My eldest skipped two grades, and we're both of two minds about it. On the one hand, it was a big help academically. On the other hand, when he started reaching higher grades (8th), it got harder on him. He was still a small kid and his male classmates were having growth spurts and getting deep voices. Most of the girls were bigger than him. That sort of thing. Later, some people started reacting to the skips and not seeing him as a person.
My daughter has only skipped one grade, but her birthday is so late, she's still younger than the kids a grade behind her. She has some of the same frustrations my son has had. These frustrations have developed as she's become older and more aware of herself and the world around her. In some ways, both kids regret the skips. In some ways, they don't. We encourage my daughter to take a gap year after high school or to spend an extra year in a local dual enrollment program, as my son is.
Grade skips aren't easy decisions. I understand that many people say that their kids do fine, but it's important to remember that not all kids do well, especially during adolescence when everyone else is growing in ways that you can't conceive of yet, and talking about subjects that you don't understand for physiological reasons. This is why, IMO, it's important to get input from people with older kids. I thought that two skips was a great idea when my eldest was in 6th grade. Not so much two years later. Now I just see shades of grey.
I understand that the academics can be mind-numbing for a non-skipped child and that lack of a skip creates its own problems. It's just that I advise against considering only academics when considering a skip, or allowing yourself to be swayed by enthusiasm of others. In other words, weigh lots of factors carefully.
I'm sorry that I can't be more helpful, but it's complex question.
Last edited by Val; 06/10/16 01:55 PM. Reason: Clarify point
