Late start, early advantage? The pros and cons of holding a child back

The norm is that kids start kindergarten at age five. But research shows that, every year, a small percentage of children are “redshirted” and delay starting kindergarten until age six. Is it actually better to be the oldest in the class? How does “redshirting” play out in the classroom one year later, five years later, and 15 years later? A look at the short- and long-term ramifications from mechanchim and parents, plus helpful guidelines to make the best choice for your child

“WE had been deliberating about which school to send our eldest daughter, Penina, to ever since she was born,” Dasi recalls. “When she turned four, we finally applied to the school of our choice, and the administrator asked a simple question that set off a whole new round of decision-making — probably even harder than the first: ‘When do you plan to start your daughter in kindergarten?’”

There were solid reasons to start Penina on schedule that September… and solid reasons to hold her back a year. Penina was bright and curious, eager to learn, and had been talking about school for months. Kindergarten could help her develop social skills like sharing and making friends, plus early literacy lessons would give her a head start when formal schooling began.

But Penina was also sensitive and shy, clinging to Dasi around new people or in unfamiliar places. Dasi was worried that the longer days and structured routine might overwhelm her. Another year in a smaller, less formal setting might help her build confidence before entering the more formal environment of kindergarten. After all, she had many years ahead in the system — couldn’t she have one more carefree year?

“But then I wondered,” Dasi continues, “if I decide to wait, will she fall behind? Will she feel left out next year when all her childcare friends move on without her?”

Dasi isn’t the only parent agonizing over this decision. Although the norm is that kids start kindergarten at age five, research shows that a small percentage of students — generally averaging between four percent to ten percent, depending on the year — are “redshirted,” a term the Oxford Dictionary defines as “delaying the start of formal schooling for a child by one year.”

Where does the term “redshirting” come from?

Originally, circa 1950, it was used to refer to college athletes who were kept out of varsity competition for one year to develop stronger skills and were identifiable by the red shirts they wore to practice. It’s since been co-opted to refer to delaying kindergarten by a year.