Should You Wait Another Year to Have Your Child Start Kindergarten?

As a primary educator who has worked with young elementary students for more than a decade, I have witnessed parents delay their children’s start in kindergarten quite often. And they have had several reasons to do so. Some reasons are valid, while others don’t seem to hold water. 

 

I can fully understand as a father of two young toddlers who will begin kindergarten in a couple of years. My daughter, with her birthday near the end of September, will be one of the older kindergarten students since the cutoff is usually September 1st for birthdays for children entering kindergarten at five years old (in Illinois). She’ll be almost six by the time she starts kindergarten. 

 

My son has a birthday in late June, so if we have him start kindergarten at five, he will be one of the younger children in the class. I am not sure I want him to be one of the youngest in his class. 

 

Academic Redshirting

There is an actual term for waiting an additional year for your child to begin kindergarten: academic redshirting. The word redshirting comes from college athletics, of course, but it has evolved to include academics at a young age nowadays. 

 

It allows the child to develop needed skills before they begin their academic career that could last a few decades.

 

What Are the Skills That Could Be Improved Upon?

Plenty of skills could be improved if the child waits another year. And remember, just because they are not starting kindergarten, they could do a year of preschool, which would also improve these skills. 

 

Become a Better Reader

As a certified Reading Specialist, I will confirm that the better a child can read, the more effortless academic success will come to them, especially in the first few years of school. Reading skills are needed for every subject. If a child enters kindergarten without the literacy abilities required, they could be behind the eight ball their very first year of school. 

 

Maturity 

Some young children are still having difficulty sitting still by the time they enter kindergarten. They may literally still be bouncing off the walls. Waiting another year allows the child to mature more before putting them into a classroom. 

 

More Physically Developed

Being one of the smallest kids in class is not something most children want to happen. It is not solely for athletic purposes either. Smaller children often get picked on more and made to feel less than equal to their older classmates. 

 

Older Children Are Less Likely to Be Held Back

According to numerous studies, children redshirting kindergarten are much less likely to be held back later or asked to repeat a year for academic reasons. Interestingly, they also have less of a chance of being diagnosed with a learning disability. 

 

Developed Social Skills

Having taught young children, I know many of them are struggling with social skills. It is not only that they need help with basic social skills with their peers, but with adults as well. An extra year could help them become more confident in this often-overlooked area. 

 

Is Your Child Going to Be One of the Youngest When Starting Kindergarten?

If you are not too concerned about having your child be one of the youngest in their kindergarten class, ensure they are more than adequately prepared. At iAchieve, professional tutors will happily work with your child remotely or in person. Whatever is more convenient for you. Our tutors are ready to assist children in any subject or grade level. With summer fast approaching, we have special offers specifically for the summer months that will ensure your child is ready once they walk into that kindergarten classroom. 

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