Which is a bizarre theory, because it seems like kids would learn more from being challenged by higher expectations, not being around kids younger than them. At age 5, my son had problems with focus and participating in group activities, but I didn't think holding him back a year (and keeping him in a class with younger kids) would help him learn those skills. Gaining these skills is partly a result of the passage of time/getting older, which he would do whether he was in K or 1, and partly from socializing into the classroom norms and learning by observing peers/older kids, which he would learn more from in 1 than in K. So, on net, better to just put him in 1 than have him repeat K. He's going into 2 now, still has some issues, but I think he is probably better off than if he was just starting 1 now.

I assume your son was not a "borderline" birthday. I think redshirting is the right thing to do if your child is borderline and does not seem ready. Some are.

Anonymous wrote:It's not a real advantage, it is a perceived advantage. If you don't think your kid can handle the K curriculum "on time", then by holding them back, they all but ensure they can handle it when they do enter. Of course, at that point, their little snowflakes are competing against kids younger, leaving a false sense of accomplishment.

That's great your first grader does so well in K!

Which is a bizarre theory, because it seems like kids would learn more from being challenged by higher expectations, not being around kids younger than them. At age 5, my son had problems with focus and participating in group activities, but I didn't think holding him back a year (and keeping him in a class with younger kids) would help him learn those skills. Gaining these skills is partly a result of the passage of time/getting older, which he would do whether he was in K or 1, and partly from socializing into the classroom norms and learning by observing peers/older kids, which he would learn more from in 1 than in K. So, on net, better to just put him in 1 than have him repeat K. He's going into 2 now, still has some issues, but I think he is probably better off than if he was just starting 1 now.

Anonymous wrote:

So instead of sending your 4.75 yr old to K, you send them when they are 5.75 for one or more reasons--but no reason is required.


There, fixed that for you.

NP here, and you're a major ass for changing someone else's words simply because you disagree with them.

Write your own posts and stop changing other people's words.

No, seriously?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a K teacher, I can tell you there are plenty of kids who would benefit from another year. Has nothing to do with academics. I don't understand why some people cannot understand that.

Why can't we put those kids in a separate class? An "older kids" K or something? I don't care if other kids would benefit from an additional year -- I don't want my kid confronted by those bigger, older, bossier kids just because she's starting school at the generally-accepted "right" time.

I always tell myself that I won't participate in these idiot fests, but seriously, do you not realize how daft you sound? I have custody of my nephew. He and my son are one month apart. My son was born Sept 4. Nephew was born Oct 8. They are both 4 right now. they will each turn five within two months. They are peers in every way, including age.

One of them would be required to go to Kindergarten this year if we did not redshirt. So, your little kid isn't going to be "confronted" by my son next year any more than your kid is going to get "confronted" by my nephew, who is just 34 days younger.

I have 2 sons with similar birthdays (one in Sept, one in Oct, 2 years apart). These claims of bigger, bossier, bullies for the older kids are so ridiculous.

Anonymous wrote:
The intended goal of K was not a heavy academic year. It was a transition year for 4-5 yr olds to school so that they would be ready to start school in first grade. they went mornings or afternoons. K was about learning your colors and numbers and singing songs, doing the calendar, sitting in a circle and looking at weather charts etc. It wasn't really possible to not be ready for K. Until they went to K, kids played and had fun and learned basic life and social skills.

Also the research shows that holding kids back doesn't do them any good. That kids who are immature or a bit behind catch up by third grade.

"WAS" hits the nail on the head. Anything else...leave it up to me to decide what does my kids 'any good'

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a K teacher, I can tell you there are plenty of kids who would benefit from another year. Has nothing to do with academics. I don't understand why some people cannot understand that.

Why can't we put those kids in a separate class? An "older kids" K or something? I don't care if other kids would benefit from an additional year -- I don't want my kid confronted by those bigger, older, bossier kids just because she's starting school at the generally-accepted "right" time.

I always tell myself that I won't participate in these idiot fests, but seriously, do you not realize how daft you sound? I have custody of my nephew. He and my son are one month apart. My son was born Sept 4. Nephew was born Oct 8. They are both 4 right now. they will each turn five within two months. They are peers in every way, including age.

One of them would be required to go to Kindergarten this year if we did not redshirt. So, your little kid isn't going to be "confronted" by my son next year any more than your kid is going to get "confronted" by my nephew, who is just 34 days younger.

Anonymous wrote:Everyone should 'red shirt' their children. It would greatly benefit every single child to start school a year later. Maybe if enough people do it it will become the new normal, so let's go for that I most certainly will keep my children back a year simply because I feel they should naturally start academic learning a year later than what is considered normal in the US.

The intended goal of K was not a heavy academic year. It was a transition year for 4-5 yr olds to school so that they would be ready to start school in first grade. they went mornings or afternoons. K was about learning your colors and numbers and singing songs, doing the calendar, sitting in a circle and looking at weather charts etc. It wasn't really possible to not be ready for K. Until they went to K, kids played and had fun and learned basic life and social skills.

Also the research shows that holding kids back doesn't do them any good. That kids who are immature or a bit behind catch up by third grade.

Which means taking a year from his adulthood and taking it onto his childhood.

Are you serious? I look at it as giving him an appropriate childhood. Why are you in such a hurry?

Rather than work with the program to try to make it more appropriate for your child (additional recess, less seat work, strategies for handling the times he gets handsy) you decide to avoid the problem by giving him the "gift of time." Which means taking a year from his adulthood and taking it onto his childhood.

I sent my son to K on time because my ex would not agree to redshirt him. In third grade now, DS is fine. But realize that a public school is not going to change the program to make it more appropriate for your child. It is not an issue of "avoiding the problem." If you don't think the curriculum and expectations will work for your child, you need to change what you're doing, because the program isn't going to change (unless you get an IEP for a kid who really has nothing wrong with them but being antsy and slightly immature).

Why can't we put those kids in a separate class? An "older kids" K or something? I don't care if other kids would benefit from an additional year -- I don't want my kid confronted by those bigger, older, bossier kids just because she's starting school at the generally-accepted "right" time.

I don't know where you get the idea that the kids who are on the cusp are bigger and bossier. Most of the redshirted kids are within a month or two of the cutoff. signed K teacher

Anonymous wrote:Everyone should 'red shirt' their children. It would greatly benefit every single child to start school a year later. Maybe if enough people do it it will become the new normal, so let's go for that I most certainly will keep my children back a year simply because I feel they should naturally start academic learning a year later than what is considered normal in the US.

I love this idea!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a K teacher, I can tell you there are plenty of kids who would benefit from another year. Has nothing to do with academics. I don't understand why some people cannot understand that.

Why can't we put those kids in a separate class? An "older kids" K or something? I don't care if other kids would benefit from an additional year -- I don't want my kid confronted by those bigger, older, bossier kids just because she's starting school at the generally-accepted "right" time.

LOL.

Paranoid and ignorant. Nice.

Everyone should 'red shirt' their children. It would greatly benefit every single child to start school a year later. Maybe if enough people do it it will become the new normal, so let's go for that I most certainly will keep my children back a year simply because I feel they should naturally start academic learning a year later than what is considered normal in the US.

Anonymous wrote:As a K teacher, I can tell you there are plenty of kids who would benefit from another year. Has nothing to do with academics. I don't understand why some people cannot understand that.

Why can't we put those kids in a separate class? An "older kids" K or something? I don't care if other kids would benefit from an additional year -- I don't want my kid confronted by those bigger, older, bossier kids just because she's starting school at the generally-accepted "right" time.

As a K teacher, I can tell you there are plenty of kids who would benefit from another year. Has nothing to do with academics. I don't understand why some people cannot understand that.