I remember when I was going to school that the hard and fast rule for kids starting kindergarten was that they must be 5 by December 31 of the beginning school year, so a few kids started out at 4. There were a few rare kids in my class that were turning 6 already because their parents had chosen to hold them back. It didn’t matter to any of us then, but as we got older we noticed that they were the first to drive and often had later curfews.
Until now, it never dawned on me that some parents might be holding their children back for an athletic or academic edge. (I stress that SOME parents are doing it-a very slim percentage I would guess)
I read an article where the author, Tom Matlack, s that a private kindergarten teacher told him that a parent cornered him, asking if his child were enrolled in the pre-K, could the teacher guarantee admission to Harvard. Matlack was told by an admissions officer that he tells parents that holding back boys could result in more play time in athletics, getting the girl, and even getting better grades.
A teacher Matlack talked to disagreed, saying that while for some children it is an advantage, it can also be a disadvantage, possibly even causing some children to lose a love of school because the activities might not be age appropriate.
Many school districts have cut-offs that a child must be 5 by the time the school year starts, or at least by the end of August. But, the real factor boils down to each individual child, some are ready for kindergarten, others are not.
How do/did you decide if your child is ready for kindergarten-testing, checklists, talking to teachers, or do you stick to the cut-off dates? Would you ever hold your child back to give them an athletic or academic edge?
