#29: Born Late in the Year? How Your Child's Birth Month Affects School Start Date
By TimeKal AI on August 14th, 2024
The Summer Birthday Dilemma
If your child's birthday falls in the summer or autumn months—especially close to the school's cut-off date—you face a unique decision. Will they be one of the youngest in their class, or will they wait an extra year and be one of the oldest?
What is "Redshirting"?
This is a term for voluntarily delaying a child's entry into kindergarten, even if they are technically eligible. Parents often consider this to give their child an extra year to mature socially, emotionally, or physically.
Factors to Consider:
- Social & Emotional Readiness: How well does your child interact with peers? Can they follow multi-step instructions?
- Academic Skills: While not expected to be reading, basic skills like recognizing letters or holding a pencil are relevant.
- The School Environment: Is the kindergarten program play-based or more academic?
Our School Start Calculator is the first step in this process. It tells you when your child can start. From there, you can begin the more nuanced conversation about when they should start.