u/DadRock1

Has any parent had experience holding their child back intentionally prior to kindergarten?

Our 3.5y boy is lively and spirited, aka very often doesn't listen for shit. Which is common for three, we get it. HOWEVER, we're seriously considering holding his Kindergarten start. His birthday is in mid-August, so he's VERY close to the cutoff date already, making him one of the youngest in his cohort. If we were able to hold him back, he would only be a few weeks older than the September kids, and gain a full year of social-emotional regulation.

We're in a major American city, our public school system strongly discourages academic redshirting, but we're feeling it would really be the best option for our child.

Anyone been through it? Thanks in advance for sharing

Edit: this is not for the upcoming school year, if we do nothing he starts in 2027 as a just-turned 5 year old