Is a march birthday too old to redshirt?

[Anonymous]

Wait what? The cutoff in my school distract is Sept 30th. Your son is SIX MONTHS before that. Why the eff would you keep him out?

[Anonymous]

There was a March redshirt in my sons class last year. He seemed normal. No big deal imo.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I believe it is. Please be prepared for your child to be teased about "being held back." The kids (and their parents -- as seen on this forum) do tease the kids who are held back like this.

[Anonymous]

I have a March birthday and find your question absurd. Send your child to school! As the mom of both son and daughter, boys are generally more immature than girls. Your son will likely be one of many who can't sit still. Girls really do better in today's schools. They really need to bring back more recess and less sitting time in Kindergarten!!

[Anonymous]

If you really don't know what to do, you can have the kid tested. https://cap.gmu.edu/kindergarten/kindergarten-skills-screening

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:. They really need to bring back more recess and less sitting time in Kindergarten!!

YES! This would make life so much better for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I held my April boy back. He's now in HS and he sometimes comments about his age. But no way would he have been successful at 5. Even at 6, his teachers could barely stand him through ES. Of course he had a few years where he had amazing people working with him, but the norm was very difficult. It took until 7th grade for him to catch up and since then he's done great. But I'm not sure that he ever would have caught up had I tried to keep him on some artificial time table. You gotta do what's right for your kid.

Also, once you start school, if you think you made a mistake, you're stuck. You don't get to hold your kid back absent some severe needs. So you have to call it right now.

Reverse is true too.. once you redshirt, it's extremely difficult to skip a grade if you realize later that it was a mistake.

[Anonymous]

I really think people should get a doctor's note to redshirt. They are doing this in CA now.

[Anonymous]

Why are you asking this crowd, OP? You should be asking his pre-school teachers? You should strongly consider an evaluation? You should make the best decision you can with the knowledge that is available to you.

FWIW, I did not redshirt my fifth-percentile in height, fine motor delayed, August birthday boy because, after talking to his teachers who knew him well, we thought it would be better for him to go on time. So far so good, but maybe I'll regret it in middle school?

Ask people who know your child and make the best decision for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really think people should get a doctor's note to redshirt. They are doing this in CA now.

I would support this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:. They really need to bring back more recess and less sitting time in Kindergarten!!

YES! This would make life so much better for everyone.

I support this too for all grades the problem is people want more academics as early as preschool so they can get their dollars worth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really think people should get a doctor's note to redshirt. They are doing this in CA now.

This isn't a terrible idea, but I am sure such notes would be so easy to get that it would make it almost worthless. Most real peds probably wouldn't fight their patient on it, and even if they did you would have mills - like the online absurdity you can use to get an "emotional support" pet letter - that would give you a letter no questions asked. And no school would try to contest a doctor's note on this issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH thinks it is but this kid is very immature (i.e. cant sit still for 30 minutes, slow learner) and no way will handle kindergarten.

Most 5 and 6 year olds don't sit perfectly still, that's okay it's something they learn to do over time. If your son is in the range of normal for his age he should go on time which with a MArch birthday he more than likely is.

If he isn't within this range, and things have been flagged by his preschool and Pk teachers, you have him evaluated so he can have the accommodations he needs when he starts kindergarten on time.

[Anonymous]

It does seem a little old, but honestly he probably wouldn't be the only spring birthday boy who was held back. Can you try sending him to private K at 5 and seeing how he does? Then either advance him to public school 1st if he seems to be adjusting well, or have him repeat K at a public school if needed.

[Anonymous]

Insane.