tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729008319243255768.post4079329616448330934..comments2023-12-27T05:21:25.813-05:00Comments on my convertible life: Redshirting in KindergartenConvertible Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02247648457145957062noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729008319243255768.post-12423201913128652542012-04-10T22:24:13.825-04:002012-04-10T22:24:13.825-04:00Great post -- and seriously, you have plenty of th...Great post -- and seriously, you have plenty of things to think about right now without worrying about when he starts kindergarten.Convertible Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02247648457145957062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729008319243255768.post-48282398574877853992012-04-10T22:21:08.132-04:002012-04-10T22:21:08.132-04:00Amen, sister. Preach on.Amen, sister. Preach on.Convertible Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02247648457145957062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729008319243255768.post-55616731635336546062012-04-10T22:20:09.034-04:002012-04-10T22:20:09.034-04:00Yup -- I'm relieved that Pippi is a February b...Yup -- I'm relieved that Pippi is a February baby. Nothing to worry about.Convertible Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02247648457145957062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729008319243255768.post-17103138190223233602012-04-10T22:19:42.212-04:002012-04-10T22:19:42.212-04:00Quirky is good. And I agree -- I think my birthdat...Quirky is good. And I agree -- I think my birthdate had the least influence of anything on my success or failure in school.Convertible Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02247648457145957062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729008319243255768.post-68469673880500320572012-04-10T22:18:51.593-04:002012-04-10T22:18:51.593-04:00And as a December kid, I was one of the older (alt...And as a December kid, I was one of the older (although not oldest) -- and my BFF, with a Sept. birthday is 9 months younger than me (and shorter, too). But I never felt like I had an advantage over her or that she was at a disadvantage. Glad it worked out for you :)Convertible Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02247648457145957062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729008319243255768.post-56359374638810645842012-04-10T22:17:38.979-04:002012-04-10T22:17:38.979-04:00Agreed -- I wish schools made it more of a rule th...Agreed -- I wish schools made it more of a rule that you had to win an exception to. That would help lessen the arms race effect. I think my biggest frustration around the whole debate is when parents are holding back because they want their kid to be the biggest -- that's totally not what school is about.Convertible Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02247648457145957062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729008319243255768.post-90733489891704342512012-04-10T22:16:07.451-04:002012-04-10T22:16:07.451-04:00Nice that at least you didn't have to make the...Nice that at least you didn't have to make the decision with all your kids. And interesting to be able to see how it applies differently with different children, even within the same family.Convertible Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02247648457145957062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729008319243255768.post-5967261089922645062012-04-10T22:15:12.744-04:002012-04-10T22:15:12.744-04:00Would be interesting to do a study to see if more ...Would be interesting to do a study to see if more kids in charter schools or private schools don't go to kindergarten "on time" with a summer birthday than in traditional public schools.Convertible Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02247648457145957062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729008319243255768.post-1127191045283984502012-04-10T22:13:20.062-04:002012-04-10T22:13:20.062-04:00Ugh. I can't even think about the teen years -...Ugh. I can't even think about the teen years -- with my son or daughter, either way it makes my head hurt.Convertible Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02247648457145957062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729008319243255768.post-21452975657762256332012-04-10T22:12:20.247-04:002012-04-10T22:12:20.247-04:00I feel your struggle -- and I think a late August ...I feel your struggle -- and I think a late August birthday makes it even harder since it's that much closer to the cut-off. But honestly, I'm fine with J getting his driver's license later than everyone else. As a December birthday, I was one of the first to drive among my friends, which meant I became the chauffeur for everyone else. And I agree with you -- if it was a hard rule and could remove the doubt for parents, I think it would be easier on everyone.Convertible Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02247648457145957062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729008319243255768.post-83426212799105019202012-04-10T22:09:59.148-04:002012-04-10T22:09:59.148-04:00You're so right -- really have to consider the...You're so right -- really have to consider the whole picture. And that was my fear for Junius, that he'd be bored in school and that would create more problems than being young.Convertible Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02247648457145957062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729008319243255768.post-62327912177962243452012-04-10T18:20:57.625-04:002012-04-10T18:20:57.625-04:00We just had this issue to grapple with and I even ...We just had this issue to grapple with and I even wrote about it our blog too. I like your take, your caveat, your soapbox, and I respect your decision. We made the same decision for our boy, but let me tell you there was pressure---oh, was there pressure! Our private school could not understand why we would move forward, but the research doe NOT bear out holding back for anything other than a speech or developmental delay. Great topic, nice piece, ErinSisterhood of the Sensible Momshttp://www.sisterhoodofthesensiblemoms.com/2012/03/should-he-stay-or-should-he-go/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729008319243255768.post-29909272603458954962012-04-10T14:10:21.185-04:002012-04-10T14:10:21.185-04:00Love this! Ponies, boobies, menstruation - Oh my.Love this! Ponies, boobies, menstruation - Oh my.Dollops of Dianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15972810307843283411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729008319243255768.post-82187065007128939672012-04-10T14:08:21.642-04:002012-04-10T14:08:21.642-04:00I completely agree. My son has a 7/31 birthday (cu...I completely agree. My son has a 7/31 birthday (cut off 9/1) and unless there is a glaring reason standing in the way then I plan on sending him on time. He is only 1 but since he has a summer birthday people ask me all the time if I'll send him "early" or not. I wrote a post about it after a playground encounter if you want to give it a read. (http://www.dollopsofdiane.com/2011/11/is-daniel-ready-for-kindergarten.html)Dollops of Dianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15972810307843283411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729008319243255768.post-16402331297920901362012-04-10T13:15:03.634-04:002012-04-10T13:15:03.634-04:00BRAVA! Yes to everything you've said. I think ...BRAVA! Yes to everything you've said. I think we are screwing over poor kids. There. I said it. <br /><br />My twins have an Aug. 24 birthday. Our cut-off is August 31. They will start kindergarten next year on Aug. 15. That's 9 days as four-year-olds. I know for a fact they will be sitting in school with 6-year-olds.<br /><br />I decided not to hold my girls back, not because they are brilliant babes who are a head of the curve, but because they are right on schedule, scholastically and emotionally, for kindergarten. I want them to have access to the instruction they require as soon as possible. Because if they are going to turn out to be smarty-pants kids, they need more school sooner, not later. <br /><br />Studies of children with access to early education show that it helps children to be better educated adults, not because of their age relative to the standard grade level, but because the sooner they are exposed to learning, the better they fare throughout school. A 6-year-old isn't smarter or better equipped than a 5-year-old because of his age. He may be writing better or adding numbers because he's had an extra year of learning at home or in a pre-school. He does not become a competent writer, reader, or mathematician simply because he aged a year. Students become more educated when they are exposed to education. It's that simple. <br /><br />I don't begrudge families the right to make the best decision for their child. Every kid has different needs. However, I don't think all the children who are red-shirted in kindergarten need to be. And I don't think all the parents who red-shirt them have had the right guidance from school professionals or the research in hand to make that decision well. I imagine that a lot of these parents, while they may think long and hard about this issue, ultimately make a decision to hold their would-be kindergartner back out of fear.<br /><br />Well, why not? I'm certainly a bit afraid that when my girls go to school they will be so much younger and littler than their classmates that there could be an environment of bullying, condescension, and dismissal around the treatment of my kids---by students and teachers. When the age of your child's classmates is 12- to 18-months older, there may be a reason to be afraid.Nicole Leigh Shawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02042126240711460836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729008319243255768.post-26064089369879176622012-04-09T21:12:41.171-04:002012-04-09T21:12:41.171-04:00I'm so perplexed by the red shirting issue. My...I'm so perplexed by the red shirting issue. My husband & I both have September birthdays & were always among the youngest in our classes. We both excelled & I took pride in excelling and being one of the youngest. At the very least, my age was never something that I felt hindered me. Am I quirky? Yes. Do I feel like I never fit in? Yes. I don't attribute that to my age, though. <br /><br />Daniel's bday is in June, and we plan to start him in kindergarten on time unless we have a very compelling reason not to do so.KeAnnehttp://babywithatwist.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729008319243255768.post-49996894955028336322012-04-09T21:08:27.845-04:002012-04-09T21:08:27.845-04:00Being born in November I was always one of the you...Being born in November I was always one of the youngest kids. I never had any issues with it. In fact when I picked up my second major on college and had to do the 5 year plan it all equaled out. Honestly it depends on your kid and what their needs are.SpryOnTheWallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16149135530530458132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729008319243255768.post-16637700042113715022012-04-09T20:20:25.032-04:002012-04-09T20:20:25.032-04:00I have to say I agree with Allison and respectfull...I have to say I agree with Allison and respectfully disagree with LZ. I have an October birthday. I was always one of the youngest if not the youngest in my class. Last to turn 16, last to turn 21, etc. Yeah, It sucked sometimes. But so what? I wasn't the most confident kid on the planet and having a late birthday didn't kill what little confidence I had. Everyone has challenges. Mine was that I was a little younger and a little smaller. Big whoop.<br /><br />. I hate it that one of my closet friends held her son back when he was totally ready to go to kindergarten last year because she and he husband were worried he'd be smaller than the other boys. He's not small. He's average. And now he's going to have an artificial boost over other kids who he is a full year older than. It sucks. I wish school districts made it a rule that if your kid is born before Aug 31' he or she MUST go to kindergarten that year, unless he or she has a valid reason not to. It really infuriates me to see kids in my daughter's kindergarten class who are a full year older than others whose parents followed the rules, getting an unfair advantage because they are developmentally older than the other. And never mind the complications is poses for the teacher. Ugh.JD @ Honest Momhttp://honestmom.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729008319243255768.post-7395694836102842922012-04-09T19:57:18.173-04:002012-04-09T19:57:18.173-04:00We had my oldest go to a 5's class. He has a S...We had my oldest go to a 5's class. He has a September birthday and the class did wonders for him. Academically he could have started kindergarten but socially he was not ready yet. When he started kindergarten I felt he was where he was supposed to be. He is now in sixth grade and you can still see some of the differences between the "older" kids and the younger ones. My second child has a May birthday and she was more than ready to start school on time. My third also has a September birthday but that was the year they changed the cut off date so we didn't really have a choice. She is in first grade now and is above grade level on most things but she is enjoying school and hates to miss it. My youngest will be 5 this October so we have another year before he starts. He would not be ready even though he is taller than some of the kindergarteners now. I guess he will just be a tall kid.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729008319243255768.post-4341627455518834692012-04-09T19:37:04.397-04:002012-04-09T19:37:04.397-04:00You know our boys fell just on either side of the ...You know our boys fell just on either side of the cut off--S could not go and is "naturally" the oldest in the class and we held B back. We had a an interesting thing happen last week in the K class. My inlaws were in class for grandparents day and the kids read a book they wrote out loud. Only two boys couldn't read without assistance from their grandparents -- one has some developmental issues, but the other little boy is simply 14 months younger than Sammy. I felt bad when I heard that story because his mother had told me that she had struggled with her decision and decided to send him. It kind of broke my heart for him and I hope it did not take the wind out of his sails so young. Long story short, you can see how it is that virtually everyone here (which is, as you pointed out, an area of more affluence and parental options) is holding back because the arms race has already happened and passed on by!<br />STKAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729008319243255768.post-57911728486314611062012-04-09T19:35:56.922-04:002012-04-09T19:35:56.922-04:00My son has an end of June birthday in NC and was s...My son has an end of June birthday in NC and was sent on time. Academically everything is great, but socially it is a struggle and I don't see that going away soon. I was one of the youngest and developed later and it was hard. I'm glad for my daughter's October birthday.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729008319243255768.post-28610814778537069072012-04-09T18:02:20.159-04:002012-04-09T18:02:20.159-04:00S was born on August 31st. Our town's cutoff d...S was born on August 31st. Our town's cutoff date is September 1st. She will be the youngest. We're still a couple of years away, but I'm planning on sending her on time unless she shows a real deficiency of some sort. I won't hold her back just to keep her from being the youngest. As far as I can tell, being the oldest girl wouldn't be so great either. What's worse than still being the only flat-chested girl who likes ponies? How about being the only menstruating girl when the rest of your class still likes ponies. Any way you slice it, adolescence sucks. <br /><br />The biggest advantage we can give our children is to remember what it really felt like to go through all those grades, and be there to support them. Ensuring that our sons are the biggest and strongest hurts everyone. I totally agree with your arms race analogy.Allison @ Motherhood, WTF?http://www.motherhoodwtf.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729008319243255768.post-2233057511919064662012-04-09T18:01:20.564-04:002012-04-09T18:01:20.564-04:00:-) I will respectfully agree to disagree.
My you...:-) I will respectfully agree to disagree. <br />My youngest is a late August baby and I'm holding her back this year. We have gone back and forth on the issue repeatedly, but finally cemented our decision when we let registration come and go without participating. Our decision isn't based on how we think she'll do in Kindergarten, it's more based on the later years, when being the youngest, smallest, etc. can have serious social repercussions. If we make 16 the age when she can date, drive, etc., she will be left out when many others start over a year before her. I hate that it matters, but it does. <br /><br />Honestly, I wish there was a hard and fast rule requiring kids to register when they were of age, so it would take the 'what if' out of the equation. But, since so many others are holding back August, July, and June kids, I plan to hold back, as well. I spend a ton of time in my first grader's class and there is a 14 month difference between the oldest and youngest and it's painfully obvious in every way.LZhttp://twochickensblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729008319243255768.post-29280442755581422142012-04-09T17:58:44.734-04:002012-04-09T17:58:44.734-04:00I have an interesting perspective. I was born on O...I have an interesting perspective. I was born on Oct. 20th, 20 days after the cut-off in my own city (Colorado Springs) in the seventies. Even though I passed all the tests with flying colors, the administrators convinced my parents not to push me forward (I guess the cut-off was slightly flexible) and they kept me home until I was almost 6. I arrived at kindergarten already reading. We moved to Germany and I subsequently was advanced to 2nd grade partway through the year and then straight to 3rd grade. The bummer was that I was reading way above grade level, but I missed stuff like multiplication tables, etc. So it did actually cause me some problems in the short term. Overall, I think it would have been better for me if I'd just been put in Kindergarten at the age of four. It was all a huge mess, really. My SIL is a school counselor and she says she's never met a parent who was sorry they held their kid back. But I'm definitely proof it can be problematic if done injudiciously. Being bored in school is almost as big a problem as not keeping up!Aliciahttp://www.napshappen.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com