It's quite likely that no one you encounter in real life will have have much experience with grade skips, although you may have people mention that they know someone who knew someone who skipped a grade and it went horribly. You may run in to one or two people in your district that have done some type of acceleration, although IME, these kids' parents don't shout it from the rooftops. These days, it seems, kids are much more likely to be redshirted than skipped. In either case, parents are just trying to do what's right for their child.
And grade skipping is not for everyone. It requires a child who is beyond the norm and, statistically speaking, this doesn't happen often. So there won't be many people who can see things from the perspective that you have with your child. That's why this board is so great
There is a lot of research out there about how successful grade skipping can be when done appropriately, considering many different factors, from age to abilities (IQ) to achievement to size to gender to sibling relationships. The Iowa Acceleration Scale is very helpful in looking at a a possible acceleration with a more "scientific" approach. "A Nation Deceived" is also a good read.
We've had two kids -- a boy and a girl -- skip in various ways and they have been very successful. From our experience I would agree with mon -- the earlier the better. It can be done successfully later, of course, it's just easier for the child not to stand out quite so obviously when it happens early because then the other kids and parents hardly notice.
