Moms Talk Q&A: The Wisdom of Redshirting

Kindergarten registration in Ledyard will take place later this month, and for parents of children who will turn 5 next fall, there could be a decision to make:

To redshirt, or not to redshirt?

Redshirting – or holding a child back a year before starting kindergarten – will be the topic of today’s online Moms Chat, which will begin at 1 p.m.  To join the conversation, simply click on this article and scroll down to the comments section. (Remember to refresh often).

To be very clear, the cut-off age by which a child must turn 5 in order to start kindergarten in Ledyard is still Jan. 1.

But the optimum age of children starting kindergarten has become the subject of much debate. In December, the state Board of Education approved a plan to move up to Oct. 1 the date by which children must turn 5.

That recommendation has yet to be approved by the Legislature, and Ledyard schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Graner said it may not get very far if the state is unwilling to provide funds for pre-school.

Meanwhile, there is no shortage of arguments, both for and against, redshirting. On the one hand, redshirting gives a child another year to grow, both physically and emotionally. On the other hand, it potentially denies a child a full year of learning.

Research on the longer-term benefits of redshirting are inconclusive. Some studies claim the older children in the class have a clear advantage, while other studies attribute an apparent advantage largely to socio-economic factors.

The real issue could be what happens in the upper grades. If you think a 4-year-old feels small and vulnerable starting kindergarten with 6-year-old classmates, imagine your pre-pubescent 13-year-old starting high school with a class full of 16-year-olds.

We welcome anyone, especially parents with young children or some experience in this department, to join us at 1 p.m. (Remember to refresh!)