Not redshirting our May birthday boy?
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Anonymous
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We are in a wealthy public school district where the majority of parents who have February to August birthdays are choosing to redshirt their boys so they will be 6 when starting Kinder. My son’s teacher has not indicated he should be held back however I have a number of friends who work in elementary education who said they would without a doubt hold a late May birthday back.
Through preschool, our tight knit community and several activities over the last few years, my son knows a large number of kids that will be in his grade if he goes on time as planned. At least a dozen or so he is very comfortable with and sees and plays with regularly. I am inclined to send him on time (incoming 2020 Kinder) when we will be 5 years old and 3 months and not hold him back, however a part of me is hesitant because he will be the absolute youngest in the grade and there will be children a full 1.5 years older than him. Am I making a mistake here? Any advice. |
Anonymous
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A MAY birthday?? Where the heck is this and what is the official cut off?
That's insane. These kids will need a class on shaving in elementary school. |
Anonymous
+1 My June boy went on time. I predict soon we will have parents holding back children so much that these kids will be 7 when entering Ker. |
Anonymous
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My May birthday DS is a rising Freshman this year and I wish Every Single Day that I had not sent him to kindergarten on time. He was socially and academically ready for Kindergarten, but now that he is the youngest of his rising Freshman class and since he hasn't started puberty (so looks more like a rising 8th grader), I regret sending him on time.
I don't pay attention to the DCUM redshirt-haters and wouldn't base my decision on an anonymous board, but would look at the demographics of your actual school. Almost anyone will tell you that you never regret waiting. |
Anonymous
| Is that in this area? I see a lot of redshirting of the August and September birthday kids but not as much earlier in the summer, and maybe only 1-2 spring birthdays per grade. I wouldn’t do it for a May birthday kid in public schools (private might be another story) but that’s just me. |
Anonymous
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That is ridiculous. Of course you send your May birthday kid on time.
—mom of a July boy who is about to go to college and had no issues socially or academically |
Anonymous
My DS has a June bday, went on time, hasn't started puberty, rising 9th grader. He is short. But I don't understand why not hitting puberty in 8th grade makes you regret not holding your DS back. How would you have known at 5 whether your kid was going to be a late bloomer? IMO, if you hold back a child just because they are shorter than their peers you are doing your child a disservice. You are being a lawnmower parent. -signed the always shortest in class person born in late August. |
Anonymous
| Send your kid to school. No chance he’ll be the youngest; my August 29 kid will be, and I wouldn’t have even considered doing what you’re contemplating. |
Anonymous
| No, Op, it would be ridiculous to hold back a May birthday for no reason. |
Anonymous
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We're sending our May boy to K on time, assuming nothing major changes in the next two years. Our first two were Fall babies, so we didn't have a choice. Holding our youngest back would not be to his benefit. He tries his hardest to keep up with the big kids and would be miserable surrounded by younger peers. I think there are benefits to another year of brain development in adolescence, but not so much that it's worth it in our case.
I'd consider it if my child had a specific developmental need, but otherwise? No way. |
Anonymous
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The earliest birthday I’ve ever heard of being redshirted was July 3rd. That seemed to be pushing it, and I think any earlier than July is unnecessary. Kids should be 5 before starting K.
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Anonymous
What?! People are redshirting February birthdays?  The kid would turn 7 halfway through K. That's ridiculous. Assuming the cutoff is in August or September, then redshirting kids with birthdays a month or two away from the cutoff is reasonable. Unless the kid has special needs or other issues, kids should not be turning 7 while still in kindergarten.
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Anonymous
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We sent our June birthday boy on time. We have friends who sent their late September and October kids to private Kindergarten in order to have the option of starting first grade at 6 or waiting a year. Both started their kids in first grade at 6.
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Anonymous
| I would NOT hold a May birthday child back unless there are significant cognitive issues at play. I have a June child who I did not hold back. She is one of the youngest in her class. She has always been in the top reading/math groups though. Plus, socially, there were plenty of other kids with late spring/summer birthdays. I child with a May birthday will turn 7 in K. There will be an almost 2 year age difference between your child and a child with a late summer birthday who goes on time. That's just to big a spread IMHO. |
Anonymous
| I’m sending my June birthday boy on time. Wasn’t even a consideration. I also sent his late July birthday sister on time. She’s not even close to the youngest in her class. |