Would you avoid an August birthday if possible?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Public kindergarten has gotten really hard. If you have the means to send your kid to a private, play-based kindergarten, August is no problem. But a public school kindergarten as the youngest...yeesh. The kids are expected to be able to write letters and numbers and sit quietly and color in the lines, follow all classroom routines, etc from the very first day.

I'm sure some of it comes down to personality and preschool preparedness, but IMHO the summer kids look so tiny next to the "just after the cut-off" September kids.

I guess I don't really have any solid advice, just grateful to have the kid I have after a lot of struggle, so I also understand how sometimes you just go for it and trust that you'll figure the rest out later.

I keep hearing how hard Kindergarten is these days and I just don't see it. We're in VA so the cutoff is 9/30. I sent my mid September birthday girl on time and she's had no trouble at all with the material, following directions, or with making friends, and she fits right in physically (95th percentile height). If anything, the one kid in the class who was redshirted (July birthday) is having the most trouble adjusting from what I have heard from her and other parents hearing the same thing from their own kid.

NP of a late July birthday and everything you are saying has been my experience as well, she's in 4th now and she's still doing fine. Some of the most problematic kids in her grade are ones that have been held back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Public kindergarten has gotten really hard. If you have the means to send your kid to a private, play-based kindergarten, August is no problem. But a public school kindergarten as the youngest...yeesh. The kids are expected to be able to write letters and numbers and sit quietly and color in the lines, follow all classroom routines, etc from the very first day.

I'm sure some of it comes down to personality and preschool preparedness, but IMHO the summer kids look so tiny next to the "just after the cut-off" September kids.

I guess I don't really have any solid advice, just grateful to have the kid I have after a lot of struggle, so I also understand how sometimes you just go for it and trust that you'll figure the rest out later.

I keep hearing how hard Kindergarten is these days and I just don't see it. We're in VA so the cutoff is 9/30. I sent my mid September birthday girl on time and she's had no trouble at all with the material, following directions, or with making friends, and she fits right in physically (95th percentile height). If anything, the one kid in the class who was redshirted (July birthday) is having the most trouble adjusting from what I have heard from her and other parents hearing the same thing from their own kid.

NP of a late July birthday and everything you are saying has been my experience as well, she's in 4th now and she's still doing fine. Some of the most problematic kids in her grade are ones that have been held back.

+1. Kindergarten is only "hard" if you can't behave or follow directions or have never been expected to do so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Public kindergarten has gotten really hard. If you have the means to send your kid to a private, play-based kindergarten, August is no problem. But a public school kindergarten as the youngest...yeesh. The kids are expected to be able to write letters and numbers and sit quietly and color in the lines, follow all classroom routines, etc from the very first day.

I'm sure some of it comes down to personality and preschool preparedness, but IMHO the summer kids look so tiny next to the "just after the cut-off" September kids.

I guess I don't really have any solid advice, just grateful to have the kid I have after a lot of struggle, so I also understand how sometimes you just go for it and trust that you'll figure the rest out later.

I keep hearing how hard Kindergarten is these days and I just don't see it. We're in VA so the cutoff is 9/30. I sent my mid September birthday girl on time and she's had no trouble at all with the material, following directions, or with making friends, and she fits right in physically (95th percentile height). If anything, the one kid in the class who was redshirted (July birthday) is having the most trouble adjusting from what I have heard from her and other parents hearing the same thing from their own kid.

NP of a late July birthday and everything you are saying has been my experience as well, she's in 4th now and she's still doing fine. Some of the most problematic kids in her grade are ones that have been held back.

Although we don't know whether they were held back because they were already problematic or whether being in the wrong (for them) age group created problems.

[Anonymous]

Just do the transfer now. The most important thing is getting the baby.

[Anonymous]

Huh. Since you'd definitely hold back an August baby anyways, then why does it matter? You will have one of the oldest in the class whether they are born in August or September.

Weird post.

[Anonymous]

I have a 17-year-old. Having a baby and raising it to adulthood is an exercise in having all of your plans and pre-conceived notions go out the window. Learn to let go now...have the sex or transfer the embryo whenever, life will happen the way it wishes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 17-year-old. Having a baby and raising it to adulthood is an exercise in having all of your plans and pre-conceived notions go out the window. Learn to let go now...have the sex or transfer the embryo whenever, life will happen the way it wishes.

PP from above. I have a late August bday. Other than not being 18 in HS and never legally being able to drink in college, I've had no issues with my bday.

[Anonymous]

Go ahead and transfer, you have been through so much waiting already. Then, absolutely hold them back. They will have a great life. Done! No controversy, decision made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, but I would redshirt them.

Only if the child is struggling. My best friend all through school was an August birthday. I was April. We were 4 months apart in age! I can’t imagine her with kids a year younger.

If a child is doing academically and socially well I would think that repeating something or dragging out all of these “pre” years would be detrimental to their development.

If your child is struggling holding back will not fix things. You work with them at home, or get a tutor or what ever help they need.

I just meant if a child is born very close to the cut off date and is struggling it’s probably a good idea to wait a year. If the child is bored to tears thinking about yet another year in the pre-k program just let them move along.

Not everything has to do with tutoring.

[Anonymous]

I think if it's a girl, let them be younger. If it's a boy, hold back. It will be okay either way. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 17-year-old. Having a baby and raising it to adulthood is an exercise in having all of your plans and pre-conceived notions go out the window. Learn to let go now...have the sex or transfer the embryo whenever, life will happen the way it wishes.

+1. Exhale

[Anonymous]

I’ll disagree with all these critical meanies, and I’ll tell you that you are a VERY SMART MOM already, OP. Great job thinking of this already! You care SO MUCH! You love your future baby so much! I’m excited for you!!!

We have a late July baby (girl, if it matters). We redshirted and that was the right decision for her k-5, and then she did dual enrollment for HS and college throughout HS because she was testing grade levels ahead by that time. Lots of enrichment. Lots of tutors. Lots of FUN!

I don’t think you can go wrong either way, honey. Do the transfer when it’s most comfortable for you and your support systems. Sending love and congrats again!

[Anonymous]

My late August birthday DC is thriving. (She’s on older side). I’d go ahead.

[Anonymous]

As a parent of a kid with an August birthday (who is doing great thanks for asking) this thread is deranged.

[Anonymous]

Just don't go for an October birthday because it'll be annoying to have to pay for daycare for an extra year. And the kid will be at a disadvantage for sports with a birth year cutoff.