Thought on "Redshirting"

[youretooloud]

I kept my kids out for a year. They wouldn't have done well being the youngest in the classroom.

The cutoff here is August 30th. "Five before September". One district has a "Five by December" and they have a high dropout rate, and a low success rate. The districts that have a Five by September rule have a better overall group.

The teachers are spending less time coddling the kids, and more time with kids who are ready to be there.

[Meeko]

It's a very personal choice, depending on the child. Some are more than ready for Kindergarten and some are not ready at all.

[Lavender]

The teachers are spending less time coddling the kids, and more time with kids who are ready to be there.

My child started at 4 but did not need to be coddled. He arrived at school excited every day and still does. His behavior has always been exemplary; his kindergarten teacher awarded him "super blue" for behavior above and beyond merely staying on green each day so often that she gave him a "super blue forever" award at the end of the year. He interacts well with his friends and has never once had an issue being away from me. He did announce that he was going to be sick on the day of the upcoming play :: but that is because he was given the primary speaking part since he is the best reader in the class. While he is hilarious among people he knows, he gets shy when strangers are looking at him.

I personally feel that it depends on the unique circumstances as it pertains to each individual child and family.

[Willow]

It's a very personal choice, depending on the child. Some are more than ready for Kindergarten and some are not ready at all.

This is what it all boils down to.

I was held back the year and was BORED AS HECK all through school. As a result I often did poorly because the work I was being asked to do was so beneath my abilities it was unreal, so I just rushed through it or didn't do it at all.

My son turned 5 August 9th and started kindy less than a month later. I was concerned about it but his k evaluators said he tested well above the requirements and like me would likely be incredibly bored if I held him back another year. Was tough because he is my "baby" but I see now it was the right decision based of his needs.

Anyone that sacrifices academic/social needs for athletic advantage is seriously hurting their child and has messed up priorities imho, but in the end it is their choice.

[Lyss]

I agree with PPs that it's a personal choice based on the needs of a child, or at least it should be. I had a friend decided to wait a year (her DS's bday was just before the cut off) not because he wasn't ready but because she wasn't "ready for him to grow up yet"

Honestly I was a bit surprised to read that the rate of kids being "held back" or "redshirting" has increased in the last few years, it seems to me that more and more parents think kids need to be in schools or education programs earlier

[Kaddidle Care]

I also find that interesting considering our District has just decided to make our Kindy full time instead of half day - after polling the incoming parents.

They think they are getting "free" - but just wait until the new tax bills come out.

[Sunchimes]

I also find that interesting considering our District has just decided to make our Kindy full time instead of half day - after polling the incoming parents.

They think they are getting "free" - but just wait until the new tax bills come out.

We have free, full day pre-K and full day kindergarten, as well as subsidized day care and after school care ( starting at 6 weeks) for all school district employees. We also have the highest tax rates in our part of the state.

[Kaddidle Care]

We have free, full day pre-K and full day kindergarten, as well as subsidized day care and after school care ( starting at 6 weeks) for all school district employees. We also have the highest tax rates in our part of the state.

Shall we compare $$ to $$? Must PM you! haha!

[momofboys]

I also find that interesting considering our District has just decided to make our Kindy full time instead of half day - after polling the incoming parents.

They think they are getting "free" - but just wait until the new tax bills come out.

Our K is all-day (9-3) & I believe it is fairly common now to have all-day; we don't pay any fees as it is the only choice.

[Starburst]

your right. all my kids went to jk and liked to be other kids.

but you know what I hear the most--people don't want to send their kid because their birthdays fall in oct, nov or dec. so they would be the youngest in the class, now how dumb is that.

IK right. By the time they hit high school they will probably be wishing the parents would have just sent them a year earlier (if that was an option) so they could finish school a year earlier- that's what I don't get about parents who wait when the child is ready. Plus in some community colleges (the town I used to live in did this) if you are under 18 you can take college credit classes for free (may still have to pay registration fee and for books & materials but not for units) even if they only graduate a semester before they turn 18 they can still get a full-time semester of school for free- better than having to pay $46 per unit.

Also the whole athletically ready thing some people are using to justify, it isn't a good excuse either because kids these days are going through puberty earlier- even boys who tend to be late bloomers. Almost all of the boys in my elementary school had mustaches before 6th grade.

[Heidi]

It's a very personal choice, depending on the child. Some are more than ready for Kindergarten and some are not ready at all.

I agree. My sister's son's bday is Sept 20, which meant she had to campaign to get him accepted early. He is now a 7th grader and is exactly where he's supposed to be.

My own son is 3 weeks younger, a head shorter, and a completely different kid. He's just as bright, but....different. Much less mature socially. He's a 6th grader, and he's right were he should be.

[Holiday Park]

I had to let my oldest (now 15,going on 16) start school when he was 5,going on 6. His BD is Sept 2ND,and the cut off is the 1ST. I had it already planned out before he was even school aged,that I would help him academically,early on just IN CASE he ever had any struggles,and to help prevent him from having too much of a hard time in school. I'm glad I did. He just seemed like the kind of toddler that gave me the feeling that he needed this extra help from early on. So him starting kindergarten at nearly 6, did not bother me. I used workbooks, life experiences, teaching him as much as I could (abc,counting,colors,how to write,etc..) ,as well as placing him in private pre-K and daycare well before he could start kindergarten. I feel my own involvement in combination with his daycare&private pre-K experience helped him greatly and made a huge difference . He became a sweet,well behaved boy who made straight A's until he reached fourth grade. He has maintained honor roll,to a few C's. But works VERY hard at school. He has to work longer&harder to get the good grades. If he were in a higher grade,he would probably be drowning in struggles. So he NEEDED that extra year.

Taught #2 as much as I could the early years,before pre-K. He was advanced in motor skills,and everything he did from infancy. (crawling at 5 months,walking by 1,using utensils by 1) He was only placed in pre-K outside my home,because I wanted to work from home,and also have time to teach my 3RD child during HER early years (she is two years younger).

I went on to continue teaching her all the way through kindergarten myself. Both my middle children (#2 & #3) now 7&9 have been tested for the gifted program at their elementary school. They are both popular in their grades/school with no issues making friends and are loved by their teachers.
Both of them had birthdays, within 2 months of cut off month, so were/are younger in each of their classes. They both are at an advantage. Not only naturally smart that i did my best with nurturing, but entered school young.

They both had teachers hoping to get them in their classrooms the following year,after school ended (these teachers told me so) . They are above average in both reading & math and was in the advanced math&reading classes when those classes were offered. She reads at a fourth grade level.
I think if the child is behind socially, to not move them up and also make sure you have ways of nurturing their need to learn at a higher level (if they are extra smart).
My two middle kids who excelled in everything early on, would probably be more challenged if they were both in higher grades right now. I think they would even do fine with kids 1-2 years older than them,since they do so well socially right now,are popular and make friends so easily. But They are not bored in school,and enjoy the grade level they are each in. And since they make honor roll/straight A's ,I will leave well alone ;-) I'm sure by high school they will be glad that it won't be too,too hard. Hopefully.

I agree that it can also be bad for the child if he/she is ready to learn at an earlier age. I had a 2 yr old in my home 4 years ago. By the time he was 3, between his parents&I, he knew all his letters,letter sounds,how to count to 20 by heart,and how to count to 100,looking at the numbers chart. He was already practicing to write letters on paper too,could cut,and color. He cried when my son got on the bus,because he wanted to go to school too. I felt bad for him,because he was not only super smart but his birthday was after the cut off,just like with my oldest. And he could have benefited from going to school EARLIER despite being younger,and not getting to start school until a year later. So I agree, some kids can still be advanced,even if they are a year younger.
I also don't agree all kids are one size fits all. Some can't excel in a regular school environment. Some do fine.

[Holiday Park]

I think school/school teachers in the early years (pre-K/Kindergarten) are great for parents who don't have the skills themselves or capabilities (like working FT and don't have the time) to teach their child all the things a teacher thinks they should know. Like sitting still for story time,etc.. A mom is just as capable of teaching her child these things! That was my point above,when writing about how I taught my kids in those early years. My daughter never even went to kindergarten but when she went to first grade in a classroom setting her teacher said she was on target,if not above the other students,and above average. She was NOT lacking in these skills that some teachers assume kids will lack if the child doesn't attend pre-K or kindergarten.
Same for my son, my other middle child. Each child is different. Some will need more "school" and some will need less,and do fine from mom only type of teaching. You just have to be good at knowing the child and his abilities,including life skills,like sitting still,being patient,etc..

[Candy]

The cut off is sept 30th here. I don't know anyone who has held their child back from going to school except my cousin but that was in the early 90's. I don't see a reason why i would hold my kids back from starting school.

[Kaddidle Care]

Academics aren't the problem - it's maturity level.