Why is redshirting so common around here?

[Anonymous]

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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.

It sounds like you were worried he would be behind.

My children in DCPS kindergarten had few worksheets and no homework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Why did you opt to have him repeat eighth grade?

[Anonymous]

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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.

We seriously thought about that. For now we just limit it to 20 min/night per the school guidelines.

[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.

I knew someone who did this when they moved. They had tried to get their son to repeat the grade for years. Mom said she wished they had done it in K--however, it ended up working out very well. He was young for the grade.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I think it is common is any affluent area. The belief is that it gives boys an edge in academics, social skills and athletics. It was the same where I grew up (Lake Forest, Illinois).

+1 Beverly Hills born and raised - it was the same here in my parent's generation. My father redshirted for sports.

Just look at "Beverly Hills, 90210" - most of them were in their 30's in high school.

HA!

[Anonymous]

It sounds like you were worried he would be behind.

My children in DCPS kindergarten had few worksheets and no homework.

I'm not worried about him academically. He seems bright.

Aren't worksheets that they bring home to complete homework? Or do they not send them back in?

If we had a gentle, half-day K program here then we might have sent him on time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not worried about him academically. He seems bright.

Aren't worksheets that they bring home to complete homework? Or do they not send them back in?

If we had a gentle, half-day K program here then we might have sent him on time.

It will still be a harsh, full-day program when he goes next year.

(I'm using "harsh" as the opposite of "gentle". My own child's experience of kindergarten was very non-harsh.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not worried about him academically. He seems bright.

Aren't worksheets that they bring home to complete homework? Or do they not send them back in?

If we had a gentle, half-day K program here then we might have sent him on time.

It will still be a harsh, full-day program when he goes next year.

(I'm using "harsh" as the opposite of "gentle". My own child's experience of kindergarten was very non-harsh.)

So just like waiting a year?

Gentle = lots of play, no homework

[Anonymous]

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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.

Way to miss the point.

[Anonymous]

This conversation is freaking me out. My son (who is just 2) was born in late September, so if he were to start school on time in Ffx County, he will have just turned five.

I was young for my grade; I skipped a grade and I also had a late September birthday. I graduated from HS at 16, about to turn 17. I definitely lacked maturity but not in some seriously damaging way; I got my act together in college. (Though I don't recommend skipping grades for other bright-but-not-profoundly-gifted kids.)

Normally I'd just think that kindergarten teachers are prepared for the full range of kids they'd be getting in their classes, from newly-minted 5-year-olds to almost 6-year-olds. But you guys are making me think that my child will be at a real disadvantage because people are redshirting their kids who have summer birthdays, let alone late fall birthdays.

And as a young black boy, I worry that my child might be at an extra disadvantage if he's seen as immature next to kids who are closer to 7. Too often what could is considered harmless immaturity in another child gets labeled as serious misbehavior in minority kids (I can show you the studies, this is not a groundless worry.)

But I'm also one of those parents for whom a year of redshirting would be a serious financial hit.

Thank God I have another couple of years to think about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

I am not getting the argument for little play. What exactly does that mean? We are the 5 year old in a prek that is academic. We get homework. It is 6-8 sheets to last a week. It takes us 20 minutes the day we get it. It is not a big deal and people are being overly dramatic or lazy. We are also in three weekly activities and OT. My kid still has plenty of play time, video game time, birthday party time, play dates, playground daily when the weather is nice and more. Is the issue really play time or parents are busy with their own lives/working full-time that they just don't want to assist their kids and expect the teachers to pick up the slack?

[Anonymous]

Is the issue really play time or parents are busy with their own lives/working full-time that they just don't want to assist their kids and expect the teachers to pick up the slack?

What a way to twist the issue.

Retired teacher here-primary grades. Believe me, kids who have a rich environment at home and a great structured play K do much better than those who have been pushed and prodded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

So you don't want to rush academics but you do want your high school student to be taking college courses.

(Note: My kid -- summer birthday, not redshirted -- is taking AP classes in 10th grade, and I find it weird. I can see how high school seniors might be ready to do some college-level work. I don't see how a 15 YO can reasonably be expected to have the writing and critical thinking skills of an 18 YO. I sure don't see how there are enough kids capable of that to fill as many classes as there are. Do good SLACs actually give credit for APs? Back in the day, my college would let you take more-advanced classes but wouldn't give you credit for your APs.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

I am not getting the argument for little play. What exactly does that mean? We are the 5 year old in a prek that is academic. We get homework. It is 6-8 sheets to last a week. It takes us 20 minutes the day we get it. It is not a big deal and people are being overly dramatic or lazy. We are also in three weekly activities and OT. My kid still has plenty of play time, video game time, birthday party time, play dates, playground daily when the weather is nice and more. Is the issue really play time or parents are busy with their own lives/working full-time that they just don't want to assist their kids and expect the teachers to pick up the slack?

When my son was in preschool he was only there from 9-1 and had zero homework. So he had plenty of time to enjoy a healthy lunch at home (vs. a rushed 20 min lunch at school) and then play at home, at the playground, go to the library, take classes, have a play date, etc. And even more time on weekends. Tons of unstructured playtime.

Now in K he leaves earlier (to catch the bus) and doesn't get home until 4pm. Then he has a snack and only has a small window of time to do homework, play, etc. before we have dinner and bedtime. It's tough to squeeze in play dates or activities during the week. Very little unstructured playtime.

So he went from 3+ hours per day of playtime down to maybe 1 hour. And really none on those days that he has activities (we cut back to just one now after realizing this).

I have no idea what you mean about being busy and not having time to assist my kid. ??

[Anonymous]

One of my best friends from college graduated high school at 16. She had skipped a grade when she was younger because she is so bright and advanced. When we started college, she was noticeably less mature than everyone else. She wasn't emotionally capable of handling stress and so she avoided stressful situations. She went a little crazy with the party scene and ended up flunking out after our Sophomore year (not because she couldn't handle the work, but because she couldn't prioritize and would skip class, tests and even finals). After living at home a year, she went back to school, graduated, got her MBA and started and now runs a non-profit so she ended up A-okay. However, I often wondered how things might have been different for her had she started college when she was 18 like everyone else. I started college when I was 18 and think I would have done much better had I been more mature and attended in my 20s.

There are no drawbacks to the gift of another year of childhood. Holding my son back was one of the best things we have done for him.