I’m starting my late July birthday child (boy) in kindergarten on time.

[Anonymous]

I have two summer birthday boys. The oldest went on time. He is mature, has excellent attention, finds the process of being in a classroom easy, etc and has done really well. He is now in 3rd grade and that was the right call. He is the youngest boy and almost the youngest kid in his class.

His brother with almost the same birthday is quite
Immature, has some attention issues that might need addressing later, found preschool a real challenge in terms of being in the classroom. We held him back this year and he turned 6 right before starting Kindergarten. He has had a great year and it was definitely the right call for him. He is the second oldest kid in the class.

So, know your own kid. Every kid is an individual. My two boys grew up in the same environment and have done best with different decisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have two summer birthday boys. The oldest went on time. He is mature, has excellent attention, finds the process of being in a classroom easy, etc and has done really well. He is now in 3rd grade and that was the right call. He is the youngest boy and almost the youngest kid in his class.

His brother with almost the same birthday is quite
Immature, has some attention issues that might need addressing later, found preschool a real challenge in terms of being in the classroom. We held him back this year and he turned 6 right before starting Kindergarten. He has had a great year and it was definitely the right call for him. He is the second oldest kid in the class.

So, know your own kid. Every kid is an individual. My two boys grew up in the same environment and have done best with different decisions.

This. It is about where the individual child is and not some hard and fast rule. My brother was sent on time and pulled from K by the end of the second quarter because he wasn't ready. He ended up repeating first grade as well. He was in the first wave of kids diagnosed with ADHD for a reason. Doing wonderfully as an adult but school was never his jam.

My sons Preschool class had most of the kids start on time. One family was counseled that it would be a good idea to red shirt and another family started their child in private K so they could start him early (October birthday). He was ready for K and the cost of private K was the same as Preschool so they tried it, if he had struggled in K they would have repeated K. He did great. Different kids have different personalities, temperament, and needs.

The only hard and fast rule is that you have to start K by the time you are 6. So there is room for parents to make decisions based on their kids needs. Maybe we should stop judging parents for their decisions and just trust that they are acting in their kids best needs.

DS is one of the youngest in his class but is also one of the tallest. I have been asked why we red shirted him nd chuckle as I say "We didn't, there are two kids older then him, he's just tall." The shortest kid in your kids class could be one of the older kids. You don't know so just let it be. Most tests for specialized programs are age normed for a reason. Sports leagues tend to be based on birth year (DS can't play soccer with his good friends because they were born the year before even though they are the same age and grade) or a band of years.

[Anonymous]

I dont know anyone with a child whose birthday was before Sept that didn't go on time.

[Anonymous]

Good for you. I made the opposite choice for my July born son with no regrets. Children are individuals with different needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS is turning 6 in late July and also finishing up Kindergarten. Literally no one said anything to me about starting him on time. He's also particularly small for his age.

I think you might need to broaden your circle, as I think it's unusual to comment on this.

Your son is in public school, right? It’s different in the competitive private schools,

Okay, I'll bite...how?

Also are you seriously calling a 5 y.o. stupid?!

No! I meant some private schools do not accept red shirting!!! Geez!!!

[Anonymous]

I sent my July girl at 5 and while I had worries in grade school, I think having to work a little harder has been good for her. She’s a hard worker. Socially, she’s not the most advanced kid but since she’s a second kid she’s cool enough she doesn’t stick out

[Anonymous]

We are not in DC. My kid’s birthday is literally on the cutoff date- we are holding him back. He would probably do fine but he is a bit immature so we are holding him back. If his birthday was 2 months before the cutoff I wouldn’t have hesitated in sending.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are not in DC. My kid’s birthday is literally on the cutoff date- we are holding him back. He would probably do fine but he is a bit immature so we are holding him back. If his birthday was 2 months before the cutoff I wouldn’t have hesitated in sending.

They are all immature at that age. Give me a break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are not in DC. My kid’s birthday is literally on the cutoff date- we are holding him back. He would probably do fine but he is a bit immature so we are holding him back. If his birthday was 2 months before the cutoff I wouldn’t have hesitated in sending.

So, you say you are holding back for maturity but yet state that if he were 2nd the older, you would send him. Contradicting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not in DC. My kid’s birthday is literally on the cutoff date- we are holding him back. He would probably do fine but he is a bit immature so we are holding him back. If his birthday was 2 months before the cutoff I wouldn’t have hesitated in sending.

So, you say you are holding back for maturity but yet state that if he were 2nd the older, you would send him. Contradicting.

* 2 months

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need new friends.

+100

and a life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you're questioning your decision if you're posting here. Why are you not confident?

She asked what is she not seeing. Why are people surprised her son is starting on time. I don’t read a lack of confidence.

Well, my July birthday boy went to public prek instead of kindergarten on time. He had been home for a two years due to Covid and developmentally delayed. Pre k was the best option for him. Just a different point of view

Maybe you should work with him more or get home evaluated and help. No reason you should hold back. Having kids with younger peers makes them delayed.

Are you for real? This is patently not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not in DC. My kid’s birthday is literally on the cutoff date- we are holding him back. He would probably do fine but he is a bit immature so we are holding him back. If his birthday was 2 months before the cutoff I wouldn’t have hesitated in sending.

They are all immature at that age. Give me a break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not in DC. My kid’s birthday is literally on the cutoff date- we are holding him back. He would probably do fine but he is a bit immature so we are holding him back. If his birthday was 2 months before the cutoff I wouldn’t have hesitated in sending.

They are all immature at that age. Give me a break.

This! Its only slightly a problem in public because of the academic expectations. In private its only a problem because everyone is trying to redshirt for advantage. Otherwise it’d be perfectly fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not in DC. My kid’s birthday is literally on the cutoff date- we are holding him back. He would probably do fine but he is a bit immature so we are holding him back. If his birthday was 2 months before the cutoff I wouldn’t have hesitated in sending.

They are all immature at that age. Give me a break.

This! Its only slightly a problem in public because of the academic expectations. In private its only a problem because everyone is trying to redshirt for advantage. Otherwise it’d be perfectly fine.

BS, my child is at one of the top DC private’s which has a class of 30 or so students in his grade. There are at least 3 June, 2 July, and 1 August birthdays. None are redshirted.
A low level private like mater dei does this practice often I hear, but not at my child’s top school.