PSA for the kindergarten red shirters

[Anonymous]

I did not red shirt my kids, and had never thought about the out-of-school activities angle until my kids started doing a lot of them in K and 1st grade. Basically, a lot of after school stuff is by age, not grade. So, for example, if your child had a July birthday and you held him back to start K at 6 instead of at 5 when he was eligible, he might have to play on a soccer team with the kids who are in the class above him at school instead of with most of his friends from his grade. Just letting you know because I never heard anyone talk about this when I was hearing about people were considering holding their kids back. It might make things a little awkward/annoying for the kid for sports (which are all usually out of school when you are little) and other activities. Just something to consider.

[Anonymous]

Oh, gee, thanks for letting us know.

Jerk.

[Anonymous]

But the upside is a 15 year old freshman that can dominate JV!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh, gee, thanks for letting us know.

Jerk.

Huh? Wow, that's an overly aggressive reaction to OP.

[Anonymous]

...and sometimes you find you have the opposite problem.
we did not redshirt a july birthday kid but found that a lot of the summer sports programs require you to turn a certain age by the BEGINNING of the summer.

so our DC was not eligible for a certain swim camp until one year after her classmates. (they said you had to be six by june 20 or whenever the camp started and she turned six a month later.)

at a soccer sports camp she was grouped with kids one year below her for the first month until she "caught up" with her classmates.

not quite sure why the programs were so strict but it could have to do with some league requirements?

so you can find awkwardness whatever you decide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But the upside is a 15 year old freshman that can dominate JV!!

Another "upside" is that then get their driver's licenses earlier and get in the cue for a parking space at the HS earlier- thus more likely to actually get a parking space.

A downside is that they turn 18 before/when Senior Year starts and they can sign everything and you are out of the loop unless you take extra steps. They can call themselves in sick, sign forms, not have you get their grades.......

[Anonymous]

Sports age requirements just don't line up with school ages anyway. My November birthday kid is in the right grade at school but a few different sports and activities separate kids out by age as of calendar year. So my child was always with kids in the next grade up and frequently competed against kids almost a year older. There's no perfect way to do it and when your child's birthday is near a cutoff you just learn to work with the different age requirements.

[Anonymous]

The soccer teams in Falls Church go by grade, ie. There is a set of K teams, 1st grade teams, and so on. So it varies I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, gee, thanks for letting us know.

Jerk.

Huh? Wow, that's an overly aggressive reaction to OP.

Oh, I don't know. I found OP's post to be just a millimeter this side of concern trolling.

[Anonymous]

Yes. And, if you send your four year old to K, you will find that they will be playing soccer a year behind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, gee, thanks for letting us know.

Jerk.

Huh? Wow, that's an overly aggressive reaction to OP.

Oh, I don't know. I found OP's post to be just a millimeter this side of concern trolling.

NP here. I thought the op's post was dumb. I mean, wouldn't that be common sense? And if a parent decides to "redshirt", I would assume they put some thought into that decision. They likely considered consequences of their decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, gee, thanks for letting us know.

Jerk.

Huh? Wow, that's an overly aggressive reaction to OP.

Oh, I don't know. I found OP's post to be just a millimeter this side of concern trolling.

NP. I thought it was more than a millimeter on that side of concern trolling. You're more generous than I am.

My DC is an August birthday and it is frustrating how the school cutoffs and sports cutoffs don't line up. Whether I send him on time or hold him back, the different sports leagues will still be a year off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:...and sometimes you find you have the opposite problem.
we did not redshirt a july birthday kid but found that a lot of the summer sports programs require you to turn a certain age by the BEGINNING of the summer.

so our DC was not eligible for a certain swim camp until one year after her classmates. (they said you had to be six by june 20 or whenever the camp started and she turned six a month later.)

at a soccer sports camp she was grouped with kids one year below her for the first month until she "caught up" with her classmates.

not quite sure why the programs were so strict but it could have to do with some league requirements?

so you can find awkwardness whatever you decide.

Yes, this happened with my now 6yo who is turning 7 in November. She was not allowed to join the ballet company until she is 7 at the time it BEGINS. So she is in with the 5- and 6-yos for another year. Whatever. It's fine. We started at a new place so it's actually helping her gain confidence as she gets used to it and she has another full year to have fun and gain skills. It is what it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, gee, thanks for letting us know.

Jerk.

Huh? Wow, that's an overly aggressive reaction to OP.

Oh, I don't know. I found OP's post to be just a millimeter this side of concern trolling.

NP. I thought it was more than a millimeter on that side of concern trolling. You're more generous than I am.

My DC is an August birthday and it is frustrating how the school cutoffs and sports cutoffs don't line up. Whether I send him on time or hold him back, the different sports leagues will still be a year off.

This happened to my DC (August bday), too, for a summer camp. The online system wouldn't allow me to register DC because of the date cutoff. I simply called the office, and they over-rode the system to allow my DC to enroll in that summer camp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The soccer teams in Falls Church go by grade, ie. There is a set of K teams, 1st grade teams, and so on. So it varies I guess.

Not travel teams. They go by birthday, cutoff is 7/31.