Redshirting Your Child: Summing it up

Transcript

Kindergarten and the Redshirting Decision

Speaker 1 0:00

We're all trying to figure out the best path for our kids , aren't we ? It's complex .

Speaker 2 0:04

Definitely , and one of those really early decisions a big fork in the road is often about kindergarten .

Speaker 1 0:10

Right . When exactly should they start ? You've likely heard the term redshirting .

Speaker 2 0:14

Mm-hmm Holding a child back a year .

Speaker 1 0:17

Yeah , and it's often framed as giving them a bit of an edge , a stronger start for school .

Speaker 2 0:22

It's a huge decision for families of an edge , a stronger start for school . It's a huge decision for families , lots of hope tied up in it , but maybe some worry too about keeping up Absolutely .

Speaker 1 0:29

So today we're doing a deep dive into John Chavez's book 17 , 18 , 19 , redshirting Education .

Speaker 2 0:36

Yeah , we want to really get under the skin of this practice , kind of unpack all the different angles he presents .

Speaker 1 0:40

Exactly . Our goal isn't to say redshirting is simply good or bad . That's too simple .

Speaker 2 0:45

Right , it's about offering you , the listener , a more balanced picture .

Speaker 1 0:50

Using Chavez's insights to look at the potential upsides , but also , importantly , the drawbacks , the stuff that's maybe less obvious .

Speaker 2 0:57

So where should we begin ? The potential benefits Chavez identifies Sounds good , let's start there .

Speaker 1 1:04

What does he see as the positives of waiting that extra year ?

Speaker 2 1:09

Well , a really central idea in the book is what he calls enhanced readiness .

Speaker 1 1:13

Okay , readiness yeah .

Speaker 2 1:15

That extra year . It can be really crucial for developing those foundational skills .

Speaker 1 1:22

Like what specifically ?

Speaker 2 1:23

Think about things like paying attention , controlling impulses , managing emotions .

Speaker 1 1:30

Ah , the self-regulation piece .

Speaker 2 1:31

Exactly A child who's a bit older might just be better equipped developmentally for the structure of school .

Speaker 1 1:38

Right for the demands of a classroom . It's about giving them well a stronger foundation for learning .

Speaker 2 1:43

That's the idea Chavez puts forward setting

Potential Benefits of Delayed Entry

Speaker 2 1:46

them up for that stronger start .

Speaker 1 1:47

That makes a lot of sense . Intuitively . You can see how a little more maturity there can really smooth out that initial school experience . And Chavez also talks about how this might ripple out affecting the whole classroom , doesn't he ?

Speaker 2 1:58

He does . He suggests that if you have more kids in the class who are developmentally ready , well , it can make for a better learning environment for everyone . How ?

Speaker 1 2:06

so .

Speaker 2 2:07

You might see fewer disruptions , you know , which means teachers can spend more time actually teaching .

Speaker 1 2:13

Less time on classroom management related to kids just not being quite ready for the structure .

Speaker 2 2:18

Precisely More focus on instruction .

Speaker 1 2:21

Okay so a calmer , more focused classroom , that's definitely appealing . What about more concrete stuff ? Academics , maybe Focus on instruction . Okay so a calmer , more focused classroom , that's definitely appealing . What about more concrete ?

Speaker 2 2:30

stuff , Academics maybe . Yeah , Chavez looks at that too . He discusses research suggesting potential initial advantages academically and even athletically .

Speaker 1 2:38

Athletically too Interesting .

Speaker 2 2:40

The thinking is , you know , greater cognitive maturity might mean better scores on tests , better class performance , at least early on .

Speaker 1 2:46

And the athletic side .

Speaker 2 2:47

Well , that extra year can mean a real difference in size , strength , coordination .

Speaker 1 2:51

Ah , ok , which could open up more opportunities in sports , especially early sports .

Speaker 2 2:56

Potentially . Yes , that's part of the argument .

Speaker 1 2:58

You can see why parents would find those potential boosts attractive and I guess also just wanting to reduce stress for their child .

Speaker 2 3:06

Absolutely . Chavez really emphasizes that Giving them that extra year might ease the pressure , especially for younger kids who might struggle to keep up with peers , maybe 6 , 12 months older .

Speaker 1 3:18

So they don't feel like they're behind right from the start .

Speaker 2 3:20

Yeah , helping foster more positive attitude towards school . You know , building confidence instead of early frustration start . Yeah , helping foster more positive attitude towards school . You know , building confidence instead of early frustration .

Speaker 1 3:27

OK , so we've laid out some of the potential positives . Chavez discusses enhanced readiness , classroom dynamics , academic or athletic edge , reduced stress .

Speaker 2 3:38

But like any big choice , you absolutely have to look at the other side of the coin .

Speaker 1 3:41

Right , the potential downside , yeah . What does Chavez highlight there ? Things maybe people don't think about as much .

Speaker 2 3:47

Well , one of the biggest points and it's a really critical one is equity .

Speaker 1 3:50

Equity how so ?

Speaker 2 3:52

Redshirting just isn't an option for everyone . Think about the cost an extra year of child care or preschool .

Speaker 1 3:59

Right , that can be a massive financial burden .

Speaker 2 4:01

Exactly , especially for families relying on public schools starting as soon as possible . So redshirting could actually widen the gap between advantaged kids and disadvantaged kids .

Speaker 1 4:11

Creating a kind of disparity right from day one of kindergarten . That's a really serious consideration .

Speaker 2 4:17

It really is . It's not an equal choice for all families

Examining Drawbacks and Equity Concerns

Speaker 2 4:20

.

Speaker 1 4:20

And you mentioned earlier that readiness could improve classroom dynamics . But Chavez also points out potential challenges there too .

Speaker 2 4:27

He does . It's sort of the flip side If redshirting becomes more common , you get classrooms with a much wider age range .

Speaker 1 4:34

And that makes things harder for teachers .

Speaker 2 4:35

It can . Yeah , you've got kids at very different developmental stages , different skills , coming in . It demands more complex teaching , more differentiation , more sophisticated classroom management .

Speaker 1 4:47

So potentially more work for teachers who are already juggling so much .

Speaker 2 4:51

It could certainly add to the complexity of their job .

Speaker 1 4:54

What about the social side for the kids themselves , the ones who are redshirted ?

Speaker 2 4:58

That's another nuanced point Chavez raises . While some kids might thrive being a bit older , others might actually feel well a bit out of sync with their yeah , when that age difference becomes more noticeable socially and there's also a risk maybe of unintended social stuff happening because of the age gap .

Speaker 1 5:19

Like what .

Speaker 2 5:20

Maybe older , more developed kids inadvertently making younger ones feel excluded , or maybe some resentment . It's subtle .

Speaker 1 5:27

Those less obvious social dynamics are important , and Chavez also flags a concern about delayed intervention . That sounds serious .

Speaker 2 5:38

It is Think about kids who might have , say , developmental delays or learning disabilities .

Speaker 1 5:44

Okay .

Speaker 2 5:44

If you delay kindergarten , you might also delay identifying those issues , and that means delaying access to early support services .

Speaker 1 5:52

Services that can make a huge difference if started earlier .

Speaker 2 5:54

Exactly so that delay could be a real negative consequence for some children .

Speaker 1 5:59

And one last potential downside Chavez mentions this idea of pressure Pressure to redshirt .

Speaker 2 6:04

Right If it starts becoming the norm or seen as the better thing to do .

Speaker 1 6:08

And parents might feel like they have to do it even if it's not right for their specific child .

Speaker 2 6:12

Precisely , and that could gradually push the average kindergarten entry age higher for everyone .

Speaker 1 6:17

Which could mess with the system and expectations around early childhood overall .

Speaker 2 6:22

Yeah , potentially placing unintended strain on the whole education system .

Speaker 1 6:25

Wow , ok , so it's a really tangled web of potential pluses and minuses for the individual child and the classroom .

Speaker 2 6:34

And Chavez takes it even further , looking at the bigger picture implications for the education system itself .

Speaker 1 6:40

What are some of those broader effects he talks about ?

Speaker 2 6:42

Well , he discusses how expectations might shift , Like what's considered normal for a kindergartner's skills .

Speaker 1 6:49

If the average kid starting is older .

Speaker 2 6:51

Then schools might , maybe without meaning , to , start gearing their curriculum towards those slightly older , more mature kids .

Speaker 1 6:57

Which could put younger kids the ones who aren't redshirted but are technically the right age at a disadvantage .

Speaker 2 7:03

Exactly . Even if they meet the traditional age cutoff , the goalposts might have subtly moved .

Speaker 1 7:09

That could really change the feel of early elementary education . What about longer term , beyond those first few years ?

Speaker 2 7:15

Chavez points out something interesting there . While you might see those early academic

Broader Educational System Impacts

Speaker 2 7:20

bumps , the ones we talked about . Yeah , research often suggests those advantages tend to well level off by middle school or high school . The red-shirted kids don't necessarily outperform anymore , huh .

Speaker 1 7:35

So the initial advantage fades .

Speaker 2 7:37

It often seems to , and then , being older when you finish high school , that could have other effects down the line .

Speaker 1 7:43

Like what .

Speaker 2 7:43

Potentially delaying college entry or starting a career a bit later .

Speaker 1 7:47

So it's almost like a trade-off , a possible early boost for maybe a slightly later start on other things .

Speaker 2 7:53

That's one way to look at the potential long-term arc . Yeah , it's fascinating .

Speaker 1 7:56

And does Chavez mention teachers again , in terms of how they're prepared ?

Speaker 2 7:59

He does , if classrooms become more diverse developmentally because of redshirting .

Speaker 1 8:03

Then teacher training might need to change .

Speaker 2 8:05

It might need to adapt . Yeah , making sure new teachers really know how to handle that wider range of learners effectively . More focus on differentiated instruction , maybe a deeper dive into child development across a broader age span .

Speaker 1 8:18

That makes sense and , policy-wise , what should districts or policymakers be thinking about ?

Speaker 2 8:23

according to Chavez , he suggests they might need to look again at their kindergarten entry rules .

Speaker 1 8:28

Because of rising redshirting rates .

Speaker 2 8:30

Yeah , maybe consider more standard age requirements or perhaps provide much clearer guidance to parents , laying out all the pros and cons we've discussed .

Speaker 1 8:39

Or maybe alternatives .

Speaker 2 8:40

Right Things like transitional kindergarten programs , an extra year of development , but without formally delaying entry into the K-12 sequence .

Speaker 1 8:49

So we've really covered the potential benefits , the drawbacks , the system-wide effects . It's a lot to weigh , it really is . You've really covered the potential benefits , the drawbacks , the system-wide effects . It's a lot to weigh .

Speaker 2 8:56

It really is .

Speaker 1 8:57

But you know , what really struck me reading Chavez's book was when he shared his own family's story , his son's .

Speaker 2 9:04

Oh , absolutely . That part adds such a crucial human layer , doesn't it ? It moves beyond the statistics .

Speaker 1 9:09

It really does , because his sons had such different paths and it wasn't always predictable , based on when they started school .

Speaker 2 9:15

Exactly . It shows how much else goes into a child's journey .

Speaker 1 9:18

So let's touch on those stories . His oldest son he was redshirted right .

Speaker 2 9:22

Yes , graduated high school at 19 .

Speaker 1 9:24

And seemed successful by many metrics . Good GPA engineering degree career .

Speaker 2 9:29

Yeah , 4.1 . Gpa played football , got an electrical engineering degree . Has a career now . Looks like a success story on paper .

Speaker 1 9:37

But Chavez mentioned struggles too .

Speaker 2 9:39

He did . He shared that his son dealt with self-confidence

One Family's Three Different Journeys

Speaker 2 9:42

issues , sometimes so redshirting wasn't like a magic wand .

Speaker 1 9:45

Right doesn't erase all potential challenges .

Speaker 2 9:47

Not at all .

Speaker 1 9:48

Then the middle son started school on time .

Speaker 2 9:51

Seems so Star athlete early on middle school .

Speaker 1 9:54

But things changed .

Speaker 2 9:55

Yeah , high school football dreams kind of got derailed by injuries . Academics apparently suffered after a move . Grades weren't as strong .

Speaker 1 10:03

And his path after school .

Speaker 2 10:05

He got a film degree but , chavez notes , the career path wasn't clear , ended up in a blue-collar job .

Speaker 1 10:11

So that early athletic promise didn't translate into a specific kind of quote unquote success later .

Speaker 2 10:17

Exactly . It really highlights how things change , interests shift . Life throws curveballs .

Speaker 1 10:22

And the youngest son also seems like he started on time .

Speaker 2 10:25

Yeah , described as a brilliant athlete , varsity quarterback for four years and academically stellar to like a four point , five , five GPA . Wow but a major injury . His senior year Ended his season . Maybe his football prospects .

Speaker 1 10:38

Oh no .

Speaker 2 10:39

And , despite having college football offers , he decided not to pursue them .

Speaker 1 10:43

Really After all that .

Speaker 2 10:44

Yeah , and apparently there was some strain in the relationship with his dad with Chavez . After the injury , the son moved in with his mother .

Speaker 1 10:53

That sounds tough . What's he doing now ?

Speaker 2 10:55

Studying electrical engineering like his oldest brother .

Speaker 1 10:57

So another path that took a really unexpected turn , despite all the early talent and achievement .

Speaker 2 11:04

It's such a powerful illustration , isn't it ? Parenting kids' lives . They're messy , imperfect , full of challenges .

Speaker 1 11:12

And Chavez seems to reflect on that directly that growth comes through those challenges .

Speaker 2 11:16

Yes , that's kind of the core reflection . We try to make the best decisions , like whether to redshirt , but ultimately the journey is complex .

Speaker 1 11:23

Then maybe those struggles are actually essential parts of development .

Speaker 2 11:26

That seems to be his takeaway , which brings us right back to the redshirting decision . It's just one piece of a huge , unpredictable puzzle .

Speaker 1 11:34

It really puts it in perspective . It's not just a simple pro-con list .

Speaker 2 11:37

Not when you look at real lives . No , Okay .

Speaker 1 11:40

So , as we wrap up this deep dive drawing heavily on John Chavez's book and his reflections , what's the main thing you're taking away ?

Speaker 2 11:50

For me it really boils down to just how multifaceted this is . Red shirting , yes , there are potential upsides maybe short term boosts for a child , maybe for the classroom but there are significant potential downsides , too big ones like equity and the fact that those long term benefits aren't guaranteed . They might fade .

Speaker 1 12:11

And , like Shaveh's own family , shows so many other things shape a child's life beyond just their kindergarten start date .

Speaker 2 12:17

Absolutely . It's clearly not a one-size-fits-all situation . There's no single right answer .

Speaker 1 12:22

The diversity of experiences , even within one family , as Shabba has shared hammers that home .

Speaker 2 12:26

It really does and it leaves you thinking , doesn't it ?

Speaker 1 12:28

About what .

Speaker 2 12:29

Well , how is all this conversation around readiness and the fact that more people

Final Reflections on Complex Choices

Speaker 2 12:33

are redshirting ? How is that changing how we even define readiness ?

Speaker 1 12:37

Are we shifting the goalposts societally ?

Speaker 2 12:39

Maybe , and what are the knock-on effects of that for kids' development long term and for fairness , for equity in our education system ?

Speaker 1 12:47

That's definitely something to chew on , a lot to think about in our own context , based on what we see around us .

Speaker 2 12:52

For sure it warrants some real personal reflection .