Episode 4: Pros and Cons of Redshirting

What if giving your child an extra year before kindergarten could set them up for lifelong success? In this episode, we explore the intriguing concept of redshirting and its potential to enhance not just academic performance but social and emotional growth as well. Backed by research from reputable sources like the Journal of Educational Psychology and the National Bureau of Economic Research, we discuss how this decision can positively influence children's maturity, emotional regulation, and executive function. We also touch on how these early advantages might ripple through their educational journey, possibly impacting high school graduation rates and college attendance.

Discover how a simple choice can lead to profound effects on your child's confidence and social skills. Studies show redshirted students often have stronger social abilities and self-esteem, which can make school a more enjoyable experience. Imagine a classroom where your child feels confident, eager to participate, and ready to embrace new challenges. Plus, we discuss how these benefits might extend to happier, less stressed parents. This episode is a must-listen for any parent contemplating the merits of redshirting, filled with insights and possibilities that could reshape your family's educational path.

Transcript

Speaker 1 0:38

Hey everybody and welcome to another Deep Dive. Today we're tackling a topic that I know a lot of parents are thinking about redshirting.

Speaker 2 0:48

Yeah.

Speaker 1 0:48

That whole idea of giving your kiddo an extra year before kindergarten and we want to be clear up front. We're really zeroing in on the potential benefits here. We're not trying to give like a this or that kind of neutral overview.

Speaker 2 1:01

Exactly, yeah, there's a lot of research out there and we want to focus on what makes redshirting seem like a good choice for some families.

Speaker 1 1:12

Like, we've got these studies that lay out some pretty interesting upsides and you know, one of the first things that comes to mind for me and I bet a lot of parents is just like. Maturity level. Yeah, is my kid actually ready for a classroom Like a classroom like developmentally? Are they there?

Speaker 2 1:21

And there's research that actually backs up that concern. A 2007 study in the Journal of Educational Psychology found that older students often did better academically, especially early on.

Speaker 1 1:32

Which makes sense right, Like a year at that age is huge.

Speaker 2 1:35

Oh, absolutely. It's not just knowing your ABCs, it's brain development. That year can make a difference in their emotional regulation, their executive function. You know all those skills you need to focus and control your impulses and actually like learn in a classroom.

Speaker 1 1:50

It's like setting them up for success right. And speaking of success, that reminds me of this other study we've got here from the National Bureau of Economic Research, and it actually found that registered kids tended to score higher on standardized tests even later on in their schooling.

Speaker 2 2:05

Oh, wow.

Speaker 1 2:05

So it makes you wonder if it's like a snowball effect.

Speaker 2 2:07

Yeah, it's really interesting to think about that. Like obviously it's not a guarantee that your kid's going to suddenly become like a standardized test whiz.

Speaker 1 2:14

Right.

Speaker 2 2:16

But it does make you think about the long-term impact that even just that little bit of extra time can have.

Speaker 1 2:22

It's fascinating.

Speaker 2 2:23

Yeah.

Speaker 1 2:24

And of course you know, it's not just about academics.

Speaker 2 2:26

No, absolutely not.

Speaker 1 2:27

There's a whole social side to kindergarten too.

Speaker 2 2:29

Hugely important.

Speaker 1 2:30

And check this out. There's a study from the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology that found redshirted students often had stronger social skills, which again like kind of tracks with what we were just talking about. Right, those extra months could be really important for developing social and emotional intelligence.

Speaker 2 2:48

Yeah, it's all about making friends and reading social cues and feeling comfortable in a group all that stuff that makes school more fun and less stressful, and if a few extra months can help with that, it's worth thinking about.

Speaker 1 3:00

Totally and you know all that confidence. Whether it's social or academic, it really can make a difference. There's some research from 2006 that found redshirting could even be linked to a boost in self-esteem for kids, and that's huge.

Speaker 2 3:13

Yeah, think about it. A child who feels good about themselves is going to be more likely to participate in class. They're going to be more willing to take on challenges and try new things.

Speaker 1 3:24

Absolutely, and they might even enjoy learning more, which is like the Holy Grail, right Exactly. And happy kids usually means slightly less stressed parents. We saw the survey from the National Center for Education Statistics from 2013, and it said that parents of redshirted kids were often more satisfied with how their child was doing in school.

Speaker 2 3:43

Which makes sense. It can align with what a family is looking for in those early years. Yeah, now, obviously not every parent's going to feel that way, and that's okay, of course, but it is something to keep in mind.

Speaker 1 3:53

For sure and get this. We even found some research suggesting that redshirting might have some really long-term effects, like way down the line. Oh, wow, Like what yeah potentially influencing high school graduation rates and even college attendance.

Speaker 2 4:08

See, that's where we need more research, for sure.

Speaker 1 4:10

Yeah, for sure.

Speaker 2 4:11

Because that is fascinating to think about.

Speaker 1 4:13

It really is Like do those early advantages have this ripple effect that impacts a child's whole educational journey?

Speaker 2 4:20

It makes you wonder it really does.

Speaker 1 4:23

Yeah. So, as we're wrapping up our Redshirting Deep Dive today, we've covered a lot of potential benefits Things like maybe getting a bit of a head start in maturity and academics, stronger social skills, a boost in confidence. We even talked about happier families.

Speaker 2 4:37

And it's important to remember, those are all potential benefits, not guarantees.

Speaker 1 4:40

Right.

Speaker 2 4:41

Redshirting is a big decision and every kid is different. What works for one family might not work for another 100%.

Speaker 1 4:48

So, with all that in mind, what really sticks out to you, what matters most to you and your family as you're making this decision, something to think about. Thanks for joining us on this deep dive and we'll see you next time. Hey everyone, welcome back for another deep dive. You know, today we're tackling something uh, kind of big. You know it's a question I hear from parents all the time yeah, redshirting kindergarten, redshirting, holding your kid back a year, so they hit the ground running.

Speaker 2 5:12

Right, it's huge. I mean the playground chatter alone.

Speaker 1 5:15

Oh, it's intense and everyone wants what's best to give their little ones an edge Right.

Speaker 2 5:21

Right and on the surface it makes sense. A whole extra year. Who wouldn't want that?

Speaker 1 5:25

Exactly. But that's what this deep dive is about, right. What's lurking beneath the surface? We're going past the hype, digging into some research that might make parents hit pause because you're a kid, your choice, but let's be informed, yeah.

Speaker 2 5:38

Informed decisions are the best kind A hundred percent.

Speaker 1 5:41

So first up let's talk about little Timmy, right, he's a year older, bigger than the other kindergartners, maybe even ahead on a few letters B-U-T, socially.

Speaker 2 5:52

That's where Morrison's 2009 study, published in the Journal of Educational Psychology, really comes in. You can't just fast forward social development.

Speaker 1 6:00

Makes sense, but what does that look like in real life?

Speaker 2 6:03

Well, imagine Timmy at recess. Everyone's into say tag, you know classic kindergarten stuff. But Timmy, he's trying to get them to play chess or talk about the stock market. Okay, maybe exaggerating a tad.

Speaker 1 6:15

But I get your point. Like he's not speaking the same play language.

Speaker 2 6:18

Exactly, and that can be isolating, makes it harder to connect, build those friendships that are so crucial. At that age, confidence takes a hit too right? Oh, for sure.

Speaker 1 6:27

You're not fitting in, maybe feeling like you should be further ahead, ouch.

Speaker 2 6:31

Yeah, and that segues into another biggie. Those academic advantages might not last as long as parents think.

Speaker 1 6:38

Wait, really, I thought that was the whole point of redshirting. I know right, wait really I thought that was the whole point of redshirting.

Speaker 2 6:42

I know right but Dadar's work out of the National Bureau of Economic Research back in 2006, they tracked kids long term, those early games Pretty much gone by middle school.

Speaker 1 6:52

So no guarantees of a straight of life, huh.

Speaker 2 6:55

Nope More complex than that. In fact, some research suggests older kids who don't excel actually feel worse.

Speaker 1 7:04

Oh man, that's got a sting, adding insult to injury, almost. Why is that though?

Speaker 2 7:06

Well, think about it. Everyone expects more right Teachers, parents, even Timmy himself might internalize that Talk about pressure.

Speaker 1 7:13

Yeah, it's like this unspoken thing. Oh, you're the older one, you've got this. No room for error.

Speaker 2 7:17

And McEwen in 2011 found exactly that this pressure cooker effect is real. Kids feel it and it can impact their learning, their enjoyment, everything.

Speaker 1 7:28

So are we saying those early years like magically matter more?

Speaker 2 7:32

Maybe not magic, but definitely critical. Gormley's 2005 study out of the Institute of Education Sciences found that those early interactions, the social skills, the foundation of learning. It's prime time for that stuff.

Speaker 1 7:45

So even if they catch up academically, socially, emotionally, they might be missing out on something key.

Speaker 2 7:51

Potentially Every kid's different, but it's worth considering. And then there's the societal angle. This one's big.

Speaker 1 7:57

Ooh, okay, hit me with it.

Speaker 2 7:58

Think about WHO red shirts most often Renane and Steele from the Harvard Kennedy School 2007,. They found it's often families with more resources.

Speaker 1 8:06

Makes sense. It's an investment, right Time, often money for another year of preschool.

Speaker 2 8:10

Exactly, and that creates what they call an equity bomb. The gap between the haves and have-nots widens Kids without those advantages, they're playing catch-up from day one.

Speaker 1 8:21

Wow, so it's not just about little Timmy anymore, it's about the whole consistent system, deep stuff.

Speaker 2 8:26

Right, it's multi-layered. No easy answers, unfortunately, that's for sure.

Speaker 1 8:30

But hey, listeners, that's why we deep dive right Gets you thinking. So what's the takeaway for parents grappling with this?

Speaker 2 8:37

Honestly forget the trends. Look at your kid. What do they need? Where are their strengths, their challenges? Talk to their teachers, observe them.

Speaker 1 8:45

Trust your gut too 100%.

Speaker 2 8:47

This isn't a one-size-fits-all decision. It's about setting your kid up for success, whatever that looks like.

Speaker 1 8:52

Love that Individualized approach. All right, listeners, some HEAVY stuff to ponder today. Remember way you are your child's best advocate. Until next time, keep asking those tough questions.