Birthdays

Question-You are a first grade teacher. A Korean student comes into your class in April. During a discussion of age and birthdays, this student says that she is 8 years old. The other students in your class are turning seven. The office tells you that she has been correctly placed.

Response-Everyone gains a year on the Lunar New Year. If a child is born in September, they will turn one in January or February, depending on the date of the Lunar New Year. This student has counted her birthday as of January 25th. Many Asian children lose a year of their age when they come to the U.S. and this needs to be explained to them.