Be Excellent To Each Other

Because I've got a question: Do the older kids (ie. the ones born in September) do better than the younger kids (born in August the next year) generally do better on account of them being practically a year older?

I was one of the younger kids. God some of the older kids were dense as hell.

i never noticed anything.









PS: i teached in the university

It pretty much depends on how well the parents spend preparing their kids

4 years of awesome parenting > 5 years of rubbish parenting

Yep.

Lots of theoretical discussion today.

Surely they must have some advantage, although here's one answer for you Grim...

Remember my fuckoff clever physics mate? He's an August baby, and was one of the youngest in my year. I'm a November baby, so I had a fair 9 months on him, but it clearly didn't help me one damn bit.

Much of a muchness really. Some people homeschool their kids who then pass their degrees when they're 12. Weirdos.

I reckon there must be some research results for this knocking around on the net, but I'd guess that the proportion of pupils in one or the other group in a class has an effect on the performance of those in the minority rather than there being any absolute answer.

Oh yeah, I know they'll be plenty of cases each way, I was wondering about the 'general' result. I will read that article, though - cheers.

Cor.

Eight, Nine, 10?

That must've been written by an august-born thicky.

Actually I think that is established journalistic guidelines. You type the whole word for numbers under 10, and then use the numerical version for numbers of 10 and above.

That's just daft, especially if you mix them in one sentence.

Don't ask me, I didn't invent it, but I recall reading the guidelines when I used to write public-facing content for the uni.

Or antiques dealers:



WARNING: DO NOT EVER DO A GOOGLE IMAGES SEARCH ON JAMES HARRIES. YOU DON'T KNOW THE DAMAGE BRINGING YOU THE ABOVE PICTURE CAUSED!

The only advantages come from upbringing and genes imo.
Age matters not.

Not to mention that the older ones tend to be better at sports, and as such more socially acceptable at an early age.

Not always true. The youngest boy in our class at secondry school by a good 9 months is now considered to be one of our countries greatest sportsman. Well by people who like kicking eggs around and buggering each other in the showers anyway.

yes it can have a big difference. up to 12 months difference when you are 60 months old is a good 20% longer to have been doing stuff. It obviously depends on how well you've been spending that extra 20% and what you've got in terms of brains and so on. I've also seen some kids who are still wanting an afternoon nap, that obviously impacts on how well they can learn...

Malc

I was lead to believe this, however I know lots of bright augustians. In short; I don't think it practically matters. Just teach your kid well and he'll do well. Those extra few months will mean nothing.

I'd imagine the older ones get a slight advantage at the beginning, as 10 months to a 4-year old is a lot more significant in terms of development, but less so after a year or two, when everyone will have reached the same plateu.

However, starting younger could also mean you have a better chance, as you get into the habit of learning things regularly earlier on, so the pattern is more established in your mind as it comes earlier in your development. I'd imagine that this effect is limited somewhat though by the disadvantages in confidence, social skills, likelihood of having played with other children and physical stature that the situation would also likely entail.

I was born in July, and I'm at least as intelligent as a 9-year old born in September. Some of my best friends are black, too.

Y'know, for a grown man, that's not brilliant. [ninja smiley*]



*We need a ninja smiley, incidentally. Or Chuck Norris.

O RLY?

I don't think it makes a huge difference. Given the range of capabilities that primary school classes include anyway, you aren't going to be left behind for such a little age difference. I was an August kid and didn't find it a problem.