Has anyone had their child skip a grade

[Thrawn]

Currently started the process for my daughter to skip 5th grade. Curious anybody else has gone through the process, curious what grade, and pros and cons.

 

[ChickenLegs]

I’m 23 so I don’t have a kid to tell the story but I lived through it, I skipped a grade in elementary. I don’t remember having any issues being behind in class, my dads a pretty smart dude and had me doing math and science at a grade or two higher than where I should’ve been in a lot of my school. So from an academic standpoint, there wasn’t much that bothered me, I’m sure if your kid is being elected to skip a grade they’ll be able to catch up over the summer and prepare for the next year, especially since a lot of the stuff in elementary isn’t really cumulative.

However, from a social standpoint. I was already a young one in my grade and then skipping put me as the youngest kid in my grade without a challenge every year. I was always the smallest dude, and it got annoying once I got to high school and everyone could drive before me, go to clubs before me, anything that required an age and ID, etc. But now I also have a 1 year head start in my career, not a huge deal but it’s nice.

 

[Thrawn]

I’m 23 so I don’t have a kid to tell the story but I lived through it, I skipped a grade in elementary. I don’t remember having any issues being behind in class, my dads a pretty smart dude and had me doing math and science at a grade or two higher than where I should’ve been in a lot of my school. So from an academic standpoint, there wasn’t much that bothered me, I’m sure if your kid is being elected to skip a grade they’ll be able to catch up over the summer and prepare for the next year, especially since a lot of the stuff in elementary isn’t really cumulative.

However, from a social standpoint. I was already a young one in my grade and then skipping put me as the youngest kid in my grade without a challenge every year. I was always the smallest dude, and it got annoying once I got to high school and everyone could drive before me, go to clubs before me, anything that required an age and ID, etc. But now I also have a 1 year head start in my career, not a huge deal but it’s nice.

Biggest concern I think for me was going to be her social health she's pretty much a loner right now anyway. Actually other concern is how to get her to school because the school district is going to cancel All busing next yr except traditional schools and special ed so magnet schools, and specialized schools are losing transportation.

 

[snake]

I had it offered to us with my one son and passed. Here's my take on it. To me, it's like sports, kids all develop at different rates but by the time they are 18, everyone is about the same. I have seen plenty of dads who would tell ya their 10 y.o. was going to play in the Majors and by the time they were in H.S. the other caught up. So it all will come out in the wash.

There's the social end of this too. Ultimately I would ask, "Why?" Then I would ask my son his thoughts.

 

[CJ]

I could've skipped 4th grade, my parents wouldn't do it. I'm glad that they didn't.

I was already young for my grade, I started senior year of high school at age 16. If I skipped, it would've been bad for me in terms of developing socially, which is just as important as the academics.

 

[ChickenLegs]

Biggest concern I think for me was going to be her social health she's pretty much a loner right now anyway. Actually other concern is how to get her to school because the school district is going to cancel All busing next yr except traditional schools and special ed so magnet schools, and specialized schools are losing transportation.

Well on one hand maybe a fresh set of people will do her good socially, but if it happens to not be better and she struggles socially then being extra young probably won’t help. Especially since she’s entering the graders where all the girls go through puberty and will start to develop their world around looks. I went to a small farm school in a rural town and a huge 5000 person high school in the city and that was the same at both. I imagine the bus stuff is probably going to be the same even if she doesn’t skip, right? Really sucks they’re cutting out buses I always loved that as a kid and I know my parents relied on it heavily

 

[Thrawn]

Well on one hand maybe a fresh set of people will do her good socially, but if it happens to not be better and she struggles socially then being extra young probably won’t help. Especially since she’s entering the graders where all the girls go through puberty and will start to develop their world around looks. I went to a small farm school in a rural town and a huge 5000 person high school in the city and that was the same at both. I imagine the bus stuff is probably going to be the same even if she doesn’t skip, right? Really sucks they’re cutting out buses I always loved that as a kid and I know my parents relied on it heavily

She already started puberty we had to medically slow it down 2 yrs ago, we had the implant removed early due to sides. I would never ever recommend that procedure after our experience. Our school district made national news beginning of school yr, students were getting home between 2100 and 2200. We are short 400 plus bus drivers, You could not pay me enough to deal with others peoples demon spawns not to mention crazy parents. so I don't blame drivers. Only way she will still be a bus rider is if she goes to a traditional school, all our regular schools are very poor quality.

 

[bvs]

Personally i wouldnt do it. Why put more pressure on a young kid? Let her be top of the year group is currently in and as a result she can excel in sports/socially/spirituality ect. Schooling isnt a race to see who can graduate the fastest

 

[TeddyBear]

As a teacher; challenging kids is better for their development than an easy ride. Bright kids need the challenge to stay engaged and grow and learn.

But younger kids EVEN A YEAR are more likely to be social-emotionally a year behind in maturity, especially boys. I wasn’t sheltered, I just was naive and my friends didn’t divulge the things they did when I wasn’t around until we were adults because I was their baby brother.

Boys will physically be behind their peers in sports. I was already a skinny kid, but a year younger I was behind in development and coordination. I graduated at 17 and needed a parents permission for campus events in college. That said, I have very smart friends and I kept up.

Girls are brutal to each other socially, that’s a disadvantage too.

If your kid is mature and social: do it. If they struggle socially, you will make it harder. But every person and school is different.

My current school is full of small music nerds and they still have a social hierarchy where really only the visibly autistic kids are outsiders. My dorks compare classical composers and couldn’t tell a Luke Skywalker from a Anakin Skywalker, they don’t care about football, dont play video games, can’t understand modern pop lyrics, but will heatedly argue which K Pop band has the best dance moves. Kids are weird and what’s nerdy or dorky varies, my last school was all about Fortnite and/or Prime Energy drinks. These kids are about day trading and matcha tea.

 

[bvs]

As a teacher; challenging kids is better for their development than an easy ride. Bright kids need the challenge to stay engaged and grow and learn.

But younger kids EVEN A YEAR are more likely to be social-emotionally a year behind in maturity, especially boys. I wasn’t sheltered, I just was naive and my friends didn’t divulge the things they did when I wasn’t around until we were adults because I was their baby brother.

Boys will physically be behind their peers in sports. I was already a skinny kid, but a year younger I was behind in development and coordination. I graduated at 17 and needed a parents permission for campus events in college. That said, I have very smart friends and I kept up.

Girls are brutal to each other socially, that’s a disadvantage too.

If your kid is mature and social: do it. If they struggle socially, you will make it harder. But every person and school is different.

My current school is full of small music nerds and they still have a social hierarchy where really only the visibly autistic kids are outsiders. My dorks compare classical composers and couldn’t tell a Luke Skywalker from a Anakin Skywalker, they don’t care about football, dont play video games, can’t understand modern pop lyrics, but will heatedly argue which K Pop band has the best dance moves. Kids are weird and what’s nerdy or dorky varies, my last school was all about Fortnite and/or Prime Energy drinks. These kids are about day trading and matcha tea.

Agree with what you said about younger kids being behind. Having a birthday late in the year and some mental issues meant that i was behind my peers in almost every way. I was given the choice to repeat 2nd grade which i think was a smart choice looking back

 

[TeddyBear]

Flip side, I see girls more mature than the petty social games around them ready for adulthood to move past their peers. Likewise I see boys tired of the screwing around and wanting to prepare for their futures.

Allowing them more challenging and slightly more mature peers would be good. Likewise a head start on life.

The grade levels by age are arbitrary. Not the best. There’s a method to the madness, but it comes down to the individual as all things do. Generally, it comes down to whether the kid is adaptable.

 

[Rickt]

I have a grand daughter that went to high school (supposed to be 8th year of schooling) one year early.
Sure everyone was impressed. Cept girls are cruel and she became bullied because she was a year younger than the rest. Her schooling dropped and she suffered emotionally.
Sounds weird but next year her parents kept her back but changed school. Now she is on track and with girls her age.

 

[Santa]

I skipped a grade. I wouldn’t say it was easy being the absolute youngest in my class. I was definitely not mature enough growing up. Leaving for the military at 17 was a wake up.

Girls are different but I still think it’s better to be the oldest rather than youngest in the class. Two of my kids started late and they’re both tops in their class, mature, independent and show leadership.