids who are the regular age.

Its a trend in some of the wealthier suburbs of DC but not in general I don't think.

It is a big trend in Charlotte, NC. I don't know anyone who didn't hold their boy with a summer birthday back. My son with an April birthday is now the young one. One child turned 7 before he turned 6. So I don't think this is a regional thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey OP, one of my kindergarten students just celebrated his 7th birthday at school. Everyone was totally cool with it! Just wanted to keep you updated--so far all the children are still alive. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

And how many kids in your class started at age 4 turning 5 in September per the actual cutoff?

Cutoff is Sept. 1 in my district. No 4-year-olds this year, and two kids turned 6 in September.

Did you send them to first grade after their birthdays? I read on DCUM that kindergarten is for five-year-olds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey OP, one of my kindergarten students just celebrated his 7th birthday at school. Everyone was totally cool with it! Just wanted to keep you updated--so far all the children are still alive. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

And how many kids in your class started at age 4 turning 5 in September per the actual cutoff?

Cutoff is Sept. 1 in my district. No 4-year-olds this year, and two kids turned 6 in September.

Ok then. How many August boys started who just turned 5?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey OP, one of my kindergarten students just celebrated his 7th birthday at school. Everyone was totally cool with it! Just wanted to keep you updated--so far all the children are still alive. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

And how many kids in your class started at age 4 turning 5 in September per the actual cutoff?

Cutoff is Sept. 1 in my district. No 4-year-olds this year, and two kids turned 6 in September.

Ok then. How many August boys started who just turned 5?

no idea - who cares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey OP, one of my kindergarten students just celebrated his 7th birthday at school. Everyone was totally cool with it! Just wanted to keep you updated--so far all the children are still alive. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

And how many kids in your class started at age 4 turning 5 in September per the actual cutoff?

Cutoff is Sept. 1 in my district. No 4-year-olds this year, and two kids turned 6 in September.

Did you send them to first grade after their birthdays? I read on DCUM that kindergarten is for five-year-olds.

I will say, as the parent of a 5 year old in kindergarten (who is by far the youngest child in the class and was 4 when she started in September), this thread is the first I've heard that kindergarten is not for 5 year olds but is actually for 6 year olds. Learn something new every day.