I did not hold my child back.....and K thru 2 were very difficult. That was the time, however, my son was being evaluated for ADHD. We started medication a little over a year after starting the diagnosis and things began to improve instantly.
I remember talking with my son's doctor about his severe immaturity during kindergarten and the doctor stated that if he had any imput.....that no 5 year old boy would start kindergarten...they'd have to wait until 6. He was speaking of all boys, ADHD or not. His opinion was that boys (in general) were too immature for such a structured setting.
In hindsight, I probably should have waited another year for him to start kindergarten.......not for a lack of knowledge, just behavior.
IF our school held back for disruptive behavior, I know my son would have been held back during kindergarten and probably 1st and 2nd. Hard to justify repeating a grade level when grades are A's and B's....even though he's running around the room not listening to a thing!!.
I don't think it's a good idea. It's better to give him additional tutoring and behavior therapy than to hold him back. Studies have shown that neither holding a kid back nor moving them up a grade helps them succeed in college and adult life. Also, their social skills usually suffer when they are isolated from their peers.I was held back in kindergarten. I do remember that I was very embarassed about it. They dragged me screaming from the first grade classroom back to kindergarten. I also remember seeing on the calendar that June was coming around again, I'd have to go to first grade again, and I was terrified. However, even though I expected huge problems there, I was fine the second time around.