Why this trend of holding back kids from starting kindergarten just because they have late in year 5th B-Days?

Question

I'm especially surprised by how quick so many SF Bay Area private schools and parents are today to hold back and dismiss age eligible kids as not ready for Kindergarten just because their 5th birthday falls later in the year (June-November). It seems more a tactic for schools to weed out candidates and for parents to ensure their kid excels (in sports, class, etc.). Is it really in the best interest of the child especially for those kids so eager to learn and experience new things, and seemingly ready in many other ways? If children aren't progressively challenged and inspired in these critical early years, their interest in learning in the long run could detrementally be impacted.

Answer 1

It really is a decision that should be made on a child by child basis.
My son was (and still is, in his 20's) exceptionally smart but didn't have the more socialization skills like sitting still and ability to attend to one subject for a while.
I kept him "back" a year - he's a July b/d - and neither of us ever regretted it.
I think studies have shown that as a rule, boys are not as "school ready" at 5 as girls are.
But, again, you have to know your child and what is best for them.

Answer 2

I would have to agree that this is not a recent trend...though perhaps it is getting more popular - or more public awareness.
It really is a personal decision, and I truly don't believe parents hold their child back a year so that 13 years later that same child will be a better candidate for a scholarship.
On the other hand, you have parents who send their child to school at a very young 5 or old 4 (such as an early Sept. birthday) because they don't want to pay for daycare one more year...regardless of whether the child is socially mature enough to handle it. I've seen kids like that struggle for years.
My own daughter has an Oct birthday, and would have started school at age 4...I kept her home. Yes, she is one of the older kids in her class...but socially she is just where she ought to be...I have never regretted the decision.
I don't believe that children who are kept home for an additional year lose an interest in learning...the parents who are aware enough to make that kind of decision, generally are pretty academically focused themselves, and therefore would have the wherewithal to ensure that their children were still progressively challenged during that time.

Answer 3

Actually there is solid evidence that the "older" 5's will do better in school than the "younger" 5's because there is a whole world of difference in growth and maturity between a child who is just turned 5 in time to start school and someone who turned 5 nearly a year ago.

And it really should depend on the maturity of the child and the kind of program he or she is entering. A very smart and curious, but younger, five year old might not be ready to enter the highly structured and rigorous kindergarten classes that seem to be in fashion now. IF the parents can afford private schools than surely they can ensure that year (that the child is not attending kindergarten) is spent in a intellectually nourishing environment.

Answer 4

I do imagine that it relies upon on the youngster and as a parent you are able to decide what's perfect on your baby. our college district shrink off is Sept. 12 and my sons birthday is August 23. We chosen to save him out of Kindergarten until eventually he grew to develop into six. i'm particular all college districts are diverse to a level, yet the following Kindergarten isn't twiddling with blocks and getting to understand social skills. the familiar public colleges furnish Pre ok for 4 and youthful 5 year olds for that. My kindergateners have all had homework 4 days a week. A math worksheet, examining and spelling checks. My youngest daughter has a overdue could birthday, and already the Kindergarten instructors that my older babies have had/have are asking if i visit save her out until eventually she turns six too. as we talk i don't think of so, i have self belief like which could be pushing it a touch, yet we are able to make certain how she is doing academically and socially even as she finishes Pre ok. a huge area of our determination became made by technique of my husband. He also has a overdue summer season birthday yet he began Kindergarten even as he became 5. He did only effective throughout consumer-friendly college, it became middle college and severe college that he struggled with. He became rather a lot an finished year youthful then maximum of his classification, the locker room became hell for him because he did not hit puberty jointly, did not get interested in females once his friends etc. For us i could quite my son be 3 or 4 months older then a number of his classification quite then an finished year youthful then maximum of them and substances him a head start up. each now and then you are able to look previous the Kindergarten lecture room and see the way you imagine issues may be 10 years down the line.

Answer 5

That trend has been around longer than you think...you are mostly right, most parents do hold back their kids a year to help allay the stress that school brings to the family, and believe me, there is stress. Another reason is that parents, as you said, want their kids to excel in their class, which surely they do. This tactic to me is unfair because these kids who enjoy a year above everyone else tend to win most scholarships, drawing contests, writing contests, spelling bees, etc...the list goes on. I agree with you, as I can see your point, most of these kids will be unable to deal with being challenged by people who are in the same boat as them, and similarly advantaged.

Answer 6

this is because teachers worry about the emotional age of a child. for example, he/she may be on the younger side of 7 and his/her emotional age is not at the point that it should be. and if exposed to the year level they are in they will be left with that lower emotioanl age. what then happens is that this student is too immature for their class, and to mature for the class below them....leaves them in the unfortunate spot of being in the middle of the two classes

i think this is something they are keeping in mind when it comes to the age of children that start mainstream schooling

Answer 7

that has been hapening for years.
I started K in my fifth year in 1962 and I was born in may. My sister who was born in Dec of 58 started K at 6 in 1964.
So you see that it is not a new trend.

Answer 8

ITS SO GAY!!!