TO THE MOM WHO RED SHIRTED HER SON AND COMPLAINS HE'S NOT CHALLENGED

[Anonymous]

Ok- I can't say this publicly but it really makes me mad.

I have a daughter with an August Birthday and your son is a full 17 months older than my daughter and they are in the same class.
I can't stand it that you say that the classwork is too easy and your son is not academically challenged.
Perhaps you wouldn't feel that way if you sent your son to school on time. I bet my daughter would look really talented too if she were compared to kids much younger- rather than just a hardworking kid.

[Anonymous]

People don't typically redshirt because of academic concerns. They redshirt because of social concerns. Don't worry, nobody is trying to show up your little Larla.

[Anonymous]

They say boys are 6-12 months behind girls at young ages. So her son is really more like 5-11 months older than your DD.

[Anonymous]

I have a daughter with an August Birthday and your son is a full 17 months older than my daughter and they are in the same class.
I can't stand it that you say that the classwork is too easy and your son is not academically challenged.
Perhaps you wouldn't feel that way if you sent your son to school on time. I bet my daughter would look really talented too if she were compared to kids much younger- rather than just a hardworking kid.

Eh. My son is the youngest kid in his class and the second youngest in his grade. Academically, he take any redshirted kids in his grade. Socially it can be tough, but he has some friends (a few nice girls and quieter boys).

[Anonymous]

Infuriating.

[Anonymous]

Stop shouting. This parent does not read this board and you are hurting everyone else's ears. Vent without the caps, please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People don't typically redshirt because of academic concerns. They redshirt because of social concerns. Don't worry, nobody is trying to show up your little Larla.

That's fine, but then don't complain that it's not challenging enough. That is really annoying.

I agree with you OP.

[Anonymous]

Seriously, why are you yelling, OP? Or do you not understand how the interwebs work???

[Anonymous]

I completely understand your frustration, OP.
Please don't lump all redshirted kids together, however.

Redshirting is one of the first thing pediatricians and parents think about when their child has unspecified but very real challenges. The thinking is that they need more time to mature. And then perhaps they are fine where they are, or become bored, or the issues crystallize and a diagnosis with specific treatment becomes possible.

The problem with our educational system is that it is too rigid. Children's development is not linear and not everyone develops at the same rate. I have particular issue with MCPS's policy to never* repeat or skip ahead. My own child repeated AND skipped ahead in MCPS, but his case was very complex. I know it is extremely rare, however, and that other children who desperately need such an accommodation are denied it.

I think redshirting is becoming too frequent, but it should remain as one of the possible options on a case-by-case basis, and that repeating grades and skipping ahead should also be options as well.

[Anonymous]

Agree with op is it ridiculous! They should just test the kid and move him up in grades.

[Anonymous]

My ADHD needed another year to mature--perhaps even more. But academically even in preschool, he was advanced beyond the K curiculum.

I did not red shirt and socially it has created some issues. He can't self regulate, hides under the table when he's upset, and is still struggling to use his words and contain his impulses. I have medicated him as well.

He's reading at a 2nd-3rd grade level, understands place value, and spends much of his day explaining the work to his peers. Yes the work is not challenging. I can't imagine him being another year older and sitting through this work but by the same token he's still on par with a 4 yr old socially.

I don't know what the answer is but the current offered solutions suck.

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm with you - that would make me super mad, too. I don't care what any of you say about your special snowflakes, Redshirting drives me crazy. When I see it, its rarely about social/emotional/academic anything, it's all about the parents being competitive.

And I do have a dog in the fight because I have an August birthday boy who I sent to school on time and so he not only is one of the youngest, he has kids basically 2 years older than him in his class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They say boys are 6-12 months behind girls at young ages. So her son is really more like 5-11 months older than your DD.

BS

-- The mother of a daughter and a son

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They say boys are 6-12 months behind girls at young ages. So her son is really more like 5-11 months older than your DD.

BS

-- The mother of a daughter and a son

+1, also mother of daughter and son.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People don't typically redshirt because of academic concerns. They redshirt because of social concerns. Don't worry, nobody is trying to show up your little Larla.

That's fine, but then don't complain that it's not challenging enough. That is really annoying.

I agree with you OP.

Well, try to have a little sympathy. I'm the mom of a (very tall, very verbal and bright) boy who might have to be redshirted for behavioral/maturity/social issues. Do you think I like having to chose between his social adjustment and his academic challenge? If I didn't redshirt him I am POSITIVE you'd be on here complaining about the "weird kid" or the "aggressive kid" that would as a result be bothering your Larlita.