Redshirting...what about tomorrow?

Kids have only been in school for a few weeks, but already our local playgrounds, my web of Facebook friends, and the Frog & Snail Society is abuzz with the "hot topic" of this fall . . . redshirting.

 

And Moms in the trenches aren't the only ones discussing & debating - Parents magazine's August issue offered up "Holding Kids Back for Success", while a few days ago the New York Times weighed in with Sam Wang & Sandra Aamodt's "Delay Kindergarten at Your Child's Peril".

Before I share my meager two cents, a few personal disclaimers...

• I was the youngest in my class (until high school), with a November 29th birthday running up against California's then December 1st cut off.
  (Imagine my excitement when I discovered a girl in my high school biology class had a November 30th birthday!)

• The Baron of Boredom is a Gemini, while the Master of Mayhem is just two days into Cancer - both June babes - and I've been fielding the kindergarten enrolling inquest since 2008, when the Baron started preschool at age three.

• I am so very thankful both the Baron & Master met all their milestones and are big for their age, so "redshirting" wasn't something we ever felt we needed to consider.

• I try to stay far, far away from the parenting soap box full of opinions & judgement -- there are plenty of folks eager to step up on that platform. I may not agree with your choices, but I do firmly believe we are all trying to do the best for our children. 

That said . . . enough already with this "redshirting"!

Just because your kid's birthday is a few weeks, or months, before your school system's cut off date, or is a few inches shorter than their peers doesn't mean you should sentence them to another year of preschool.

Of course, there are instances when both the professionals and parents agree that a child truly needs a little extra time before confronting the pressures of kindergarten, but holding back solely because you don't want them to be the youngest or the smallest in their class seems just plain selfish.

Why must your child be the oldest? The biggest? 

In the midst of this developing trend, I keep waiting to hear someone with credentials, someone wiser than myself, consider the potential long-term impact of "redshirting".

• Back in my day, there was a stigma attached to being "held back".

• Why is it alright for some parents to sentence my children to being the youngest? Just because I sent my boys to school when there were supposed to go.

• And how will this trend affect future classrooms, with bored students that really should be in the next grade up. How will teachers juggle teaching those that are in their age-appropriate grade while still engaging those that are older?

Personally, I think folks are failing to consider the long-term ramifications of their short-term choices.