Kindergarten redshirt

[NickTheGreat]

I turned 5 on the first day of kindergarten. There were kids in my class that were 14 or 15 months older than me, as it was common in my area to delay kids "for sports." So I turned 18 my first week at ISU, and these guys were already 19. I graduated college at 21 and they would have been 22.

The only disadvantage I saw is the missed college bar times and the fact that I got a bit taller/leaner my senior year of high school. I'm convinced I would have been in the NFL otherwise

 

[Cyclonin]

Of course I don't have the research in front of me, but a friend of mine and his wife are having this same discussion. Basically, from an academic standpoint, it's been shown it all even's out by about middle school (no one is further ahead/behind).

It's usually more of a social thing....i.e. your kid is the first with a mustache in his class or a foot shorter than the other guys.

This is funny, I was both as the youngin... Guess an Italian heritage will speed the former along.

 

[iowa_wildcat]

We redshirted our son with the July birthday. He was an honors student, junior class president, and captain of the football team. He graduated from ISU, has two MS degrees from other colleges, and is a Major in the USAF. We have absolutely no regrets.

 

[Erik4Cy]

My parents redshirted me (May birthday,) I recommend it. Although it can get annoying when it comes time to drive and all your friends want you to drive them around.

 

[NATEizKING]

I have a July birthday and my mom chose to send me. I was fine academically. I would have been bored either way. I also didn't have a big problem with being smaller. For me it was the emotional maturity. I probably would have been better off waiting a year.

I didn't have a choice (Nov.) and I was bored and got in trouble a lot. I don't think it matters so much academically if you are even average at teaching your kids yourself. My mom was a stay at home until all three children were in elementary school so we were all way smarter than most. I had weekly meetings with the school principal in 2nd grade due to my behavior but I believe the only thing I actually learned in elementary school that I didn't know before I got to that subject was cursive, which is extremely important today.

Athletically though you can tell the difference between the youngins.

 

[coolerifyoudid]

cychosis, if your son is pretty outgoing socially and will be fine academically, go ahead and send him. If he's goi8ng to be over 6' then he should be fine physically too.

My problem was that I was shy, even in preschool.

One other thing to consider is siblings and their ages. If they are a certain number of years apart it might be tough to have older siblings way ahead or little siblings catching up to them grade wise.

Just about my exact thoughts. I was a full year younger than two of my friends, but I was tall and fairly athletic. I was fine being younger. The driving thing sucked a bit since we lived out in the country and I was the last in my class to get a license, but kids make do with their situation. I only had 1 semester of bar time in college, but as most of you know, it's not very hard to party at ISU when you're underage.

As long as the older sibling isn't a problem child, that influence helps the younger kid out socially and academically. Sibling competition is very motivating for many.

I haven't seen this asked yet, but are there other boys his age in the neighborhood where you live? My daughter has very few classmates that live within 4-5 blocks of us and it kinda stinks in that regard. It doesn't hurt to have a classmate or two within walking distance.

 

[coolerifyoudid]

This is funny, I was both as the youngin... Guess an Italian heritage will speed the former along.

 

[aeroclone]

Somebody has to be youngest/oldest in every class. If everyone generally keeps delaying because they don't want their kids to be the youngest in the class, eventually Kindergartners will be about 30.

Recess, snack time, naps, I'm ready to go back right now! Time to draft up my resignation letter.

 

[aeroclone]

How about this guy?

 

[MartyMcCy]

Just about my exact thoughts. I was a full year younger than two of my friends, but I was tall and fairly athletic. I was fine being younger. The driving thing sucked a bit since we lived out in the country and I was the last in my class to get a license, but kids make do with their situation. I only had 1 semester of bar time in college, but as most of you know, it's not very hard to party at ISU when you're underage.

As long as the older sibling isn't a problem child, that influence helps the younger kid out socially and academically. Sibling competition is very motivating for many.

I haven't seen this asked yet, but are there other boys his age in the neighborhood where you live? My daughter has very few classmates that live within 4-5 blocks of us and it kinda stinks in that regard. It doesn't hurt to have a classmate or two within walking distance.

Not that I know about. We live in an "older" neighborhood for the most part, but it is starting to flip to young families. His best friend from daycare lives a few blocks away and will be going to the same kindergarten, but with 4 classes in the kindergarten there is no guarantee they will be in the same room.

 

[bawbie]

We redshirted our son with the July birthday. He was an honors student, junior class president, and captain of the football team. He graduated from ISU, has two MS degrees from other colleges, and is a Major in the USAF. We have absolutely no regrets.

My 3 siblings and I all have summer birthdays and we all went early and we all have engineering degrees - I'm the only one without an advanced degree. The youngest girl in my class was valedictorian and the second youngest is a doctor. My wife was the youngest in her class and has a law degree.

I think there's plenty of anecdotal evidence either way, and that matches with the scientific evidence that says it all evens out.

My personal theory is - if they are ready to go, send them. No use being bored in preschool another year.

 

[Antihawk240]

If your child is academically ready for school, send them. As sports fan we all think our child is the next full ride athlete. Truth is, they are not. If your child can read or be read to and also can sing their abc's and count to 10 they are ready for Kindergarten. To hold them back will only bore them and lead to social problems in the classroom due to them being bored out of their mind.

 

[3TrueFans]

My 3 siblings and I all have summer birthdays and we all went early and we all have engineering degrees - I'm the only one without an advanced degree.

You're such a disappointment.

 

[MartyMcCy]

If your child is academically ready for school, send them. As sports fan we all think our child is the next full ride athlete. Truth is, they are not. If your child can read or be read to and also can sing their abc's and count to 10 they are ready for Kindergarten. To hold them back will only bore them and lead to social problems in the classroom due to them being bored out of their mind.

Is it better for them to be bored out of their mind and then be able to do extra curricular stuff -or- be stressed about homework and falling behind if they want to be in sports and whatnot.

 

[CycloneTJS]

Having been one of the youngest guys in my class, and a late bloomer, I had wished I redshirted back in the day. As a result, I have one son who has a summer b-day and we waited a year, and I think it was very beneficial. To point out one small drawback, and that is AAU sports, which go by birth date vs. grade, so in many cases, my son had to play a lot of his AAU/Babe Ruth/etc. non-school sports with the kids in what would have been his normal grade. There are some definite social drawbacks to this, but, he seemed to be able to mesh well with those guys too, but it could be hard for some... Good luck with the decision - which ever way you go, commit to it and support your child with everything you have!

 

[Rabbuk]

Is it better for them to be bored out of their mind and then be able to do extra curricular stuff -or- be stressed about homework and falling behind if they want to be in sports and whatnot.

As someone who's parents said no to pushing me forward 2-3 grades, I always kind of resented how bored I was. To the point where I learned some very bad study habits and performed way below my ability in terms of GPA. If they're ready send them imo.

 

[Rhoadhoused]

Having been one of the youngest guys in my class, and a late bloomer, I had wished I redshirted back in the day. As a result, I have one son who has a summer b-day and we waited a year, and I think it was very beneficial. To point out one small drawback, and that is AAU sports, which go by birth date vs. grade, so in many cases, my son had to play a lot of his AAU/Babe Ruth/etc. non-school sports with the kids in what would have been his normal grade. There are some definite social drawbacks to this, but, he seemed to be able to mesh well with those guys too, but it could be hard for some... Good luck with the decision - which ever way you go, commit to it and support your child with everything you have!

Could be a benefit once he gets into junior high and high school with friends in both grades.

 

[coolerifyoudid]

If your child is academically ready for school, send them. As sports fan we all think our child is the next full ride athlete. Truth is, they are not. If your child can read or be read to and also can sing their abc's and count to 10 they are ready for Kindergarten. To hold them back will only bore them and lead to social problems in the classroom due to them being bored out of their mind.

 

[Angie]

Is it better for them to be bored out of their mind and then be able to do extra curricular stuff -or- be stressed about homework and falling behind if they want to be in sports and whatnot.

I think that will really, really depend on the child.

Had a really close friend in high school who was a guy. Very high IQ, ACT scores, etc. Natural scholastic aptitude. However, he never challenged himself (even with all of the extracurricular stuff he was in), and became something of a troublemaker, had to go to a... shoot, I forget what it's called when a juvenile has something like a parole officer? Anyway - he was bored and acted out.

It's pretty hard to gauge this at this point in your child's life, but is he ahead of the curve in preschool? Really inquire after the preschool teachers. Maybe ask the school he'd be attending if they could do a readiness assessment on him with a kindergarten teacher.

 

[Angie]

As someone who's parents said no to pushing me forward 2-3 grades, I always kind of resented how bored I was. To the point where I learned some very bad study habits and performed way below my ability in terms of GPA. If they're ready send them imo.

I had this issue, too. My parents wouldn't let them skip me ahead in school, although the school wanted to do it. I was bored during school for the rest of my school career - luckily, I participated in a lot of stuff that kept me busy and read a ton in my off-time to stay challenged, but it's pretty easy to not take that route and to become a troublemaker. And you're right, you NEVER learn to study.