Source: NPR
Studies have found that many parents choose to delay their child’s entry into school in order to avoid having them be the youngest one in class and instead be the oldest one in class. That practice is called “redshirting.”
Previous research has shown that students are more likely to be at the top of their class if they are older, across all areas including academics, sports and so on. But new research suggests that the “benefits of age” may not be worth the wait.
Researchers Diane Schanzenbach, an education professor at Northwestern University, and Stephanie Larson, director of Rose Hall Montessori School, are suggesting that parents do the opposite: send your child to school, now.
A few of the benefits that have been previously noted for older children in classrooms include the benefit of height and social development skill, and the impact of those on a child’ success. But the researchers suggest that the height issue will eventually even out by third grade, and a child’s rate of social development is “highly uneven,” meaning a child could very well be prepared to work with his peers by the time classes start.
Researchers also reported that a parent is “imposing an $80,000 lifetime cost on them by holding them back if it really doesn’t improve their outcomes.” Learn more about redshirting.
Read full story at: NPR