I have three girls, all with late august, late september birthdays, we live in NJ, our cutoff is Oct 1. My oldest will start kindy in the fall, but she could of gone last year. I was honestly not the least bit worried about how she would of done in Kindy, but I truely believe that the age gap only widens as they get older. Plus, my thought is why push them ahead, they have the rest of there lives to do school and work, a extra year as a kid will not hurt her. She was not the only kid we know held a year, we have 9 friends, in the same situation, only one person sent her kid, and she fully admited it was so she did not have to pay for daycare another year. I did lots of research, lots of talking to teachers, and parents, I never talked to a single person who regretted holding there kids, but almost everyone I talked to who sent there child would say, well, if I had held so and so a year, I bet they would of done better in this area.
And, yes, I believe it really affects a college age student when they are the youngest, the research I have done has found that 90% of college freshman had a very hard time adjusting to the classes, freedom, the whole life style change, depression was much higher that first year, drinking much higher, drugs, all of that, and the group it is highest in is the young freshmen. I know, a lot of it is how you raise your children, but I also live in the real world where I realize that no matter how I raise my children, they are going to be kids, who try things, and I want to give them the best advantage to life I can. I feel that advantage is by making them slightly older before all of those grown up things are throw upon them.
It really comes down to what YOU feel most comfy with, and you know your child best. Good luck in what you decide!
