When did your June birthday boy start school? How do you feel about it now that he is older?

[Anonymous]

Turned 5 in June, started that September?

Or, turned 5 and had 1 more year of pre K,

Turned 6, started that September?

[Anonymous]

June bday is crazy to red-shirt.

[Anonymous]

Hold him back. When he's older, he'll realize you either didn't prepare him or you think he is too dumb or immature to go? Why would you even consider holding him back?

[Anonymous]

Teacher here. This is kind of ridiculous. Don’t red-shirt.

[Anonymous]

My early June boy started K when he was 5. It has not always been easy. Most of his friends are 6 months to a year older.

In early elementary he would hit the big things a few months after his friends. (from observing work on the wall or visiting the classroom).

For sports - there is an age cut-off and it is what it is..... but in middle school playing on the school team against 8th graders is interesting to watch. There are kids who easily have 50 pounds on my child. (my child is on the smaller side).

Here is my take - my child was in the range for being ready to start school. There were some things he was stronger at - some he was weaker at. Sort of like life.

Academically - he is now in middle school. He does fine - his challenges have little to do with being a June birthday. He is not socially mature - and neither are his buddies who all play fortnight and hitman together.
....and some dads played Dungeons and Dragons when they grew up - and some are still playing these games.

...........
My BIL has a Sept birthday. Was held back and did a year of prep school before college. He needed all of the above. He is successful in his profession now. It was what he needed.

[Anonymous]

I have a June bday DD. She went on time and yes she was one of the youngest ( now in 1st) but is doing just fine. Ahead on reading and on target in Math. Has friends, listens, follows instructions etc. She also went to a year of pre-k ( 3x a week) so I think that gave her a slight heads up over older kids who never went to pre-k or daycare.

[Anonymous]

My June bday DS went on time. Never even occurred to me to redshirt. He’s not the youngest in his class by far. I definitely wouldn’t want him to be the oldest. He’s no different than anyone else.

FWIW, I started K when I was 4. It was fine.

[Anonymous]

I know you asked specifically about June but i’ll share anyway because maybe it’s helpful. My son is an August birthday and started K just 2 weeks after turning 5. I initially planned to wait a year but by kindergarten registration time he seemed ready. He was socially and emotionally mature and wanted to go. He was definitely not an academic superstar in the early years and he was on the small side, but we never regretted our decision. He always had friends and could hold his own with sports. He is now a HS freshman and doing well in all areas. It’s hard to imagine him with kids a grade younger. I think the most important factor in deciding is emotional maturity.

[Anonymous]

IT's very kid-dependent. I know of an August boy who was held back, and therefore he was older than most... he shouldn't have been held back b/c he used his age to sort of dominate others.

I know of an August boy (and a late Sept. boy) who was not held back -- they are big for their age and they fully fit into their grade (even though they are in fact younger than most).

My kid is an end-of-July bday. His preschool teacher said he should not be held back. We sent him on time. I can see the advantages of holding him back socially. He is in the AAP program in FCPS (so, he's a smart kid), but when it comes to time management, social understanding, self-control, and especially ENGLISH class (the writing requirements and just understanding the subtext of required literature), he would have been better off being held back. Also, rec soccer was not good for him (even though he liked it) b/c he didn't have the coordination and b/c he is ultra small (even for his July bday peers), it is dangerous for him to play with kids who are 2+ year older and 50-75lbs bigger.

It is very hard to know what to do when your kid is "ahead" academically, but behind on another category (i.e. physical or social). My son was bored out of his mind in Kinder/1st and 2nd. So holding him back would have made that worse. He wasn't so bored when he got to AAP (his teachers in 1st and 2nd were actually surprised that he scored as well as he did on the screening tests b/c they saw him as an immature goof-off who couldn't get his work done.)

So, in truth... if I did have it to do over again, I probably would hold him back.

My son's friend (back in preschool) was a June bday and the preschool teachers told his mom to hold him back. They did, and I think they are happy with the outcome.

I know of another kid (girl) who is an early Sept. bday and she was held back -- she is rocking it and I do think it is in part b/c she is older and more mature.

My first suggestion would be to LISTEN CLOSELY to what your child's preschool teacher says. They see lots of kids and can tell who doesn't quite fit in with the crowd and who seems "young." Then, I would suggest you consider your child's size and overall self-care and self-control ability. If you think your child seems behind, then hold him back. If your are considering it "just b/c" of the bday, that is not a great reason.

There is no "perfect" answer if your kid is mixed -- ahead in some areas, and not in others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:June bday is crazy to red-shirt.

Agree, but many of the private school kids do this. The ones that I know that went on to public school later on can't even play on sports teams like soccer with their classmates.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand how most preschool teachers can predict how kids will do in several years or later on. Kids can and many do catch up. Most preschool teachers don't even have education or special education degrees. If your child is that delayed, get them help now vs. hold back.

[Anonymous]

My June bday kid started on time. He's one of the youngest in the year, obviously, but is the second or third tallest, and he is right on track or above grade level in everything. There was no reason to hold him back and I'm glad we didn't, even though some kids, including his best friend, are nearly a year older than him.

[Anonymous]

redshirting June? Seems crazy. I live in NY, where June is exactly middle of the pack (cutoff is end of the year).

[Anonymous]

DS was still 17 at high school graduation. He has a late July birthday. Just my own preference, but a benefit that hadn't occurred to me until senior year, with the military recruiters hanging around the school (this is Va), they were not going to be able to recruit him without our consent since he wasn't 18.

[Anonymous]

Our June b-day son started at 5 so he was youngish for the class. He was very advanced academically at that age (reading chapter books before kindergarten etc.) and ok socially. He was never that athletic--either in the cohort of kids in his preschool nor throughout (not UNathletic--just not his thing). He's a senior now and I think it was the right choice--he's accepted at his first choice college and has a good group of friends.