Anyone Had Child on Autism Spectrum Repeat Kindergarten

Updated on March 05, 2012
J.A. asks from Lynnwood, WA
5 answers

My son 5yrs old, will be 6 at the end of April, has PDD-NOS. He is currently in Kindergarten (1/2 Day). We had his IEP meeting and it has been brought up that they think he should repeat Kindergarten in a full day program. I see the benefits of this for acemidics but worry about the social/emotioal side of it. Has anyone else had experience with this? I want to do what is best for him and have looked into research and I am so confused.
His delay is in the fine motor and also reading. He has letter recognition and is starting to get the sight words. He has SLP and OT at school and we also have private SLP, OT, handwriting class and a gross motor class.
I am just wondering if anyone else has had experience with this and if they held back, was 1st grade better or was there really no difference in the amount of help needed in 1st.

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So What Happened?

Thanks for the advice. We have decided to wait until the end of May to make any decision. He has a spot being held for Kindergarten just in case that is the route we decide to take.

More Answers

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J.D.

answers from Cincinnati on

my son repeated Kindergarten 2x. He was not academically ready to move on. Age wise he was 5 but mentally was 1-2. Your son is only 5 so I don't think having him repeat kindergarten and going full day will really hurt him socially or emotionally. My son still needed just as much help in 1st grade. Just in the past 2 years is he doing really well. In fact, He will repeat again in high school. you should do what you feel is best for your child but since some kids don't start Kdg until they are 6, he will do just fine repeating. Its not like he will be way older than the other kids.

4 moms found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

1st grade, is different than Kinder.
By 1st grade, they need to meet certain levels in academics. And there are more expectations... per the child's self reliance and knowledge, and maturity etc.
If he goes to 1st grade, not having mastered what is in Kinder... and falls behind, then what? Or if he struggles in 1st grade, then what?

Does he have an Aid with him in school?

In 1st grade, kids will be either 6 or 7 years old.

1st grade, is also full days.

In the Kinder and 1st grades, a child that repeats a grade is not really a big deal. But if he was older (say in 2nd and higher grades), and then held back... then kids by that age, are more aware... of it. And then start to ask why.

Emotional and social maturity, is important.

You know him best.

3 moms found this helpful
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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Tell them you are going to allow him to try 1st grade. If his disability is such that he may never do well in those areas it will never "fix" the issue by holding him back. If he is aware he is taking Kindergarten again he may internalize negative feelings about education and all other things related to education. Tell them you'd like to see him at least try to do the work. They cannot hold a developmentally disabled child back for academic progress. They have to do aides and other adaptive things so he can attend school and not be discriminated against.

1 mom found this helpful

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

Andy's birthday is May 27th, he turned six at the end of his kindergarten year and he did not repeat kindergarten. Academically he is at an eighth grade level though he is in seventh. Socially god knows but I have my doubts he will ever be normal socially so why does that matter.

If I had held him back he would be bored out of his mind. Add to that he is socially not at age level he would have acted out because he was bored making him an even greater social misfit. Why would I do that to him?

I guess the thing I see now that I didn't see back in kindergarten was that it was the best decision to not hold him back, at the time I asked he be held back and they said give it a year. They always said I can always hold him back but eventually it became unnecessary.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.G.

answers from Seattle on

My son sounds like a carbon copy of yours. He had the same struggles, fine motor and reading, a little math difficulty. We considered holding him back but didn't as they thought he was progressing. He is in 1st grade this year and is now reading as well as the other kids, but gets extra support for math and socal skills and some OT for writing. We are always looking for new friends for him, if you are in the Seattle area, let me know!

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