My son is finishing 1st grade, and we have been debating on holding him back. He will turn 7 in August, right when the school year starts. He has come a long way in school,but still has trouble in reading. He is a class clown, and can't sit still for a second. The teacher in March told me it might be a good idea to retain him. Now her and the principal called us in today, to recommend we send him to 2nd grade. My son is really small and skinny, and my husband believes he will not mature until later in age, just like he and his brothers did. So my husband stongly wants to hold him back. I'm back and forth, and soooo stressed out. I don't want him to be bored in 1st grade again, but I agree, that he is really immature and is very tiny. What should we do??

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According to the National Association of School Psychologists, retention has not been shown to be successful when it is linked with "developmental immaturity.

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Retention for Non-Academic Reasons - FamilyEducation.com

I wouldn't let his size be an issue... either he is ready for the challenge of second grade work or he isn't.

Could his being the class clown stem partly from his struggling with his work? Also, if he is having trouble sitting still, that can possibly effect his learning as well.

Has it been suggested that this level of actively is disruptive and keeps him from learning or is it just his being 6 years old?

How much trouble in reading is he having? Reading at a beginning or mid first grade level? At a kindergarten level? Would you have the opportunity to have him gain support during the summer from a tutor? Unless it is very obvious that he simply isn't ready for the academic work, I'd move him on. You can always obtain additional support through the school or outside of school if he still needs the help.