Why is redshirting so common around here?

[Anonymous]

Parents are insecure in their abilities, and also lazy in this geographical area, OP.

They try to say they are "competitive", but that is not the case. Competitive would imply that the child has the genetics to compete. Hopefully self importance is not part of genetics.

I know that smarts and ability are indeed part of genetics; not rote memorization or anything else. Some people are clearly misinformed. Don't let it bother you.

[Anonymous]

On the flip side, our DCPS PK has four boys with Sept birthdays who all turned 4. DD has a Nov birthday and turned 5 six weeks after they turned 4. No red shirts in her WOTP class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's common pretty much everywhere, just not around here.

It's not that common in other places. IT's common here because people work too much and don't have time to parent their kids. When the kids get to K age, they aren't ready socially or academically because their parents neglected them.

Bitter you couldn't handle a job to support yourself?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Lol!!

[Anonymous]

It annoys me that people hold their kids back, K is for 5 year olds. My DD is a June birthday and will be going the September she is 5.
You are always going to have some kids younger and some kids older,
In England they go all day the Sept after they are 4. I dont think English kids are more socially and academically mature, in fact more of them stay at home until school starts than here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It annoys me that people hold their kids back, K is for 5 year olds. My DD is a June birthday and will be going the September she is 5.
You are always going to have some kids younger and some kids older,
In England they go all day the Sept after they are 4. I dont think English kids are more socially and academically mature, in fact more of them stay at home until school starts than here.

I agree but you are missing the cut off for MD is 9/1 so, my son will be six when starting. We did not have the option of sending him. It would have been better if we sent him and he does better being the youngest vs the oldest but it was not our choice. Some kids do not have the option of being five.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Parents are insecure in their abilities, and also lazy in this geographical area, OP.

They try to say they are "competitive", but that is not the case. Competitive would imply that the child has the genetics to compete. Hopefully self importance is not part of genetics.

I know that smarts and ability are indeed part of genetics; not rote memorization or anything else. Some people are clearly misinformed. Don't let it bother you.

LOL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It annoys me that people hold their kids back, K is for 5 year olds. My DD is a June birthday and will be going the September she is 5.
You are always going to have some kids younger and some kids older,
In England they go all day the Sept after they are 4. I dont think English kids are more socially and academically mature, in fact more of them stay at home until school starts than here.

I agree but you are missing the cut off for MD is 9/1 so, my son will be six when starting. We did not have the option of sending him. It would have been better if we sent him and he does better being the youngest vs the oldest but it was not our choice. Some kids do not have the option of being five.

??

[Anonymous]

I have a question. I have a DS born on 10/1. Is there any area where I have have him start K at 5 years old? Can they be tested? I do not want to red shirt. My mom did this for my brother and he hated it. He hated being the oldest and he was often made fun of because other kids thought he had been held back.

[Anonymous]

Why is redshirting so common around here? Because slowly but surely American parents are picking up on the fact that keeping young children (under age 7) in a more playful, relaxed, nurturing environment longer will benefit them in the long run much more than sending them off into academic learning before their bodies, minds and souls are really ready for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a question. I have a DS born on 10/1. Is there any area where I have have him start K at 5 years old? Can they be tested? I do not want to red shirt. My mom did this for my brother and he hated it. He hated being the oldest and he was often made fun of because other kids thought he had been held back.

Maybe a private school, PP. But you have to realize that there is no way anyone in this area would think that your DS was held back with a October birthday!

[Anonymous]

Can't you take the early entrance test in MCPS or FCPS (and probably DCPS) with that birthday?
Um, it's called sending your kid on time if you miss the cut off.

Anonymous wrote:I have a question. I have a DS born on 10/1. Is there any area where I have have him start K at 5 years old? Can they be tested? I do not want to red shirt. My mom did this for my brother and he hated it. He hated being the oldest and he was often made fun of because other kids thought he had been held back.

[Anonymous]

+1000.
Couldn't agree with this PP more. We didn't end up redshirting but we seriously considered it and it wasn't because we wanted our DS to be more competitive but because we wanted to give her another year in a fun, nurturing and relaxing environment. In the end we didn't do it because we could not afford it but if we could have we would have. She had so much more time to be creative and have fun in preschool. Now in K it's just worksheets and worksheets. FWIW she's way ahead of most of her classmates academically so we wouldn't have been holding back for that.

Anonymous wrote:Why is redshirting so common around here? Because slowly but surely American parents are picking up on the fact that keeping young children (under age 7) in a more playful, relaxed, nurturing environment longer will benefit them in the long run much more than sending them off into academic learning before their bodies, minds and souls are really ready for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son has a September birthday. He will be in K for only a few weeks before he turns 6. Is that ok with you?

Same here. Preemie twins born mid sept who should have been born mid Oct. let me know if it's OK that they start kindergarten and turn 6 right away.

Ass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is redshirting so common around here? Because slowly but surely American parents are picking up on the fact that keeping young children (under age 7) in a more playful, relaxed, nurturing environment longer will benefit them in the long run much more than sending them off into academic learning before their bodies, minds and souls are really ready for it.

+1000