Red Shirting

I read this article this morning.  Red-shirting is a very common practice in our area.  All of Austin’s friends that have summer birthdays were held so it just made sense for us to hold him back too.  When he was in preschool the principal of the school he now attends visited to give a talk about kindergarten readiness.  It was clear that she believed that kids should not start early.  She ended her talk with the line, “education is not a race, it is a life-long journey.”  I always thought that was such a wise statement and a couple years later when Austin started her school, I saw why.  They are now using a 2nd grade curriculum for the kindergarteners and the expectations for reading scores were well above what was required for our district, and way above what is required for our state.  School meant getting down to business, play time was over.  When both of my school-age boys turned 5 we had the choice of paying for another year of preschool or sending them on.  Both of their preschool teachers said they were ready to go to Kindergarten.  As I went back and forth in my head about sending or holding (especially with Blake, who is absolutely huge) I just kept coming back to the same thing.  My boys have one chance to be a kid.  Once they start down the road of education, that’s it.  If I can give them an extra year to play, let that be my gift to them.  That last year before they started school was filled with preschool and tons of rec center classes taking everything from sports and swimming to art and music.  I can honestly say that I soaked it all in and when I scooted their little butts out the door on the first day of kindergarten I did so with the feeling that I had done everything I could to give these little guys the best head start I could.
I realize what worked for me would not work for everyone.  I am fortunate in that I can stay home.  That we have an awesome rec center a couple blocks away with affordable classes and I know that everyone feels that what they did is best, including me.  I have read so many books about children and schooling, about Waldorf education, Montessori, and lots of books by John Holt.  And tried to make the best choices I could based on my beliefs.  I am aware that what works for me may not work for you.
Now my third child is going to go to school early simply because he drives me crazy.  Just kidding.  Sorta.  🙂