Does entering your child in kindergarten late improve academic performance?

Question

Who does this benefit, the parent or the child? I realize parents want their child to be the biggest, clever little being ever - but come on!

Answer 1

Entering a child a year late is only recommended for kids that are not performing at their age level, mentally, physically, or socially.  Parents that enter their kids a year late are only guaranteeing that their child will perform at that grade level, despite being a year older.  In a way, they are postponing a year of their child's life.  My son was just a few weeks away from the age cutoff, but I enrolled him anyway.  He has always been the youngest in his class, and now as a senior, he's 6'3" and 230 lbs., and an excellent student.  His best friend was held back from entering kindergarten because his mother wanted him to have a leg up on the competition, so to speak, and he performed at grade level from elementary through high school.  Now he'll be graduating at 19, when he could have already been in college for a year.  I think it's a waste of a child's time unless there is a very good reason for it.

Answer 2

Depends on the child.  Some will benefit from an extra year of maturity.  Some will find that being the oldest/biggest is problematic.  Some will end up being bored in school.  Others may thrive.

If the child is old enough to enter, and they have the maturity to go, they should.  If they don't have the maturation to succeed, waiting a year might help.