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When considering whether to delay your child’s entry into kindergarten or to let them start on time, it’s essential to weigh the evidence.
The moment I grasped the implications of our new school district’s cutoff date, I was overwhelmed. The director of my son’s preschool informed me that children must be five years old by October 1 to begin kindergarten. Coming from New York City, where any child turning five that year can enroll, this was a shock. My son, with an October 3 birthday, wouldn’t start kindergarten until he was nearly six. I quickly realized that this meant an additional year of daycare expenses—around $20,000—and a delay in my plans to transition to freelance work once he entered school.
My mind raced with worry. Would my son become disengaged in kindergarten after already mastering basic concepts? Could this lead to long-term academic struggles and damage his self-esteem? Would a mere two-day difference in age set him on a path to a bleak future?
I know I can be overly anxious, but research does show that starting school either much younger or older than peers can have lasting effects. However, the findings are often contradictory. For instance, a 2009 study indicated that younger children might excel academically as they adapt to the maturity levels of their peers. Yet, Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers points to the benefits of redshirting—holding a child back a year allows for better emotional and social development.
Additionally, older children are less likely to be held back or diagnosed with ADHD, leading many parents to choose to delay their child’s kindergarten start, a trend known as “redshirting.”
However, there are also drawbacks to both options. A 2021 Finnish study found that younger kids might face more learning disorder diagnoses, possibly due to the pressure of competing against older classmates. On the flip side, older students can be negatively impacted by disruptive younger peers in the classroom. One 2018 study revealed that just one disruptive child in a class can lower the overall potential and future earnings of their classmates by 3-4%. Furthermore, the supposed advantages of being older tend to diminish by 9th grade, where redshirted kids are only marginally ahead of their peers—by 7% at most.
So what should parents do? In our situation, while we considered enrolling our son in a private school with more flexible cutoff rules, we decided against it. Transitioning him between schools felt unfair, especially since he thrives on routine. Ultimately, we accepted that he might just be the tallest child in his kindergarten class, and we are okay with that. If he finds himself bored later on, we can always reassess and consider moving him up a grade.
The crux of the decision lies in recognizing that every child is unique. Some may flourish among older peers, while others might need additional time to build confidence. This choice is about understanding your child’s individual needs and how to best support their growth. Statistics provide valuable insights, but they shouldn’t dictate your decision entirely—after all, as parenting data expert Emily Oster notes, “the data is just one piece of the puzzle.”
For further insights on this topic, you might find our other blog post on home insemination useful, as it navigates the complexities of family planning.
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In summary, the decision of whether to hold back or advance your child in kindergarten depends on their individual personality and developmental readiness. Research offers mixed conclusions, but ultimately, knowing your child’s needs should guide your choice.