What is redshirting?

Added: 2026-06-07

[00:00:00]Red shirting boys, what is it? Well, it's a term that comes from college football for sending your child to kindergarten when he turns six instead of when he turns five. Why are people doing this? Well, the idea is that your son might be more mature for kindergarten. He'll be able to sit and listen to the teachers better if you send him when he's six than when he's five, which is understandable. In addition, he might have an advantage in sports with peers at his grade level because he'll be bigger and stronger than some of the other boys. What are some of the drawbacks to doing this?

[00:00:31]Well, frankly, your son might get bored at school, especially if he's gifted or he has an early birthday like in September or October of the school year.

[00:00:40]In addition, he may have trouble relating to his peers because he's more mature than them and may get tired of fart jokes before they do.

[00:00:48]This is really only a decision that people who are generally pretty economically privileged can choose to do as well because a lot of folks can't afford to continue doing child care for a whole year before sending their kid to kindergarten.

[00:01:02]So, what's the verdict? Is this something you should do or consider?

[00:01:05]Well, I think the answer is it depends.

[00:01:07]If your son has an early birthday like in the fall, no, I don't think you're going to need to do this because he's already going to be older than a lot of the other kids in his grade. If he has a later birthday, especially in the summertime after the whole school year has ended, yeah, I think this is this is something you could consider. In addition, I think you could consider it if there are special considerations like there was during COVID or if your son has some kind of disability.

[00:01:30]Overall, it's a mixed bag but a really great conversation that a lot of parents are having these days. Follow for more.