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Redshirting Kindergarteners: A New Trend for Academic Gains

What is redshirting?

Redshirting Kindergarteners: A New Trend for Academic Gains Kindergarten isn't what is used to be. Instead of half a day of painting and playtime, the classroom now has a more rigorous agenda than ever, including a full school day, math and reading worksheets, and homework many nights of the week.

Although this advanced curriculum is aimed at socially and academically preparing children as they begin their educational journey, it leads many parents - especially those with children who would be among the youngest in their class - to consider holding their child back a year to give him an academic boost against his classmates.

"Redshirting," an old sports term used to describe athletes benched for a season to extend their playing eligibility, is now used to describe holding back five- and six-year-olds as they enter into the school system. And it seems parents are taking it seriously. In 2008, the Journal of Economic Perspective stated that 40 years ago, 96 percent of 6-year-olds were enrolled in first grade. Today, that number has dropped to 84 percent. Although about one-quarter of the shift is due to school districts pushing the age cut-off dates to earlier in the year, the remaining shift is reportedly due to redshirting.

Additional research points to the same trend. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), about nine percent of kindergarteners were redshirted between 1993 and 1995. Although more recent data won't be available for several more years, a 2007 report from the NCES estimates that number has jumped to 14 percent.

Pros and cons of redshirtingRedshirting has shown certain benefits. Children who would normally be the youngest in their class are suddenly the oldest. They've had an extra year to mature, maybe an extra year of preschool to help hone their social skills. The idea that their child isn't the youngest, smallest, or least mature is of some comfort to parents.

In addition, redshirted children tend to be more confident when they enter school, probably due to their advanced motor skills and the size advantage they have over their younger classmates.

Academically, there is still some debate. In 2005, the RAND Corporation conducted a study that found redshirted children scored higher on standardized tests and reading tests than their younger classmates, most likely just because of their higher maturity level. This was found to persist into first grade.

However, although redshirted children may have an academic gain in the first few years of schooling, a study conducted by the National Institute of Health (NIH) found this typically disappears over time. In addition, the same study concluded that there is no evidence that children who enter school at a younger age gain less from early school experience than their older peers.

As for the possible cons, redshirted children are usually six years old when they start kindergarten, while children who begin when they are age-eligible are five, sometimes four, years old. This large span in age sometimes makes it harder for teachers to manage their classrooms.

In addition, holding a child back could possibly mean, in the short-term, an extra year of childcare expenses for the parent. Long-term, redshirting a child means one less year in the workforce for him. While children his age are graduating high school and entering college or the workforce, he still has a year left of school to complete.

Being older than their classmates also means redshirted children are usually larger than their peers. Although parents might look at this as an advantage, it can lead to feelings of alienation in the classroom, and possibly down the road when they reach puberty earlier than their classmates.

Also, if the child is in fact ready to start school but is redshirted to put him ahead of his peers, the curriculum may end up being too easy for him. Therefore, once redshirted children begin kindergarten, many parents often go on to request more advanced curriculums.

This leads to another parental concern -- as kindergarteners slowly get older and the curriculum starts to get more demanding, do younger children have no choice but to wait a year? A study released in 2000 by the National Association of Childhood Specialists touched on this issue, and is still echoed by parents today.

What Should You Do?
The decision to redshirt your child shouldn't be based on what academic gains he may achieve over his peers. It should be based on your child's own unique strengths and weaknesses, and whether you think he is emotionally and physically ready to start school.

If you have reason to believe school might be too overwhelming for your little one, and he might benefit from another year at home or in preschool, then consider waiting, especially if his birthday falls after the start of the school year. If your child is on the younger side, but she seems emotionally and mentally able to start kindergarten, consider starting her on time.