The choice of ‘red-shirting’ your child

Fortunately I did not have to make the decision whether or not to send my just turned 5-year-old to kindergarten.

I have three children with November birthdays and the cut off for our district is September 3.

But I have seen what happens when parents push through a child with a summer birthday. Kindergarten is not like I remember as a child — a half day introduction into the school culture, learning your letters and numbers for the first time.

It is currently six-and-a-half hours long and many children are already reading. I remember wearing a tag with my name, address and phone number on it just in case I got lost.

Now kindergarteners should have this information memorized. In order for a child to be able to learn in kindergarten today they need to be able to sit still and focus for a half-hour at a time.

What just turned 5-year-old boy likes to do that?

One friend with a boy with a May birthday decided to put him through, by second grade she had to make the decision to hold him back. It was too hard to keep up both academically and socially (maturity).

For years, I think school, in general, has been much more conducive to girls strengths. Sitting still, focusing and memorizing. More recently I notice a shift toward visually learning, critical thinking, and technology, which may just even the playing field a bit for boys. My sister just made her decision with my nephew born on August 3; he will be entering kindergarten next year just after he turns six.

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