Parents delay sending kids to school for social reasons and physical size. It's not about academic advantage.

Penny Van Bergen; Anne McMaugh; Kay Bussey; Naomi Sweller; Rebecca Andrews

Parents delay sending kids to school for social reasons and physical size. It's not about academic advantage.

Penny Van Bergen, Anne McMaugh, Kay Bussey, Naomi Sweller, Rebecca Andrews

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Abstract

If you have a child born at the start of the year, you may be faced with a tricky and stressful decision. Do you send them to school “early”, in the year they turn five? Or do you “hold them back” and send them in the year they turn six?

Media reports refer to parents who want to “hold children back”. This is particularly the case for boys. Some parents express concerns boys may develop more slowly and school activities may favour girls.

Our new study surveyed Australian parents to understand their reasons for sending children to school early or on time or holding them back.

Original language	English
Specialist publication	The Conversation
Publisher	The Conversation Media Group
Publication status	Published - 22 Apr 2025

Bibliographical note

Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

Access to Document

Publisher version (open access)Final published version, 2.02 MBLicence: CC BY-ND

https://theconversation.com/parents-delay-sending-kids-to-school-for-social-reasons-and-physical-size-its-not-about-academic-advantage-254076Licence: CC BY-ND

Cite this

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