Missing the School Age Cut Off: Good or Bad?

I am one of the many parents whose child misses the school age cut off for starting kindergarten in our local school district. While some parents are indifferent or even happy to wait another year before their kid starts school, some others, like me, would rather they be the youngest in their class. The other day, a friend and I were discussing our differences on this topic. She thought it was better for her child to be one of the oldest in her class. I worried that as other children just a couple of weeks older head off to school, my child may feel left behind and have to make new, younger friends. When she finally starts school, she might not find the curriculum challenging or interesting. Lastly, and perhaps quite importantly, I would have to delay working full time for an additional year as I care for my child.

Studies, including those by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (U.S. Department of Education) and Institute of Fiscal Studies (U.K.), have concluded that being one of the older children in the class can actually be an advantage, at least in the earlier years. Mathematically, a child who just turned three is 33% younger than a child who is a day short of her fourth birthday. That means if a child missed the cut-off and is entering pre-K3 close to his fourth birthday, he may be physically bigger and stronger. Similarly, the difference in age is 20% for a child who just turned five, versus one who is a day short of being six. An older child may also be more adept at socializing, managing his emotions, and focusing than younger classmates. As a result, an older child may have more confidence and do better at school.

In fact, one in ten kindergarteners were at or near the age of six in 2000, and this proportion has been rising. Studies, including one by National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), suggest that middle to higher income parents of boys are the ones most likely to delay their children's kindergarten entry.
So, is my friend, who is considering moving to another school district because her child barely makes the age cut off right? Does it make sense to delay entry into school even if your child does not miss the cut-off? According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, "academic red-shirting" is not necessarily a winning strategy. Al though there is evidence that being among the youngest in a class may be an initial disadvantage, the age difference (on a percentage basis) drops to 10% for children entering fifth grade, and the average aptitude difference likewise reduces. On the other hand, there is evidence that children who are old for their grade are at greater risk of behavior problems when they reach adoles­cence.

My child is fairly young, so I will have some time deciding when she should start kindergarten school. My older child went to preschool, which have their own cut offs, so starting a preschool program at age three or four will allow me to monitor her physical, social and psychological aptitudes in comparison with her peers. When I believe my child is ready to go to preschool, thereare several alternatives, which I discuss in"What to Do when a Child Misses the School Age Cut Off" I am willing to consider.

Related article: What to Do when a Child Misses the School Age Cut Off
More from this contributor: Ease Your Child's Transition to Preschool Picking a Preschool for Our Child
Everyday Toiletries and Medicine Cabinet Essentials for Newborn Babies