WHO-TV, IA
10-30-07
Redshirting your Kindergartner
Redshirting has always been popular for college athletes who want to sit out a
year of athletic eligibility, but now more and more parents are choosing to
"redshirt" their children before kindergarten. The practice has sparked
controversy over the parents' motivation.
"We do know that kids who have been held back, who are old in grade, are less
likely to finish high school, are more likely to drop out." said Dr. Susan Hegland,
an associate professor of Human Development and Family Studies at Iowa
State University.
Conversely, many classroom teachers encourage more parents to redshirt their
children. These educators claim that children who start kindergarten a year later
are better adjusted throughout adolescence.