All five boys started at age five and lived to get college degrees and jobs.
When should boys start school?
- Thread starter simply1
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- Mar 27, 2006
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It was certainly a factor, but I don't know that it was a boy vs. girl thing as much as it was the fact that he was a tiny kid. Even redshirting him, he's still on the small end of his class.
And at the end of the day, even if I wish it weren't true, things like size and maturity can have a big impact on a child's experience in school, especially when it comes to boys. To us, it felt like it was a way for us to give him the best chance at success and happiness.
Oldest is august, no brainer start K when he turned 6. Next, December, simple. Lady end of April. Would have been fine to send early but why take any chance, doesn’t hurt. So he will turn 19 right before graduation.
Use statistics as a guide, but make your own decision about your kid. So many of these articles prey on parents' insecurities by throwing percentages around and perpetuating stereotypes. I'm not debating the data, but it's still about tendencies. A parent will know their kid better than the author of an article.Just curious what CF parents have decided. Thinking about it a bit early but will have this decision.
IMO do it for educational/maturity reasons and not sports.
I have several friends who have kids with summer birthdays and they've had to make the decision. In a couple of the instances, the parents made up their minds when their kids were like 2 that they were going to red shirt them. Both of these kids were more than ready to go to kindergarten and they really should have. Not all cases are the same so do what you feel is right but don't be too quick to make a decision.
I have several friends who have kids with summer birthdays and they've had to make the decision. In a couple of the instances, the parents made up their minds when their kids were like 2 that they were going to red shirt them. Both of these kids were more than ready to go to kindergarten and they really should have. Not all cases are the same so do what you feel is right but don't be too quick to make a decision.
Absolutely. If you are doing it for sports, you are doing it wrong. If you are doing it so your tiny kid doesn't get beat up in the gym locker room I can't say you are wrong.
I turned 5 on my very first day of Kindergarten. A lot of guys in my class were a year and some change older than me. Hell, I was 17 for a week or so at ISU.
In my small school it was so they'd be bigger/more mature for sports. And it worked. I probably would have been a D1 Athlete if my folks had held me back
I did hear an interesting podcast by Malcolm Gladwell, largely referring his previous book. But he basically recommends starting kids later, and testing/evaluating on age rather than grade in school. I haven't read the book, but I found it interesting. My girls are both spring birthdays, so it wasn't really a question in our household.
In my small school it was so they'd be bigger/more mature for sports. And it worked. I probably would have been a D1 Athlete if my folks had held me back
I did hear an interesting podcast by Malcolm Gladwell, largely referring his previous book. But he basically recommends starting kids later, and testing/evaluating on age rather than grade in school. I haven't read the book, but I found it interesting. My girls are both spring birthdays, so it wasn't really a question in our household.
My God your grocery bills must have been through the roof!
For us we redshirted our son (July birthday). He turned 18 before his senior year of high school but has always been pretty mature. We felt it was the correct decision with hindsight. He's now a freshman in college and appears to be doing well.
This is really interesting. My kids were both born late June. So they would be young or old for their class
I've been talking to my wife about a "redshirt" year. Mostly because the oldest has taken off since the older kids left his class and gave him room to take a leadership role.
I've been talking to my wife about a "redshirt" year. Mostly because the oldest has taken off since the older kids left his class and gave him room to take a leadership role.
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My son is a July birthday. We waited and he was one of the oldest in his class. My daughter is a February and normal. I think it all depends on the kid. We just thought a little more time would be helpfull for him. I also think people over think it to much. Just depends on each kid.
My birthday was early May and my parents held me back and it was best for me. My daughters birthday is also early May but we sent her early. Big reason her pre-school told us she was more than ready for school and she would just be bored with another year of pre-school. That was the right decision for her. In fact, she has done so well in school she skipped her 5th grade year as well, once again based on the recommendation of her teachers. That also turned out to be the right decision for her, although a much more difficult one to make. Trust your instincts and the opinions of those who know your kid best and have their best interests at heart.
I had a sept birthday so was essentially redshirted and turned 18 right at the beginning of senior year. Had 3 best friends who were a full year younger then me and while we all ended up being successful they often mention wishing they had been put back a year. Everything from sports, to driving, to just feeling a little more in control of themselves. No answer will fit everyone but it is great that people are discussing this more.
Our oldest is about 6 weeks ahead of the cutoff so he'll be one of the youngest at this rate. What I've read/listened to said don't focus on academics (definitely not sports) but think about emotional regulation, can they sit for a while, how do they share? How do they lose at games? How do they interact with peers? Said those are better readiness indicators than academics.
Based on that I feel better because he absolutely bosses around all his friends, must get it from his dad.
Based on that I feel better because he absolutely bosses around all his friends, must get it from his dad.
I don't consider your scenario redshirted. I think most would consider you were older but in the right class.
Daughter is a late June birthday and we started her early. She was absolutely ready academically but, at times, I think we underestimated the social aspect. She's in middle school now and doing fine but there are times where we wish we'd have waited when she gets frustrated that the other girls are ahead of her physically even though she has no interest in playing sports.
I do think she'll end up appreciating it when she's not almost 19 when she graduates from high school.
I do think she'll end up appreciating it when she's not almost 19 when she graduates from high school.
This is a book my wife and I read when we had our first boy who will be 5 on Saturday. We didn’t have a choice really when to send him so it didn’t affect that. This book did change my wife’s mind on the subject and she would have been more likely to wait after reading. As a country, we start more education earlier and there doesn’t seem to be long term benefits for it overall in our education systems and may be tons of detriments.
For me I didn’t want April and may. Got an April though. June or later I say hold.
We're in the same situation with our first child. He's 5 with an early May birthday.
We started him in K this year because intellectually he seemed ready. So far seems like the right decision.
Not sure what we'll do next year, have him repeat K or let him be young for his class. He has a few classmates that are almost a year older than him, which at this age is definitely a huge difference.
