Redshirting Preschoolers and Kindergarteners

Last week I posted the following question on Facebook and was surprised to get 17 responses from friends:

So, has anyone on here “redshirted” their kindergarten boy so that he’ll have an athletic advantage when he’s in high school? I heard of this for the first time today…

I’d never heard of this before.    But someone I met last week made the comment that he is redshirting his child now, putting him into preschool at age 5,  so that the child will be able to play sports in high school.    The child is apparently small for his age.    I knew what redshirting meant when it came to college sports, but had never heard of this phenomena starting at preschool or kindergarten.  So of course, I Googled it, and was amazed by the results.   Especially for boys born in summer months, this is apparently quite common, for either social, academic, or less commonly, athletic reasons.  

You can Google for articles and posts yourself, but here’s one I loved:

http://www.babble.com/Not-Holding-Back-Why-I-didnt-redshirt-my-kindergarten-age-son/

Also, I enjoyed the Facebook conversation among friends and thought I’d share it here:

My Comment:  So, has anyone on here “redshirted” their kindergarten boy so that he’ll have an athletic advantage when he’s in high school? I heard of this for the first time today…

Friend 1: I’m almost afraid to ask….redshirted?

Me: Redshirted, as in, started their kid in preschool or kindergarten a year later than what would be typical, so that your kid would be the oldest in the class rather than one of the youngest. For the purpose of creating an athletic advantage later in life, not related to any developmental delays or reasons.

Me: And if you Google “redshirting kindergarten” there are tons of articles about it, though most relate more to an academic advantage or the current “pressures of kindergarten”

Me: BTW, the hubby and I were both two of the youngest kids in our classes, and I can honestly say I never had an issue with this.

Friend 1: LOL Are you kidding me???? See, this is why I’m not a good PSO mother. “Pressures of kindergarten”? That does sound like BBH school system. Beware Lorelei! You’ve been warned. :)

Me: Nope, wasn’t a BBH parent at all. And “pressures of kindergarten” comes from several of the articles I am reading/laughing at online. Actually, I know one kid in the BBH school system (a neighbor) who started kindergarten at 4, so I don’t know how much redshirting is an issue there. Your girl goes to BBH now, right? Is she happy?

What is a PSO mother? :)

Friend 1: Actually, so far the school system is great. She loves it – Chippewa Rocks apparently. PSO is the new, trendy way of saying PTA (Parent Student Organization).

Friend 2: i’d never redshirt my own kid!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redshirt_(character)

Me: Oh thank goodness, I would have really embarrassed myself calling it the PTA! :-P

Me: OMG Friend 2, I am laughing my arse off. That did NOT come up when I Googled redshirt and kindergarten!

Friend 2: As soon as I see redshirt I think dead star trek guy. :P

Friend 3: I know someone from Texas and she said everyone does it where she lived…that’s the first time I had heard of it. Alex’s birthday is 9-9 so he will be one of the oldest, but if he takes after his parents he will have no athletic advantage no matter when he starts school :) .

Friend 4: Its very common now a days especially with boys. But you have to do what you feel is right. Not only with athletics but are they socially and academically ready. hope this helps

Me: I read an article about it being big in Texas. Fortunately, I’m not concerned about our son academically or socially being ready. And son #2 will be born early enough in the year that it shouldn’t be an issue. As far as athletics goes, I just personally wouldn’t hold my kid back for that issue by itself.

Friend 5: Yes. I have heard of this. (I was the youngest in my class & at the top…went to K when I was 4). But I know Waldorf supports having classes of older children to give them time to develop academically and socially. Most kids get one or the other down, and then struggle with the other the rest of their school years. There are many, many studies on this. It is fascinating. I would consider it for my children. I know PLENTY of children who would benefit from this. In any case, individual consideration of a child and reflection on his/her strengths & weaknesses is to be commended! No need to cookie cutter anyone. :) You’re a good mom, Lorelei!

Friend 6: With a June birthday and a short boy, I definitely would have done it (kids are brutal and I was ALWAYS the youngest kid in my class and it was hard) if we were putting him in school… but we’re homeschooling so we started him early instead because he was ready for the challenge. :)

Me: @Friend 5: And all this time I thought I was socially awkward as a child because I was a fat nerd girl with crooked teeth! ;) Guess I should have waited to start kindergarten til I was 14. Like I said, for developmental reasons I’m not opposed, but for the purpose of redshirting a kid for high school athletics it might be taking it a little too far.

Anyhow, the hubby and I weren’t big into athletics growing up, so maybe that’s why I just don’t get it.   I think athletics are great for promoting self-esteem, discipline and good health.   And in some cases (Michael Phelps and LeBron James come to mind) some people are clearly born to be amazing athletes.  And yes, I certainly know that kids are brutal.    Like I said, I was a fat nerd with crooked teeth (and I dreaded gym class for my lack of physical ability).   If I was held back for the purpose of saving me from the brutality of other children, I wouldn’t have started kindergarten until I was 14 years old and past my 10-year long ugly duckling phase.  But, developmentally, despite having been born in late August, and the hubby in mid-October, we both would have been bored out of our minds had we been held back.   As it was, we were bored quite often.  I say this not to judge, but to share my own personal experience.   And my kid has yet to be of public school/kindergarten age, so my opinion may even change one day.

So there you have it.    It sounds like this is a topic of which most people with children or who work with children have an opinion, and I’d love to hear it!

Until next time,

Lorelei

Is Pregnancy Brain Real?

Ironaically, the day I happened to place our home’s cordless phone in my purse and comment about it on Facebook, I came across this article:

http://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20100205/just-how-real-is-pregnancy-brain

Now, whether it be related to being exhausted at 35 weeks preggers and chasing around a 3 year-old, or maybe it’s the hormones, I believe pregnancy brain exists.    What else can explain my forgetting my car downtown not once, but twice, when I was still working full-time and pregnant with my first?    I took the RTA all the way back to the RTA lot down the street from my house, only to realize that my car was not there.  

Do you have any funny pregnancy brain stories?    Or even mommy/daddy brain?

Until next time,

Lorelei

Kids Events from Cool Cleveland

Courtesy of this week’s Cool Cleveland email:

Justin Roberts @ Beachwood High
Award-winning kids musician Justin Roberts [pictured] creates songs about everything from a dandelion-watching ballplayer to a girl’s unusual hairstyle in which funky characters of all shapes and sizes take up residence. See him and “The Not Ready for Naptime Players” at a benefit concert on Fri 1/29 at 6:30PM @ Beachwood High School, 25100 Fairmont Blvd. Beachwood. All proceeds benefit families in NEO dealing with autism. (But, beware, his shows are known for inciting kiddie mosh pits.) http://JustinRoberts.org and http://AutismNortheastOhio.org

Rite 2 Xpress Media Youth Camp
Passport Project presents an awesome arts & video youth camp starting on Sat 1/30. Kids 6-18 will gain skills in using a digital video camera, editing footage and interviewing subjects–while learning traditional drumming and dance. The topic is “hair music and identity in society” in celebration of Black History Month. Classes on Mondays through Wednesdays 4-6:30PM; and Saturdays 1-4:30PM. 12803 Buckeye Rd.
http://PassportProject.org/classes.php

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat
The Skip Kelley Youth Theater brings this classic musical to life on Sat 1/30 at 8PM and Sun 1/31 at 2PM @ Geauga Lyric Theater, 101 Water St. in Chardon. The performance is in honor of late tech director, Skip Kelley, who was a strong proponent of involving youth in every aspect of theater production. http://GeaugaTheater.org/season.htm#joseph

Groundhog Sun-day
Celebrate all things woodchuck on the eve’s eve of Groundhog’s Day, Sun 1/31. The Cle Museum of Natural History is throwing a party from 1-4PM: gawk at live animals, make crafts and view demos relating to the natural and unnatural history of everyone’s favorite rodent, Marmota monax. Kirtland Hall, Perkins Wildlife Center & Woods Garden and Murch Auditorium @ CMNH, 1 Wade Oval Dr.
http://www.cmnh.org/site/AtTheMuseum/Wildlife/PerkinsWildlifeCenter/LiveAnimalProgram.aspx

Mater’s Tall Tales Short Films Online

The 3 year-old kiddo is becoming quite proficient with using the computer.   He can already use the touchpad on my laptop better than I can, and learned to use a mouse when he was about 2 1/2. 

What I hate to say is that we largely have YouTube and other children’s online video sites to thank for this.   There have been several days now where I’ve set up my laptop at the kitchen table while cooking dinner and allowed him to visit the Disney Cars Toons channel on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/disneycarstoons

There’s also one of the latest shorts, called “Tokyo Mater” that hasn’t made it onto that page, but is well worth checking out at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pdeWiFlG9o

If you, or your child, enjoy the movie “Cars” as much as we do, check out the links above.   And maybe you can even use it as an incentive to teach your kids how to point and click!

Until next time,

Lorelei

The Sand Box is Back at Children’s Museum!

Over the holiday break from the kiddo’s preschool we took a trip with a friend and her daughter to The Children’s Museum of Cleveland.   We happen to have a family membership, and it has been well worth it.  Particularly for an active three year-old who wants to get into everything, it is a great place.   It’s nice to go somewhere and not have to constantly say, “No, please don’t touch that.   Oh, be careful.  No, you can’t touch that either.”  He’d actually requested to go to a museum while he was on break, specifically the “one with the water table.” 

Anyhow, I post this because I wanted to let everyone know that the indoor sand exhibit has returned, this time dubbed “Sandasaurus.”   So if you are longing for your kids to play at the beach and have no warm-weather plans anytime soon, or your kids really miss the sandbox, check it out.   An entire ROOM where the floor is completely filled with sand.   And what’s best, you don’t have to clean up the mess afterwards!    If you’re longing to splash in the water too, check out the room with the big water table.

Until next time,

Lorelei

International Children’s Festival in Cleveland

“2 SHOWS FOR $20”
Packages to the must-see family event of 2010 on-sale January 16th!

Ultra-affordable “two shows for $20” packages to PlayhouseSquare’s first ever International Children’s Festival; a week long family-friendly celebration of children’s theater performances, interactive workshops and activities from around the globe are on-sale beginning Saturday, January 16. The International Children’s Festival will take place May 3-8, 2010. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of the must-see family event of 2010! For a full list of performances, dates and times visit www.playhousesquare.org/childrensfestival.

Bruegger’s Bagels Toy Drive + Free Kids Meals Dec. 5

Bruegger’s Bakery Asks Community Members to Donate to Toys for Tots on December 5
Toys For Tots Donations Down; Demand Up

Bruegger’s and the Marines Toys for Tots Foundation are sending out a call to action this holiday season. Now in its 62nd year, the organization provides toys for needy children during the holiday season. Local chapters are reporting a devastating need – with requests for toys increasing as much as 50 percent in some cities.

That’s why this Saturday, December 5, from 9 am – 12 pm, Marines will be onsite at Bruegger’s Bakery-Café in five U.S. cities to encourage families to donate what they can. All toys collected will be distributed locally to less fortunate children.

For each new, unwrapped toy that a child donates, Bruegger’s will provide a free meal from the bakery-café’s new kids menu, launched in September 2009. Bruegger’s toy drive began in late October. Participating locations will be accepting donations until December 15.

Where: Cleveland – Mayfield Heights
6075 Mayfield Road
Mayfield Heights, OH 44124
Bakery phone: 440-473-1976

Virginia/Washington DC – Liberty Center
818 N Quincy Street
Arlington, VA 22203
Bakery phone 703-248-0981

Pittsburgh – South Park
South Park Shops
5213 Library Road
Bethel Park, PA 15102
Bakery phone 412-833-9381

Cincinnati – Hyde Park
Hyde Park Plaza
3842 Paxton Road
Cincinnati, OH 45209
Bakery phone 513-533-0900

View the official press release here:  http://www.brueggers.com/about-us/view-article/id/93

Red Robin 4th Annual Kids Cook-Off Championship

One of our favorite restaurants where we take the kiddo is Red Robin, so I was happy to see the following info come across my inbox.

For the 4th Annual Kids’ Cook-Off, kids were asked to create their own unique Gourmet Burger complete with unique toppings and inventive flavors. Ten finalists were selected and will compete at the Championship event on December 3 tomorrow night (broadcast live via webcast) where their burger will be critiqued by a panel of judges, including Food Network Host Robin Miller. The grand prize winning burger will be sold at Red Robin restaurants across the U.S. next summer and 50 cents from every one of the prize-winning burgers sold will benefit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).

Three of the finalists are from Ohio:

  • Tyler, who invented the “Awesome Cordon Bleu Burger” is from Mentor, OH.
  • Tanner, who invented the “The Firey Clucker” is from Ashville, OH.
  • Emma D., who invented the “Flamin’ Crispy Chicken Burger” is from Chillicothe, OH.

Visit http://www.redrobin.com/thefinalists for your last chance to vote  for your favorite Gourmet Burger or check out the live webcast!

Until next time,

Lorelei

Upcoming Events for Kids at Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Cretaceous Critters Camp-In
Friday, November 20, 7 pm through Saturday, November 21, 8 am

Spend the night with the dinosaurs! Visit old friends and make some new ones while learning about the creatures that live at the Museum.

Treat your Tiny Trekkers and Young Explorers to the Gift of Learning
November 20 or 21, “Wild Turkeys”; December 11 or 12 “Getting Ready for Winter”

All children between the ages of 3 and 6 will love these classes. Your little ones can enjoy crafts, games, and activities that feature fun seasonal topics and items from the Museum’s collections.

Winter Holiday Camp
Monday, December 21, Tuesday, December 22, Wednesday, December 23, 8:30 am to 5 pm

Looking for something fun for your kids to do this holiday vacation? Join us for our first-ever Winter Holiday Camp. Each day offers different hands-on activities featuring dinosaurs, health and animals, special planetarium programs, and a make-and-take craft. Sign-up for one, two, or all three days.

Planetarium Programs: Special Holiday Presentations
The Planetarium programs “All Telescopes Great and Small” and “The Grand Year of Astronomy” will offer additional shows over the Thanksgiving and December holidays. Bring your family and take part in the International Year of Astronomy 2009 before the celebration concludes.

New Year’s at Noon
Thursday, December 31, 10 am to 1 pm

Ring in the New Year at our first-ever New Year’s at Noon celebration! Join Museum educators for fun family activities and count down to noon in the Shafran Planetarium with a Big Bang. Apple juice for toasting, a light snack and bubble wrap noise makers will be provided.

Dancin’ with Dinos
Saturday, January 23, 7 to 9 pm

Swing like a sauropod and twist like a therapod among our dinosaurs in Kirtland Hall! This fun, family-friendly event is open to all ages. Pizza, drinks, and snacks, plus special tours of Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries and a dino-dance contest, round out this Earth-shaking evening.

Visit http://www.cmnh.org/site/ClassesandPrograms/Family.aspx for more info.

House For Sale in Kamms Corners West Park

Was contacted by Missy from Kamms Corners asking some advice about selling our home in West Park and offered to post her home info, looks like a great house!

Its a great deal for someone because you can basically buy this house for 250K for the same monthly payment as a 180K house in Lakewood or Rocky River because you don’t pay property taxes.Here is the deal – we bought it for 244K in 2004. It had a 15 year tax abatement, now that we’ve lived here for 5 years there is 10 years left and it is transferable. We have it listed (with a realtor) at $249,900. Here is the site I created for it, the MLS data is on it too.

http://www.kammscornershome.blogspot.com/

The hubby seems to think the tax abatement aspect is a good deal too. 

Here’s the MLS listing:

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/16710-Scullin-Dr_Cleveland_OH_44111_1113578442

From the pics, looks like it has a deck out back with a nice-sized fenced-in backyard, laundry/utility room, finished basement with bar, gorgeous master bath and large eat-in kitchen which opens up to the deck.  

I checked out the location on a map too, off of Rocky River Drive, a few blocks from Lorain Avenue, near Kamms Corners Shopping plaza and the news bars/pubs/restaurants in that area.   I’m surprised we didn’t look at these when we moved to West Park initially, but then again, we were looking for an all brick home at the time.    If you’re looking in the area for something a bit larger and newer, and can afford the price tag, I’d suggest you check it out!

Until next time,

Lorelei