Summer born boy

[summertimeover]

Ok so I am probably being unreasonable... But aggagagagahaghhh.

Just met up with a friend who has a September born DD. I have a v late Summer born DS. They have both just completed their first year in reception. My friend just said "that age and sex are irrelevant when discussing childrens' progress in the first few years at school"

I was a bit... thinking my little boy hates colouring and is 10 months younger than your daughter... He is obviously not going to be doing as much/as well. She seems to think they have both been in school for the same length of time, so to blame age is an excuse...

Dumber boys? What a phrase!!

It dimes make a difference in infants. DS is a late July boy and there was a big difference in social skills. But now he's going into year 6 in September, the teacher was surprised he was a July baby. The gap definitely closes as they get older.

There are if course going to be exceptions.... But on average it's a no brainier to say a sept born girl will 'do better' at school in the first few years at least than a Aug born boy. So many statics show this as well as it being common sense.
It's why as a Mum of summer born boys I have been reading about the 'summer born' campaign as will try to ensure my children start school in reception at age 5. Rather than struggle in reception at barely four. How easy it will be to defer depends in your local heads but definitely think worth trying.

At age 4/5, an age difference of 9+ months can make a difference. But the gap becomes smaller as the kids get older.

Gender has nothing to do with it. And I say that as a mother of two summer born boys.

123twinmummy I delayed my son's start very easily. it was nothing to do with the heads of the school, all dealt with by the LEA. You have the right to start your children in Reception at 5. The Summer Borns FB group is brilliant. I got loads of good stuff to send to my LEA from there. In the end they rolled over without a fight.

I'd say gender has a lot to do with it - I say that as the mum of boy/girl twins!

I have a summer born boy and Spring born boy. They are no diffenent in terms of education at the end of the years. And no boys aren't diffenent at all, if you ah be a boy and girl and they are different is because they are two different children, they would have been the same if the Same gender

I'd say gender has a lot to do with it - I say that as the mum of boy/girl twins

I think you mean sex rather than gender.

statelychangers Having boy/girl twins with one twin more advanced doesn't give evidence for anything. It's n=1. Which means nothing. I have a friend with boy twins. One is more advanced than the other. Of course they'll each excel in different areas of not identical. Doesn't mean anything. Are you suggesting my summer born boys are just super advanced! Cool!

I see what she is saying. They have both done a year of school so had the same opportunities there in theory.

But in reality the DS may not have been ready to concentrate, sit, will be more tired. May get ill more (as immune system still developing).

Also if you think preschool helps, well winter born have up to 5 terms compared to summer 3 terms.
My dd is just not ready to sit and learn, messes about when i try to get her to read etc.

Statistically it makes a difference. Boys do worse.

It's not a matter of opinion but fact that summer born children, especially boys are disadvantaged in primary school. Less so as they become older.

I used to work in an antenatal clinic and was always interested when booking inductions and CS at this time of year, who would choose last few days of August vs first few days of September. Late August means earlier start of school so less nursery fees whereas early September offers a big educational advantage. Interesting choice for those in that position.

I usually read these threads with interest as I have 2 summer born dc, but find it highly frustrating that the mathematically challenged will invariably pop up to say it's all nonsense because they / their dc / their second cousin's dog was born on 31st August and got a first from Cambridge.

It depends so much on the child too.
Top boy is dd1's primary year at the end was a boy with a birthday of 30th August whose dm freely admitted she would have deferred if possible in reception.

I have 3 dc.
Dd1 (Autumn birthday) ready to start when she did, wasn't ready a term before,
Dd2 (Autumn birthday) ready to start a year before she did
Ds (summer birthday) ready to start round about summer term in year 1/beginning of year 2.

However by year 3 they were all doing similarly academically (although ds still doesn't like colouring)

Have been out all afternoon - so thanks for all these responses. I think someone hit the nail on the head when thet said that maybe I bring this up a lot when people ask how my son found school this year. Hence she probably "bit" and thought "shut up summertime". I think in future I will give a non commitall response when asked that question.

I think you mean sex rather than gender.

No, she means gender.

4 years of socialisation that you like colouring and princess dresses and being obedient makes for a much better pupil in our primary schools than someone brought up as a boy.

It is not vagina related.

Do - but boys are brought up drawing, and being obedient also

I have a 31st August boy! (Saved me 7000 in nursery fees that did)

My friend's 4 year old had an elsa dress for his birthday.

Not everyone follows gender stereotypes.

They should both make a similar amount of progress- however the September born is more likely to be further ahead in terms of achievement. The gap narrows as they get older and the extra year or so becomes less significant.

Haven't read the whole thread, but I am very defensive of summer babies. I was an August baby (a preemie too - Due Sept!), as such went through primary school feeling that I was "below average" intellectually. Imagine my surprise (and that of others that I went to primary school with) when my secondary school assessed me as "above average".

Point being, that primary is hard for us summer babies, sometimes it feels like a constant game of catch-up. However, by secondary, it's a level playing field. Perhaps it even makes us more determined to succeed as we are not used to achieving easily.

Of course it makes a difference. I was an August baby. In fact I was the youngest in my whole year group. One of my best friends in my class turned a whole year older than me the day after my birthday ( her birthday was 1st September).

It really does make a huge difference and anyone who says otherwise is talking shite.

Mum of summer born boy here, just finished year two. There is a diffence; and it used to be recognised in the SATS, though not anymore. Gap had closed now, but it took a while. He started year one only on the second 'level' of books (quite low down I think) , and he was 'exceeding expectations' in reading in his SATS at the end on year two, it just seemed to 'click' as time went on. Think the main way it makes a difference is in emotional maturity, which can impact their whole school life of course.

The gap narrows as they get older and the extra year or so becomes less significant

The gap narrows, but it doesn't disappear at any time during the education years. At the end of primary, there is still a 12% difference in the achievements of the 'average' September child compared to the 'average' August child.

A Freedom of Information request a couple of year ago showed that the chance of going to Oxford or Cambridge was 30% higher for someone born in the autumn rather than July.