Making the decision to redshirt your child needs to be made for the right reasons. Do you send your child to kindergarten because they are of age or do you redshirt them for a year so they gain a year of maturity? This decision needs to be made by the parent. Delaying your child a year in school may help them become a better student academic and socially, while for others, it may hold them back from meeting their potential. Redshirting a student happens when a child’s birthday is around the cutoff date for the school district or for private schools. Check with the school your child will attending as a student to see when that cutoff date is.
Some families have made the decision to redshirt their child to give their child a step up for the academic levels. If you are a low income family, you may not choose to redshirt your child. Having your child included with a child care costs will have you spending more money than it would to send your child to school. Be sure you are sending your child to school to become a student at the right time, don’t let your income effect when your child becomes a student.
In a survey conducted by the NCES, National Center for Education Statistics, 9% of kindergartners were redshirted between the years of 1993 and 1995. In 2007, NCES estimated that 14% of children between the ages of 5 and 6 were going to be redshirted by their parents. Many male students are delayed a year in school, where female students are not delayed a year. Children that are white and children that live in a high income home will many times be redshirted. The reason, many parents are worried their students will have a maturity level that is low and will not succeed academically. Be sure you redshirt your child for the right purposes.
In a study conducted with teachers, almost half of their students are not prepared for kindergarten. They lack the knowledge for social interaction, listening skills and don’t meet the proper academic levels needed to succeed. Redshirting your child may improve these skills and also help your child improve their math, reading and general knowledge. Having the confidence to succeed in school, your child will also need to know how to interact with other students on a good social level. This will improve your students self confidence and help them succeed with their academic education.
If your child attended a preschool as a student, meet with the preschool teacher and ask questions about your child and how well they did as a student. You can ask how well they listened to directions they were given, how well they interacted and communicated with other students and if they achieved the projects they were asked to do and complete. Ask the preschool teacher to give you honest answers. As these questions are answered, you will be able to make the decision if redshirting your child is the proper step to do.
Also meet with the school administrators and the teachers that will be working with your child. You may be able to have your child tested to see where they are on an academic level and also on a social level. Knowing this information will give you the best idea on how well your child will do as a student and if they will succeed. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about what your child will be taught and what they will be experiencing as a student. As a parent, your child is your responsibility.