The younger the child, the more of a difference a few months can make. Let’s say you have a September 1 cutoff (as was at my school and the schools my siblings attend now)- so the kids with the September birthdays are the oldest and those with August birthdays are the youngest. Well, in 8th grade, there’s very little practical difference the oldest and the youngest. In 3-year-old nursery though, the developmental differences could be enormous. In that scenario,our September-born child almost certainly has better-developed language and motor skills, and is likely completely potty trained, whereas the August born child will almost certainly be less developed and newer to the potty scene. Holding back won’t make up for that- if the child isn’t ready at that age, they should be kept home another year and be placed in the correct grade the next year.
Menu