Redshirting for Kindergartners: What It Really Means
“Will you send them to kindergarten next year or wait?” This is a question that many parents face as their children approach school age. Some families simply follow the local school entry age guidelines when deciding when to start kindergarten, while others consider delaying enrollment, a practice known as redshirting.
What Is Redshirting for Kindergarteners?
The term ‘redshirting’ originally referred to college athletes who took a year off from competition to mature and strengthen their skills. Now, it’s often used in the context of kindergarten to describe the practice of delaying a child’s entry into school by a year, typically to allow for additional emotional, social, or physical development.
Kindergarten deferments are relatively uncommon. However, some parents consider redshirting if their child has developmental delays or if their birthday falls close to the school district’s cutoff date. In most cases, the decision of when a child starts kindergarten is left up to the parents.
When deciding whether to redshirt your child, it’s important to weigh the child’s individual needs along with the possible benefits and drawbacks of delaying their school start.
Is Redshirting Effective?
Some potential benefits of redshirting include:
- Improved early academic performance in reading and math.
- Long-term positive effects for children from low-income families.
- Summer-born children may benefit from being among the oldest in the class.
- Reduce the chance of being held back a grade later
- Additional time for emotional and social development.
- Opportunity to become physically stronger than peers.
Are There Downsides to Redshirting?
Yes, there are some potential drawbacks:
- Cost: An extra year of daycare or preschool can be expensive and may strain a family’s finances.
- Unnecessary delay: Some children may benefit more from starting school on time.
- Delayed workforce entry: Starting school later can mean entering the job market a year later.
- Social challenges: Children who are significantly older or more physically developed than their peers might feel out of place or even face bullying.
Conclusion
Redshirting might seem like the right choice if your child has developmental or academic delays, but experts often recommend that children with special needs begin school as early as possible. Early enrollment can connect them with services and programs designed to support their development. While sending them to school may feel daunting, it could be the best option for their long-term growth.
