anyone due at the very end of august worried about school cut off?

Kcirar726

I am due August 31st. My main concern is that I will deliver late, like I did with my daughter, and we will miss the school cut off of September 1st. Is anyone else worried about this. My daughter is the type of kid that was so ready for school that if she was to be held back a year because of cut off, it would be horrible. I am worried that this baby will be the same and have to wait a whole year to start school. I know that if it is born in August than we have the option of waiting a year if it turns out that this one isn't ready to start school. So is this on anyone else's mind?

Themetastic

We have the same due date!  But yeah, I started thinking about this yesterday.  I grew up with best friends who had September birthdays and were nearly a year older than me (my bday is in July).  What can we do though?

MillerTime13

I'm due the 25th and I've thought about the same thing. I have a friend who was born the end of Sept. and went to school early and it was evident that she wasn't emotionally as mature as everyone else even into middle and high school. I guess we'll just have to hope for the best!

cate42807

I'm due at the end of August (they keep switching me between 8/20 and 8/28) but I am not really worried about possibly having to hold my child back a year before school... mostly because my DH read "Outliers" last year and there was a lot in the book about being an older child in school leading to more success academically and socially... sounds pretty good to a girl who was always the youngest in her class.... just a thought!

laurenbncha#

YES!

I was just thinking about this.  H and I both have late Aug/ early Sept birthdays and we were the youngest in our grades and thrived.  Honestly, and I know this is flame worthy, I would probably induce if I was getting close to Sept.   Our schools are strict with the cut off.

airforcewife331

I honestly never even thought about that until now, but I can say that no matter how it works out for my child, I am sure it will be for the best!  All things happen for a reason and if they have to start school a year later, so be it--I can work with them an extra year to prepare them!

LJR 84

DD was born July 8th, and this LO will likely be born the last week of July. I'd rather hold them both than send them early. My mom's a teacher and has said that most times it's better to hold them anyway. I was always one of the younger kids in my class (with an April birthday). I would have much rather been one of the oldest! It will obviously depend a lot on their maturity, but I think we'll probably hold them both.

sunnydaisy

Our cutoff date is Oct 1st, but they've been talking about changing it to Sept 1st.  That change would likely happen before this LO starts school.  I'm due the 29th, and although I don't want to go late and not have the choice, I can't say I'm worried about it.  If it happens that I don't deliver 'til September, that's just how it is. 

My sister's kids, as well as those of several friends, ended up missing the cutoff or decided to wait another year.  None of them regret that, and they're all glad that their kids were that much more mature and prepared when they started school.  My niece's bday is in July, so I was most shocked about her delay.  She started kindergarten at 6 this school year, and she's thriving and hasn't even noticed any age difference with her peers. 

It'll all work out either way. :-)

dmogmo

I'm due the 24th. Honestly, if he's not here by my due date (ie I don't go into labor on my own), I will probably have a c/s scheduled within the next week anyway.I had a c/s last time and am hoping to try a vbac, but she won't let me go much past 41 weeks (which would be the 31st) and won't induce me either.  

And if I don't make it, whatever.  So many moms hold their kids back nowadays - whether they need to or not it seems - that it probably won't be a big deal. 

tourqeyes

I hadn't even thought about this but it definitely relates to me. Hmmmm.

ewarren1021

Our cut-off date is Aug 5, much earlier than most places.  My daughter turned 5 on July 19th, and started Kindergarten on Aug 20th.  She had passed the K round-up testing, and readiness testing with flying colors.  She went to a more "advanced" preschool for a few years that taught them regular academics as well as simple spanish and sign language, so she was pretty well prepared for K ahead of time.  I do have to say though that she has always been very mature for her age, so that was never a worry in our minds.

It all really depends on your child, and if you feel like he/she would be ready and prepared to start school.

crystal959

You can be nervous about it, but really there isn't much you can do about it. The baby will come when its ready. September 1st is the cut off date here, with DD I was due September 1st. I didn't have her til the 7th. She'll be the oldest, simple as that. We've held off taking her to preschool because I feel 3 years of preschool is overkill.

My brother was the oldest in his class and he excelled, 8th in his class, goes to Stanford. 

This one will be the youngest in their class so I'll have to deal with both.

I wouldn't think about it much, it's out of your hands.

mrsjones06

DS1 was born Aug 28th & this one (also supposed to be a boy per Drs NT guess) will be the beginning of Aug. I already know we will hold them both on starting school. I'd prefer them to be the oldest boys in their class to the youngest.

My bday is Nov 4th, so early enough that I was on the older side of the spectrum in my class & I think it was beneficial to me. Of course the impact can also depend on the kid & whether they are mature/immature for their age.

homediva

I hadn't really thought about this. Here in Ontario, the cut-off date is by calendar year, so this would apply more for babies born in the first bit of the year, ie. January.

And, I agree with PP, after reading "Outliers" I would definitely prefer to keep my child back a year and be the oldest than to squeeze in and be the youngest.  

jessicaclare

For most kids, there are more advantages to being the oldest kid in the class as opposed to the youngest. For the odd kid that really would excel being in school early, you can usually get them evaluated to enter Kindergarten earlier. If its just a school setting that would be beneficial, there are always plenty of early preschool programs you can enroll LO in.

I'm due mid august and I'm honestly more worried about this LO always being the youngest in his/her class. I know that I was the student that would have done fine being a year ahead, but DH definitely wasn't. He was actually "red shirted" in Kindergarten so he was a year older. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

J&MsMom

I read a study back when I was in college that girls do better when they start school early and boys do better when they start school late.  It has a lot to do with when the hit puberty.  That being said, this is one of those "It is what it is"  situations for us.  We can't do much to control it.

lololoco

I was worried about this with my first (she was born Oct 3), but now I'm SO glad she will be almost the oldest in her class. If this baby is born before Sept 1, I will be holding them back a year to start.

There's a whole phenomeon now called "red shirtting kindergarten" lol, and I definitely want my kids to be the older ones in the class. There are plenty of studies, as well as evidence in the book "Outliers" that your kids are at more of an advantage as far as self confidence and knowledge by being the oldest in the class.

SarahPLiz

I'm worried about this, but we already discussed this with friends who have kids in similar situations. They are going to go to private kindergarten (where the ages are less strict) and then transfer to public school for 1st grade, because they will be able to test out of K. It should work. 

JenJune3

I'm due August 25. depending on when I deliver I may wait til the next year to have the kiddo start school. I was the youngest person in my graduating class, I was only 17 when I graduated, and I was 17 when I went to college and guess what... they wouldn't let me live in a dorm when I was 17! So I had to change my plans and enroll in the community college in my hometown so I could live with my parents and attend there until I was 18!

jfgates05

As a first grade (and previous Kindergarten) teacher, we deal with this issue at the end of every year when we start accepting students for the following year (private school).  And I have to say that more and more people (at least in our area) are holding kids back until they're a year older.  So much, in fact, that the parents of younger kids who DO seem to be ready are hesitating sending their child because, as one mother said to me, "I dont' want my daughter to be 14 when all the boys in her class are 16.  Scary!!"  We encourage everyone to wait a year if they want to, because they are SO many benefits to waiting, but NO benefits to going early if they're not ready (or if they ARE ready, but are way younger than everyone else in their class).  Besides, why not have them around one more year at home?   Just my two cents!!

SarahPLiz

THis is probably going to sound really conceited, so I apologize in advance. DH and I are both gifted. We come from families of gifted people. We were both bored to tears in school. I ended up in trouble all the time because I'd get distracted and DH just skipped half of K and walked around town (in Romania, different place and time). If my child is academically ready at 4 days shy of 5 years old, then I'm sending them to Kindergarten. Otherwise I feel like I am delaying them academically. They'd just be learning the same things at home from me, so when they did go to K, they'd be bored, like I was.. the only kid in my class that had already been reading for over a year. I'd rather my child be with their academic peers and be challenged by school. DH feels the same. This is why we will go the private school route if we have to for K. 

Of course, if our child is not emotionally ready for school, that's a different story, and we will of course be sensitive to it.  

harri339

Are you 100% sure the cut off is September 1st?  In Michigan the cut off isn't until December 1st.  It doesn't go by school years.  Since I teach 2nd grade I'm going to give my honest opinion.  If you have a boy, the majority (not all) benefit from being held back a year. 

I wouldn't worry about this too much. 

[Deleted User]

I've also read Outliers and I did relate to the age part.  My birthday is in Sept so I was one of the oldest kids in class.  Not only was I taller, school was very easy for me.  I didnt make a B til junior high and was prepared for gifted classes.  I was also teachers pet.  My brother was one of the youngest, smaller and struggled to pay attention.  I'm sure being the older kid really benefitted me.

atack

Someone brought this up to me yesterday.  So yes, I am concerned, but it is what it is. 

 

I am not going to stress over it.  What happens if the birthday is Sept 1st - do you get to choose or is that meaning you go the following year, so you'll be the oldest?  I'm a teacher and I always get this confused.  

tourqeyes

JenJune3:

I'm due August 25. depending on when I deliver I may wait til the next year to have the kiddo start school. I was the youngest person in my graduating class, I was only 17 when I graduated, and I was 17 when I went to college and guess what... they wouldn't let me live in a dorm when I was 17! So I had to change my plans and enroll in the community college in my hometown so I could live with my parents and attend there until I was 18!

 

They wouldn't let you live in a dorm at 17?! That is crazy haha.

I, too, graduated at 17 and after moving from NY to NC in high school I was much younger than the majority of my classmates. I enjoyed being the youngest to graduate my year in high school and was able to excel despite being younger, but I agree that it depends on the person. The only thing I was resentful about was that my classmates all got their permits/licenses or turned 18/21 before myself. Something I could care less about now, but when you are younger it seems like a big deal!!

Monsieur_et_Madame_Ha

I was in that situation with DD. Cutoff date here is Sept 30th and I was due Oct. 4. DD was born Sept. 29, so we're in the clear but. BUT. I know it's possible (around here anyways) to ask to have a child who was born close to the cutoff date start school one year early/late. Of course they have to do some testing before deciding whether or not they will make the exception, but it's good to know that it is a possibility.

eleopard

I taught fourth grade for several years and witnessed several younger students held back right around fourth or fifth grade due to emotional, social, and/or academic development.  The difference in age is not always apparent at the Kindergarten level and sometimes "catches up" later.  That being said, you know your own child and what is best for him or her and it is ultimately your decision.  Many schools will test students in instead of using birth date restrictions.  Good luck to you!

SarahRuthG

My sister is a Aug 27 baby and my little brother is a Sept 1 baby.... they both managed ok. It has crossed my mind but there is nothing I can do about it so I am trying to just go with it for now. I am sure I will worry about it a ton if I think my child will be held back a year when they are ready to go or the other way around.

Just another thing for us mom's to stress over

Karen1998

Not really.  I'm an August birthday and started school when I'd just turned 5.  DH is a September birthday and started school right before he turned 6.  It worked out fine for both of us, though I was jealous of the Fall birthday kids in High School and college as they hit the milestone birthdays first. 

Honestly, if your child is too young to start school but you think s/he is ready for school, you can do alternative things such as a really intensive preschool to keep that child intellectually engaged.  It's really no different than what you'd do if you had your child a few months later anyway. 

Karen1998

cate42807:

I'm due at the end of August (they keep switching me between 8/20 and 8/28) but I am not really worried about possibly having to hold my child back a year before school... mostly because my DH read "Outliers" last year and there was a lot in the book about being an older child in school leading to more success academically and socially... sounds pretty good to a girl who was always the youngest in her class.... just a thought!

The second Freakanomics book talks about this as well.  Having a child after July 31 actually helps them to be better in sports as most sports have an age cut off of July 31, so they're bigger and better coordinated because they're older and have had more time to learn and develop. 

MrsNole

This was one of the first things I thought about (and I'm a teacher). But lately I've been thinking and i am not too worried about it since really there could be a new cutoff date by then or I might just want to hold my child due to maturity.

samanthahollman

ewarren1021:

Our cut-off date is Aug 5, much earlier than most places.  My daughter turned 5 on July 19th, and started Kindergarten on Aug 20th.  She had passed the K round-up testing, and readiness testing with flying colors.  She went to a more "advanced" preschool for a few years that taught them regular academics as well as simple spanish and sign language, so she was pretty well prepared for K ahead of time.  I do have to say though that she has always been very mature for her age, so that was never a worry in our minds.

It all really depends on your child, and if you feel like he/she would be ready and prepared to start school.

Our DD's have the same birthday! Mine turns 5 this summer, and we're debating whether or not to send her.  Our old neighbor has a daughter whose birthday is in August, and they held her back. Not because she wasn't ready, but because they preferred her to be the oldest one in class because they "want her to be the coolest, and first with their drivers license." 

veggiemomto2

It really does depend on the child, so I wouldn't worry just yet. 

 My son was born 9/19 and made the cut off, but he didn't go till the following year.  He could have, easily, but I kept him home for both of us. 

ckinnaley

I have a 14 year old sister who was a July baby. My parents went ahead and sent her to school early and she is the youngest in her class. This really wasnt an issue until the past few years. It's not that she isn't smart enough or cannot learn what the older kids can it's that her maturity level is not the same as the other kids in her class. She is now a freshman in high school and really not ready for it...

I haven't really thought about this with my baby....I'll deal with it when it's time to start school.

iteachk

As a former kindergarten teacher who is due in early August, I will be holding my daughter back regardless.  My mom is also a kindergarten teacher, and even if a child seems academically ready, it is almost always better to wait a year if the child has an August birthday.  Children who start kindergarten very young tend to be less emotionally mature than other students, and if that doesn't show/affect them in kindergarten, it likely will later on.

FWIW, I was born in Oct (when the cutoff was Dec 1st); my mom waited a year and I did very well.  My brother was born in July;she sent him when he turned 5 & he hated school, was always the youngest/smallest, and almost didn't graduate high school.  My youngest brother was born in June; my mom waited a year and he did very well.

mdotm0904

honestly i hadnt really thought about it, i'm due 8/31 as well & i was just going to send my kid to school under whichever year they fell. Not really too concerned about them being the youngest or the oldest in the class because I feel like both has it's benefits. i also think most schools do a great job of incorporating multiple levels inside of one class so if a child is struggling to "keep up" they have teacher's aid's available to help and even if they are too "advanced" there's always the options to skip ahead or do the "challenging" work in the class.

StefandTodd

Not worried about this at all...our age cutoff date is December 2nd (California) and I think it is so dependent on the individual child.

ewarren1021

JSMFamily:

ewarren1021:

Our cut-off date is Aug 5, much earlier than most places.  My daughter turned 5 on July 19th, and started Kindergarten on Aug 20th.  She had passed the K round-up testing, and readiness testing with flying colors.  She went to a more "advanced" preschool for a few years that taught them regular academics as well as simple spanish and sign language, so she was pretty well prepared for K ahead of time.  I do have to say though that she has always been very mature for her age, so that was never a worry in our minds.

It all really depends on your child, and if you feel like he/she would be ready and prepared to start school.

Our DD's have the same birthday! Mine turns 5 this summer, and we're debating whether or not to send her.  Our old neighbor has a daughter whose birthday is in August, and they held her back. Not because she wasn't ready, but because they preferred her to be the oldest one in class because they "want her to be the coolest, and first with their drivers license." 

Very cool!  Has your DD had any "recommendations" for you on when to have the baby yet?  lol, ours told us that the baby HAS to come after her birthday no matter what.  I went 4 weeks early with DS and 2 weeks early with DD, but I guess it could go either way with this one.

 Each parent has to figure out what would work best for their child.  I considered holding my daughter back another year, but she was so ready to start and I would've felt awful making her wait if she didn't need to.  She has always had a higher maturity level than most kids her age, so we never thought twice in that respect.  Plus, our DS who is a little less than 2 years older, has always been a great influence on her and their love in learning. 

ETA: DS is in 1st grade, so only a grade ahead of DD.  His bday is in November, so he didn't start school until he was almost 6.  The extra year definitely helped him out when he started K.

megd06

My H was born on Sept 3 (labor day--haha!) so he had to wait a year to start school. I was the opposite--I started a year early, so when we met in college our freshman year, he was 19 and I was 17 Anyways, I'm not too worried about it--especially if this baby is a boy, b/c honestly--I think sometimes for boys, it is the best thing for them to wait a year to go in to school. Since this is my 2nd, and my 1st delivered on his due date, I'm really hoping that I deliver on time though--especially since on H's bday he's supposed to fly out of the country for a week

MandiNewMommy

cate42807:

I'm due at the end of August (they keep switching me between 8/20 and 8/28) !

 

They keep doing the same two dates for me! 

CandyIsGood

My DS was born on Aug. 30.  He's 2 and a half.  I'm almost certain we will hold him back a year.  I've talked to a lot of people about it with older kids, and almost all of them with boys with Aug-Oct birthdays held them back and were very happy with their decisions.  It came to impact sports in high school (the kids had growth spurts that allowed them to compete better), and literally everyone I've spoken with talks about how hard it is for boys to just sit down and listen at an early age. I

My only concern with DS is that he is physically VERY tall, and he's been in daycare since 6 months.  The daycare becomes preschool next year.  Taht's a lot of preschool before school, and I do get worried he'll be bored.  But I'd rather an extra year in PS than holding him back later if need be. 

With this one, I'm due Aug. 10.  If we hold back DS, we'll definitely do it with them too. 

FWIW, My DH was very young -- he graduated at 17.  He had a tough time in school, although he's very smart, and I've always been really confused about it.  I suspect he may have had something to do with his age, and he was physically small.  I have a May birthday and was one of the youngest, and always did very well.  But I'm a girl -- it's easier for us .  Plus, from what I hear, school for kids is much harder now than when I was little.