September birthdays

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a son who started K this year at almost 6, due to a December birthday. He has social/emotional delays, and an IEP, so for him, I was glad I did not have to make the decision, he needed the extra year his birthday gave him.

My dd, who will be 4 on Saturday just makes the cutoff. She is socially/emotionally leaps and bounds above her brothers. Academically, hmm, she can write some letters loves to draw, write, but a year from now, I think she will be just fine. Our plan is to send her on time, as an almost 5 year old.

Dh and I both started K at 4, almost 5 back in the 70's, where our NY cutoff was 12/31. We both did fine, but there was not a push to redshirt back then.

I will say, in preschool, we did have one boy who was redshirted for preK, and was a real bully, BUT, that was one child, he was really big, and used his size to his advantage....but I digress.

We made the opposite decision for DS, 8, and in third grade with an IEP. Waiting an extra year would have delayed DX'ing the various issues that we're now working to remedy. Moreover, DS very much talks about the kids in his class who repeated K or 1st -- the kids are much bigger. I don't say that sending him on time has been easy, but we're also pretty confident that the extra year would not have made a bit of difference. Getting the necessary help on the other hand has made a big difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a son who started K this year at almost 6, due to a December birthday. He has social/emotional delays, and an IEP, so for him, I was glad I did not have to make the decision, he needed the extra year his birthday gave him.

My dd, who will be 4 on Saturday just makes the cutoff. She is socially/emotionally leaps and bounds above her brothers. Academically, hmm, she can write some letters loves to draw, write, but a year from now, I think she will be just fine. Our plan is to send her on time, as an almost 5 year old.

Dh and I both started K at 4, almost 5 back in the 70's, where our NY cutoff was 12/31. We both did fine, but there was not a push to redshirt back then.

I will say, in preschool, we did have one boy who was redshirted for preK, and was a real bully, BUT, that was one child, he was really big, and used his size to his advantage....but I digress.

We made the opposite decision for DS, 8, and in third grade with an IEP. Waiting an extra year would have delayed DX'ing the various issues that we're now working to remedy. Moreover, DS very much talks about the kids in his class who repeated K or 1st -- the kids are much bigger. I don't say that sending him on time has been easy, but we're also pretty confident that the extra year would not have made a bit of difference. Getting the necessary help on the other hand has made a big difference.

Interesting (I was the one you quoted). Since our ds was a December birthday, it was not a choice. But, now that you present it that way, I see your point for your son. In our case, at 4, FCPS was borderline on eligibility, one year later (still in preschool, but on the older side) his social deficits were much more glaring. I would imagine, if he was in K, they would have been even more obvious. That said, in K this year, his adjustment has been nothing short of amazing...but I worry we may be in the honeymoon phase

[Anonymous]

I am a Dec birthday, and started K when I was 4 (43 years ago). I was not ready, and ended up getting held back in the second grade. (I was the youngest, and least mature). I was teased about flunking after it happened. That lasted for two years until we moved away.

[Anonymous]

Not exactly on point -- but I was always the youngest in my grade since I "skipped" kindergarten after going to a Montessori preschool. I excelled academically and had no problems being the youngest. In fact, in high school I loved it. I didn't get my license until senior year so my friends always had to drive me around. Worked for me!

[Anonymous]

My son's birthday is right at the cut off, and although he is only two (three next week!) we already know that we won't start him when he is four. I just believe that it is easier for the kids to be older as opposed to younger, regardless of how 'ready' he may be.

We had a family friend, who was a football coach before he retired a few years ago, tell us that the coaches will love him because he will be older and bigger. Sadly, I don't think that he was taking into consideration the complete lack of athletic ability in our family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son's birthday is right at the cut off, and although he is only two (three next week!) we already know that we won't start him when he is four. I just believe that it is easier for the kids to be older as opposed to younger, regardless of how 'ready' he may be.

See, this is what I don't get -- deciding two years out that you are or aren't going to start your kid on time, based on an abstract belief.

We started our kids (boys, youngest or near-youngest in their classes) on time, which was our default. But if we had observed something that suggested there was a reason to wait, we were willing to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[

See, this is what I don't get -- deciding two years out that you are or aren't going to start your kid on time, based on an abstract belief.

We started our kids (boys, youngest or near-youngest in their classes) on time, which was our default. But if we had observed something that suggested there was a reason to wait, we were willing to do it.

Well, the answer is that my husband is also a cut off birthday. His parents started him younger and he struggled until they held him back in 1st grade. I also have a best friend who started school younger and she was also held back in 2nd grade. Worked for me, because that put her in my grade, but not so much for her. It was hard on her for a couple of years. Personal experience just convinces us that it is the best decision of us and our son.

I suppose that if, in two years, our son turns out to be a boy genius with an extraordinary maturity for a four year old, we will re-evaluate. I'm not holding my breath.

I am not sure why you care. The OP asked a question and I answered. I don't care what decision you made so I am surprised that you care about the decisions we make.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know thress cases. One kid that was born in August who is doing really well, he is is in 1st grade now. I know another one who was born on Sept 30, and he is doing also really well, in 1st grade, the youngest one in the class, and I know another one who was born early sept who has to redo Kinder again.So I guess it depends on the child. I would not wait a whole year to put my DC in KInder.

This. And nothing else.

This is one of the decisions that parents get to make for themselves and their child. That's just the way it is.