Why is redshirting so common around here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not surprised by the EEK study. The fact of the matter is that bright is bright, and social grace is social grace. Some adults are just awkward--that is just their personality, and holding them back a year would not have fundamentally changed their personality. Just like holding a kid back a year is not going to make him a academic superstar.

Anyway, the long-term studies are showing that red-shirting backfires. It may seem that the oldest kids rule the roost in the younger grades, but that the youngest kids end up with the higher GPAs, higher rates of college acceptance and graduation, and incomes.

cite? I find it hard to believe being six weeks older is some kind of detriment. Just like I don't think being youngest is a detriment. Its all individual.

But not all red-shirted kids are just 6 weeks older. I know children born in the late winter/early spring who were red-shirted.

In the DC area? Which school district?

No, this was in NJ.

Sooo...this thread is about redshirting being common "around here" - meaning the DC area. Not relevant.

The VAST majority around here are August/September kids. Who are just weeks older than the cut off. NBD.

The OP was specifically asking about this area but the thread, as internet threads often do, went somewhat off topic. The last several pages have mostly been debates about red-shirting in general.

FWIW, I know of 3 kids in Fairfax County who have birthdays in March & April who were red-shirted. And I don't even know that many elementary age kids in Fairfax County to begin with (my oldest is still in preschool)! So, yes, the kind of red-shirting the PP was referring to happens in this area, as well. And while the vast majority of red-shirted kids in DMV may currently have August or September birthdays, I know several parents at our preschool who are seriously considering having their May-July birthday kids wait an extra year before starting K . So it perhaps the age of the average red-shirted kindergartener in this area is steadily rising & what the PP saw in NJ will become a reality here soon, as well?

[Anonymous]

After looking at the Common Core standards for K, I would definitely redshirt my kid. Fortunately, mine went to K years ago. signed K teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not surprised by the EEK study. The fact of the matter is that bright is bright, and social grace is social grace. Some adults are just awkward--that is just their personality, and holding them back a year would not have fundamentally changed their personality. Just like holding a kid back a year is not going to make him a academic superstar.

Anyway, the long-term studies are showing that red-shirting backfires. It may seem that the oldest kids rule the roost in the younger grades, but that the youngest kids end up with the higher GPAs, higher rates of college acceptance and graduation, and incomes.

cite? I find it hard to believe being six weeks older is some kind of detriment. Just like I don't think being youngest is a detriment. Its all individual.

But not all red-shirted kids are just 6 weeks older. I know children born in the late winter/early spring who were red-shirted.

In the DC area? Which school district?

No, this was in NJ.

Sooo...this thread is about redshirting being common "around here" - meaning the DC area. Not relevant.

The VAST majority around here are August/September kids. Who are just weeks older than the cut off. NBD.

The OP was specifically asking about this area but the thread, as internet threads often do, went somewhat off topic. The last several pages have mostly been debates about red-shirting in general.

FWIW, I know of 3 kids in Fairfax County who have birthdays in March & April who were red-shirted. And I don't even know that many elementary age kids in Fairfax County to begin with (my oldest is still in preschool)! So, yes, the kind of red-shirting the PP was referring to happens in this area, as well. And while the vast majority of red-shirted kids in DMV may currently have August or September birthdays, I know several parents at our preschool who are seriously considering having their May-July birthday kids wait an extra year before starting K . So it perhaps the age of the average red-shirted kindergartener in this area is steadily rising & what the PP saw in NJ will become a reality here soon, as well?

Well if we're going to go off topic then maybe we should discuss Finland next? School doesn't start until 7.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Red shirting is an upper or upper middle class issue. The parents redshirt so their child isn't the youngest socially, doesn't have as much academic pressure as they age, or because they want the child to do well in sports with their peers. It really isn't about the K standards.

I think we established earlier in this thread that the current state of public school k is the very reason that parents who happen to be teachers and have summer babies choose to have their kids wait a year.

Nope. That was attempted, but definitely not "established." Nice try though.

This is the kind of disingenuous reason that annoys people. Say your kid is behind or say you want them to have an advantage over their peers. Own your decisions, don't blame it on the schools.

Just STFU if you're going to be so close-minded.

My kid has no delays and we seek no advantage. Period.

Then you must not redshirt. Why on earth would you if neither of those things apply?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not surprised by the EEK study. The fact of the matter is that bright is bright, and social grace is social grace. Some adults are just awkward--that is just their personality, and holding them back a year would not have fundamentally changed their personality. Just like holding a kid back a year is not going to make him a academic superstar.

Anyway, the long-term studies are showing that red-shirting backfires. It may seem that the oldest kids rule the roost in the younger grades, but that the youngest kids end up with the higher GPAs, higher rates of college acceptance and graduation, and incomes.

cite? I find it hard to believe being six weeks older is some kind of detriment. Just like I don't think being youngest is a detriment. Its all individual.

But not all red-shirted kids are just 6 weeks older. I know children born in the late winter/early spring who were red-shirted.

In the DC area? Which school district?

No, this was in NJ.

Sooo...this thread is about redshirting being common "around here" - meaning the DC area. Not relevant.

The VAST majority around here are August/September kids. Who are just weeks older than the cut off. NBD.

I've been told, here in Virginia, that June/July is the unofficial cutoff. I know a family redshirting a spring boy. We haven't started K yet, so I don't know how many children will have been redshirted as of this fall.

Yes - here's the key. You HEAR a lot about redshirting but that doesn't mean it is very common in practice. Just a handful at my kid's school. Almost all are Aug/Sep. One June kid in the whole class.

You should report back once your kid is in school. I'm curious how it varies within the DC area too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Red shirting is an upper or upper middle class issue. The parents redshirt so their child isn't the youngest socially, doesn't have as much academic pressure as they age, or because they want the child to do well in sports with their peers. It really isn't about the K standards.

I think we established earlier in this thread that the current state of public school k is the very reason that parents who happen to be teachers and have summer babies choose to have their kids wait a year.

Nope. That was attempted, but definitely not "established." Nice try though.

This is the kind of disingenuous reason that annoys people. Say your kid is behind or say you want them to have an advantage over their peers. Own your decisions, don't blame it on the schools.

Just STFU if you're going to be so close-minded.

My kid has no delays and we seek no advantage. Period.

Then you must not redshirt. Why on earth would you if neither of those things apply?

My kid has a late August birthday. He would either be on the younger end of the class or the older. But not drastically to make a huge difference one way or the other. He is physically smaller and is very innocent compared to peers (especially those with older siblings or in daycare) so he's always seemed younger. He was in a great preschool program and we wanted him to stay for the third year of the program. After touring our elementary school we realized how different K is now - sitting most of a very long day - didn't seem age appropriate. Why push him into that before we had too - let him enjoy another year of learning and growing in a more nurturing environment. Gave him another year of childhood.

And now that he's started school we are very happy with our decision. He's happy and doing fine.

THOSE were our reasons.

[Anonymous]

My kid has a late August birthday. He would either be on the younger end of the class or the older. But not drastically to make a huge difference one way or the other. He is physically smaller and is very innocent compared to peers (especially those with older siblings or in daycare) so he's always seemed younger. He was in a great preschool program and we wanted him to stay for the third year of the program. After touring our elementary school we realized how different K is now - sitting most of a very long day - didn't seem age appropriate. Why push him into that before we had too - let him enjoy another year of learning and growing in a more nurturing environment. Gave him another year of childhood.

And now that he's started school we are very happy with our decision. He's happy and doing fine.

THOSE were our reasons.

Absolutely the right choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My kid has a late August birthday. He would either be on the younger end of the class or the older. But not drastically to make a huge difference one way or the other. He is physically smaller and is very innocent compared to peers (especially those with older siblings or in daycare) so he's always seemed younger. He was in a great preschool program and we wanted him to stay for the third year of the program. After touring our elementary school we realized how different K is now - sitting most of a very long day - didn't seem age appropriate. Why push him into that before we had too - let him enjoy another year of learning and growing in a more nurturing environment. Gave him another year of childhood.

And now that he's started school we are very happy with our decision. He's happy and doing fine.

THOSE were our reasons.

I never understand that. Kindergarten is not the end of childhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My kid has a late August birthday. He would either be on the younger end of the class or the older. But not drastically to make a huge difference one way or the other. He is physically smaller and is very innocent compared to peers (especially those with older siblings or in daycare) so he's always seemed younger. He was in a great preschool program and we wanted him to stay for the third year of the program. After touring our elementary school we realized how different K is now - sitting most of a very long day - didn't seem age appropriate. Why push him into that before we had too - let him enjoy another year of learning and growing in a more nurturing environment. Gave him another year of childhood.

And now that he's started school we are very happy with our decision. He's happy and doing fine.

THOSE were our reasons.

I never understand that. Kindergarten is not the end of childhood.

There are a lot more responsibilities - even in K. Nightly homework, activities, etc. All after a very long day. Very little time for play now.

[Anonymous]

The sad part is that kids that age learn more through play than they do through sitting at a desk and doing worksheets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My kid has a late August birthday. He would either be on the younger end of the class or the older. But not drastically to make a huge difference one way or the other. He is physically smaller and is very innocent compared to peers (especially those with older siblings or in daycare) so he's always seemed younger. He was in a great preschool program and we wanted him to stay for the third year of the program. After touring our elementary school we realized how different K is now - sitting most of a very long day - didn't seem age appropriate. Why push him into that before we had too - let him enjoy another year of learning and growing in a more nurturing environment. Gave him another year of childhood.

And now that he's started school we are very happy with our decision. He's happy and doing fine.

THOSE were our reasons.

I never understand that. Kindergarten is not the end of childhood.

There are a lot more responsibilities - even in K. Nightly homework, activities, etc. All after a very long day. Very little time for play now.

Nonetheless, a five-year-old is a child, regardless of whether the five-year-old is or is not in kindergarten. Delaying kindergarten for a year does not magically give a child another year of childhood.

(No nightly homework, in my experience. And activities are up to the parents.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The sad part is that kids that age learn more through play than they do through sitting at a desk and doing worksheets.

Have you been in a kindergarten classroom lately? What percent of the time were they sitting at a desk doing worksheets?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My kid has a late August birthday. He would either be on the younger end of the class or the older. But not drastically to make a huge difference one way or the other. He is physically smaller and is very innocent compared to peers (especially those with older siblings or in daycare) so he's always seemed younger. He was in a great preschool program and we wanted him to stay for the third year of the program. After touring our elementary school we realized how different K is now - sitting most of a very long day - didn't seem age appropriate. Why push him into that before we had too - let him enjoy another year of learning and growing in a more nurturing environment. Gave him another year of childhood.

And now that he's started school we are very happy with our decision. He's happy and doing fine.

THOSE were our reasons.

I never understand that. Kindergarten is not the end of childhood.

There are a lot more responsibilities - even in K. Nightly homework, activities, etc. All after a very long day. Very little time for play now.

Nonetheless, a five-year-old is a child, regardless of whether the five-year-old is or is not in kindergarten. Delaying kindergarten for a year does not magically give a child another year of childhood.

(No nightly homework, in my experience. And activities are up to the parents.)

He will also graduate from HS/college/grad school a year later. And for the record I will fully support gap years as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My kid has a late August birthday. He would either be on the younger end of the class or the older. But not drastically to make a huge difference one way or the other. He is physically smaller and is very innocent compared to peers (especially those with older siblings or in daycare) so he's always seemed younger. He was in a great preschool program and we wanted him to stay for the third year of the program. After touring our elementary school we realized how different K is now - sitting most of a very long day - didn't seem age appropriate. Why push him into that before we had too - let him enjoy another year of learning and growing in a more nurturing environment. Gave him another year of childhood.

And now that he's started school we are very happy with our decision. He's happy and doing fine.

THOSE were our reasons.

I never understand that. Kindergarten is not the end of childhood.

There are a lot more responsibilities - even in K. Nightly homework, activities, etc. All after a very long day. Very little time for play now.

Hint: ditch the homework. Tell the teacher you are opting your child out.

[Anonymous]

We sent our August birthday child to kindergarten when he was barely 5. Later on, we opted to have him repeat eighth grade. He came into high school with extra hs math credits, an extra year of a foreign language and hs science (all of which he took in his second go round in eighth grade) and is now well positioned in tenth grade to take lots of AP's. You're foolish if you think the best way to give your kid an advantage is in kindergarten. This is a much better strategy.