Anonymous wrote:I was 16 for the first three months of my senior year and my sister was 16 until a week after graduation. It's fine! He won't be the only one, so don't let that determine your decision.

I think he sounds ready for K. My kids had zero sight words at the start of K and are both strong readers now.

I was 16 for the first few months as well; it strikes me as an odd reason to hold someone back.

Being 17 for your first semester in college is brilliant; if you get arrested doing something stupid, you’re not charged as an adult.

Yes, if it were my child I'd redshirt. If he's a "bored" as everyone claims he'll be when he starts K, then he can skip a grade. But keep it in perspective... If you redshirt him he'll only be a couple weeks older than October birthday kids.

But fwiw I'm one of those people who thinks K is developmentally inappropriate for such a young kid. Back when I went to K they still had nap time, ffs.

Anonymous wrote:September birthday is a definite yes for me! Now if he was April or May I would have a different answer. I’ve never spoken to anyone who regretted holding them back a year.

Sep 29th birthday, went on time, graduated in the top 10% of my class. Started college at 17. No issues.

September birthday is a definite yes for me! Now if he was April or May I would have a different answer. I’ve never spoken to anyone who regretted holding them back a year.

Unless a child is behind or special needs, why would you do that to a child? They will be so bored and in the long run, that’s more detrimental than what you are trying to achieve, aka edge over other children.

Anonymous wrote:I would send him either to the bridge program or private kindergarten and/or first, then switch back to public and repeat the year. If you repeat the year, I personally would tell him that he is so adorable that both schools wanted him with them for a year.

Your kid might buy this at 5, but then she'll grow up.

High school student remember who is retained. I teach high school and it comes up a lot. And they don't buy it's because of adorableness.

If you do a bridge program there's not as much stigma as retaining a kid in a grade. Don't do that. There is so much research that the stigma comes back to bite them in the end.