Redshirting a March birthday boy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid in 11th in a popular DC private and birthdays are all over the map. Plenty of kids "redshirted" who are turning 18 sometime during the school year or summer before 12th. It's just not that big of a deal. It all evens out by high school, and a little extra maturity for a boy is rarely a bad thing. I wouldn't over think it.

If you are really opposed, then try to convince the school to let him enter in K or find another school. If you're just surprised but not opposed (and if your older kids have had great experiences there), then trust the school and take their recommendation - they've seen hundreds of kids come through their doors and they probably know if PK or K is better for your kid for the PK and K cohorts that they are designing.

It’s actually a huge deal. Those kids should be going to college. What’s going on at that school if they have so many immature kids? The school failed them if they are 18 year old seniors and immature.

Turning 18 before graduating is completely normal.

Sure, but turning 19 - as this child would do - is not.

Yes that is why this goes beyond normal redshirting.

Kids start college at all different ages. One friend did two years in the marines. Another was a professional ballerina for several years. Princeton, Stanford, all the best schools have older freshmen

There’s a difference between finishing high school as an older student and starting college as an older student though (after doing something like professional dance or serving in the military).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. What should I do then? Public? I don’t think we have a choice. Should I fight the school about this? I don’t think I want to get on their bad side…

Reapply in third grade. Holding a kid back for no reason, especially if they are going to be more than a year older than their peers, is crazy.

[Anonymous]

For god's sake don't grade retain your kid just because a school wants to bilk you for an extra year of tuition.

[Anonymous]

I think with boys it can be common. If you really want him to attend that school, I would hold him back. I don’t think it will hurt his future years plus he’ll get his license before other kids, it’s a perk!

[Anonymous]

My twins were born in March and there is another set of twins in their grade whose birthday is the same day but a year before. I think there's also a February redshirt in there. Weird to me but whatever works for those kids I guess. Personally, I wouldn't do it unless there was a need. (My kids are also at private).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think with boys it can be common. If you really want him to attend that school, I would hold him back. I don’t think it will hurt his future years plus he’ll get his license before other kids, it’s a perk!

Are you insane? And license before others and a perk? What is wrong with you?

[Anonymous]

Are you in Bmore? If yes, redshirt. DS will NOT be the oldest.

[Anonymous]

This is what happens when they put first grade curriculum in kindergarten. Five year olds aren’t ready for first grade, so now they want six year olds in Kindergarten.

We’re ridiculous as a nation, and then wonder why kids struggle. Nations with highest literacy rates have real kindergarten.

Good luck OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is what happens when they put first grade curriculum in kindergarten. Five year olds aren’t ready for first grade, so now they want six year olds in Kindergarten.

We’re ridiculous as a nation, and then wonder why kids struggle. Nations with highest literacy rates have real kindergarten.

Good luck OP.

Since when is K a first grade curriculum? This school either thinks the child needs more time to mature or they want to take advantage of this family by holding them off a year and giving a spot in K to a new family (or a combo of both....don't want to take up a K spot waiting to see if the child will mature).

[Anonymous]

I don't think pressing the school on this will put you on their bad side. I actually think it is very important that you feel comfortable advocating for your kids and not feel intimidated when communicating with the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t do it. It’s a money grab by the school. Redshirting a March birthday is utterly ridiculous. Your kid deserves better. He’ll be bored to tears.

This. They figure you'll buy in because of the siblings.

[Anonymous]

NP. So many bad takes here. OP, this is a private school. They can do what they want. If you want to attend the school, you can either accept this or go to another school. You can argue with the school if you want, maybe it will work, maybe it won’t. The school is certainly under no obligation to admit your child in the grade you want, versus what the admissions team wants. They’ll just go to the next person on the list if you seem difficult.

[Anonymous]

Redshirting is a huge advantage for boys both socially and with sports in middle and high school. Other parents will be mad because your son is bigger and more developed than theirs, but I would gladly do this for a March birthday boy.

[Anonymous]

What led you to not apply for PK?
We were in an oddly similar situation, but it's all really dependent on the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Redshirting is a huge advantage for boys both socially and with sports in middle and high school. Other parents will be mad because your son is bigger and more developed than theirs, but I would gladly do this for a March birthday boy.

You’re stupid. Plain and simple.