How does your redshirted kid feel now that she/he is older?

Anonymous
I recommend spending the time to explore what options your school district offers. We have two with October birthdays. September 30 date for age cut. You could start as a 4 turning 5 quickly. We did that with our daughter. Both of us did the parent volunteer thing in the classroom a few times. We spoke with the teacher several times. We spoke with the Principal twice at length (she knew everything available in the district). Talked to counselors. Toured the middle school and spoke with the counselor there (that was the kicker).

Ultimately decided to repeat kindergarten. It mad our daughter a little sad, but she soon learned that several other girls she knew were also repeating. Huge huge difference with the repeat. So much so that with her October birthdate younger brother we knew to go with 1/2 day kindergarten then graduate to full day kindergarten.

Where you see the difference the year makes is middle school. The maturity gain in 6-8 grades and the positive effect that has on kids is a night and day difference. Our kids with January and February birthdays were smack in the middle of the mix and fine.


Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:That’s hilarious, lol! Go jeff!


Huh?


I am not the PP but I believe that poster is referring to Jeff’s analysis of anti-redshirt posters in this thread:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/weblog/update052423
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You can give your child another year of childhood and you have another year to save for college. Win/win.


This.

I was anti red shirt when my kids were younger (I am NOT the anti-red shirt poster). One DS went on-time with a summer birthday, which means he's a bit younger for his grade. Another DS went on-time but just two weeks after the cut-off. So, he's older than some of classmates but not those who red-shirted.

Now that my kids are in 5th and 8th respectively, I see that another year of at home before college isn't a bad thing at all. Those who were red-shirted might be more a little more mature for college. Who knows.


Wouldn’t a gap year then make sense and be more meaningful?


I’m a parent of a HS senior and the only kids I see taking gap years are those that are at risk of never going to college at all.

I don’t know any kids doing a “meaningful” gap year.


You don't know many kids then. Rich kids doing a gap year often get some one-year study or work thing in Europe. Middle class get an office type job or internship. Knew a rich kid who went to fancy culinary school right after hs and then off to an elite college for some STEM degree. It's not relevant to redshirting because starting K late doesn't preclude anyone from doing a gap year after hs.
Anonymous
I'll give you a different perspective - my DS is a late summer birthday and we did not redshirt him. He has always done well academically and we could tell when he was in preschool that he could handle a full day of kindergarten. He was ready. And he was tall for his age. So we didn 't redshirt. Well, now he's in high school, and it turns out he really likes sports, and he is the youngest and smallest on teams. We really do wish that we had redshirted him. Being the youngest can be socially awkward with friends too -- everyone gets licenses and hits physical milestones ahead of you in general. If you're even considering redshirting than I encourage you to just do it. Also, if you go the private school route, everyone with a summer birthday is held for the following year. Another thing I wish we'd realized. Fortunately, he's done absolutely fine academically and he's tall for his age.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I'll give you a different perspective - my DS is a late summer birthday and we did not redshirt him. He has always done well academically and we could tell when he was in preschool that he could handle a full day of kindergarten. He was ready. And he was tall for his age. So we didn 't redshirt. Well, now he's in high school, and it turns out he really likes sports, and he is the youngest and smallest on teams. We really do wish that we had redshirted him. Being the youngest can be socially awkward with friends too -- everyone gets licenses and hits physical milestones ahead of you in general. If you're even considering redshirting than I encourage you to just do it. Also, if you go the private school route, everyone with a summer birthday is held for the following year. Another thing I wish we'd realized. Fortunately, he's done absolutely fine academically and he's tall for his age.


It’s a hard decision. You should not kick yourself. I am sure your kid is going to thrive, he’s got a thoughtful parent!
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You can give your child another year of childhood and you have another year to save for college. Win/win.


This.

I was anti red shirt when my kids were younger (I am NOT the anti-red shirt poster). One DS went on-time with a summer birthday, which means he's a bit younger for his grade. Another DS went on-time but just two weeks after the cut-off. So, he's older than some of classmates but not those who red-shirted.

Now that my kids are in 5th and 8th respectively, I see that another year of at home before college isn't a bad thing at all. Those who were red-shirted might be more a little more mature for college. Who knows.


Wouldn’t a gap year then make sense and be more meaningful?


I’m a parent of a HS senior and the only kids I see taking gap years are those that are at risk of never going to college at all.

I don’t know any kids doing a “meaningful” gap year.


You don't know many kids then. Rich kids doing a gap year often get some one-year study or work thing in Europe. Middle class get an office type job or internship. Knew a rich kid who went to fancy culinary school right after hs and then off to an elite college for some STEM degree. It's not relevant to redshirting because starting K late doesn't preclude anyone from doing a gap year after hs.


I know lots of teens and no one does a gap year. That’s for kids with rich parents and we don’t run in those circles. In our home it’s college or job. There is not taking a year off and I support you.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I'll give you a different perspective - my DS is a late summer birthday and we did not redshirt him. He has always done well academically and we could tell when he was in preschool that he could handle a full day of kindergarten. He was ready. And he was tall for his age. So we didn 't redshirt. Well, now he's in high school, and it turns out he really likes sports, and he is the youngest and smallest on teams. We really do wish that we had redshirted him. Being the youngest can be socially awkward with friends too -- everyone gets licenses and hits physical milestones ahead of you in general. If you're even considering redshirting than I encourage you to just do it. Also, if you go the private school route, everyone with a summer birthday is held for the following year. Another thing I wish we'd realized. Fortunately, he's done absolutely fine academically and he's tall for his age.


I have no regrets not holding my child back. Their sport is by age so it does not matter what grade they are in and academics for us are the priority. Who cares if they get the license first. Mine got into advanced music and the sports team no issue as the youngest.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'll give you a different perspective - my DS is a late summer birthday and we did not redshirt him. He has always done well academically and we could tell when he was in preschool that he could handle a full day of kindergarten. He was ready. And he was tall for his age. So we didn 't redshirt. Well, now he's in high school, and it turns out he really likes sports, and he is the youngest and smallest on teams. We really do wish that we had redshirted him. Being the youngest can be socially awkward with friends too -- everyone gets licenses and hits physical milestones ahead of you in general. If you're even considering redshirting than I encourage you to just do it. Also, if you go the private school route, everyone with a summer birthday is held for the following year. Another thing I wish we'd realized. Fortunately, he's done absolutely fine academically and he's tall for his age.


I have no regrets not holding my child back. Their sport is by age so it does not matter what grade they are in and academics for us are the priority. Who cares if they get the license first. Mine got into advanced music and the sports team no issue as the youngest.


Yeah you’ve posted 27 times on this thread, *we know* your perspective.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'll give you a different perspective - my DS is a late summer birthday and we did not redshirt him. He has always done well academically and we could tell when he was in preschool that he could handle a full day of kindergarten. He was ready. And he was tall for his age. So we didn 't redshirt. Well, now he's in high school, and it turns out he really likes sports, and he is the youngest and smallest on teams. We really do wish that we had redshirted him. Being the youngest can be socially awkward with friends too -- everyone gets licenses and hits physical milestones ahead of you in general. If you're even considering redshirting than I encourage you to just do it. Also, if you go the private school route, everyone with a summer birthday is held for the following year. Another thing I wish we'd realized. Fortunately, he's done absolutely fine academically and he's tall for his age.


I have no regrets not holding my child back. Their sport is by age so it does not matter what grade they are in and academics for us are the priority. Who cares if they get the license first. Mine got into advanced music and the sports team no issue as the youngest.


Yeah you’ve posted 27 times on this thread, *we know* your perspective.


Lol 😂 +1
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:That’s hilarious, lol! Go jeff!


Huh?


I am not the PP but I believe that poster is referring to Jeff’s analysis of anti-redshirt posters in this thread:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/weblog/update052423


Haha. Oh wow. Unfortunately a 24 hr block wasn’t enough time
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:That’s hilarious, lol! Go jeff!


Huh?


I am not the PP but I believe that poster is referring to Jeff’s analysis of anti-redshirt posters in this thread:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/weblog/update052423


Haha. Oh wow. Unfortunately a 24 hr block wasn’t enough time


Probably not!
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'll give you a different perspective - my DS is a late summer birthday and we did not redshirt him. He has always done well academically and we could tell when he was in preschool that he could handle a full day of kindergarten. He was ready. And he was tall for his age. So we didn 't redshirt. Well, now he's in high school, and it turns out he really likes sports, and he is the youngest and smallest on teams. We really do wish that we had redshirted him. Being the youngest can be socially awkward with friends too -- everyone gets licenses and hits physical milestones ahead of you in general. If you're even considering redshirting than I encourage you to just do it. Also, if you go the private school route, everyone with a summer birthday is held for the following year. Another thing I wish we'd realized. Fortunately, he's done absolutely fine academically and he's tall for his age.


I have no regrets not holding my child back. Their sport is by age so it does not matter what grade they are in and academics for us are the priority. Who cares if they get the license first. Mine got into advanced music and the sports team no issue as the youngest.


Yeah you’ve posted 27 times on this thread, *we know* your perspective.


No different from those pushing everyone to hold back their kids to make them better and stronger for sports.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:That’s hilarious, lol! Go jeff!


Huh?


I am not the PP but I believe that poster is referring to Jeff’s analysis of anti-redshirt posters in this thread:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/weblog/update052423


Jeff’s whole long long long post made it funny. He was talking about various Top Topics or whatever
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'll give you a different perspective - my DS is a late summer birthday and we did not redshirt him. He has always done well academically and we could tell when he was in preschool that he could handle a full day of kindergarten. He was ready. And he was tall for his age. So we didn 't redshirt. Well, now he's in high school, and it turns out he really likes sports, and he is the youngest and smallest on teams. We really do wish that we had redshirted him. Being the youngest can be socially awkward with friends too -- everyone gets licenses and hits physical milestones ahead of you in general. If you're even considering redshirting than I encourage you to just do it. Also, if you go the private school route, everyone with a summer birthday is held for the following year. Another thing I wish we'd realized. Fortunately, he's done absolutely fine academically and he's tall for his age.


I have no regrets not holding my child back. Their sport is by age so it does not matter what grade they are in and academics for us are the priority. Who cares if they get the license first. Mine got into advanced music and the sports team no issue as the youngest.


Yeah you’ve posted 27 times on this thread, *we know* your perspective.


No different from those pushing everyone to hold back their kids to make them better and stronger for sports.


Actually we know empirically from Jeff’s post that this is categorically not true.

I mean we’ve always known DCUM anti-redshirters are crazy. We just didn’t know how crazy.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Non redshirting culture:
1/12 or 8.3% of kids have a bday each month 8.3% Sept 2000
.
.
8.3% August 2001.

Redshirting culture schools:
4% March 2000
4% April 2000
4% May 2000
8.3% June 2000
8.3% July 2000
8.3% August 2000
8.3% Sept 2000
8.3% Oct 2000
8.3% Nov 2000
8.3% Dec 2000
8.3% Jan 2001
8.3% Feb 2001
4.3% March 2001
4.3% April 2001
4.3% May 2001
0% June 2001
0% July 2001
0% Aug 2001


Fun fact but statistically July, Aug, and Sept birthdays are slightly over-represented in the US. Someone on reddit made a nice graphic from SSA data

https://www.reddit.com/r/dataisbeautiful/comments/13ro2fw/oc_how_common_in_your_birthday/

It's possible that age cut offs have been designed around this odd fact. You can get the raw data here

https://github.com/fivethirtyeight/data/tree/master/births
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