Repeating year level - any experiences?

Hey guys,

We are repeating my son in prep this year. I'm totally fine with the decision, it basically wasn't even a choice as it would have been cruel to put him up. We have sold it to him that he is the special 'helper' who has been chosen to be the leader for the new preps (each year of kinder, pre-prep and last years prep he has had a new boy join the class from staying down, so he thinks it is normal), and he is ok with the news (I was chicken and got the psychologist to tell him)

Anyway, just wondering if anyone else has repeated their child, and can share words of wisdom about any potential snags or things I should look out for?

I am going to call the grade 1 teacher today and get him to talk to the boys in the old class tomorrow on the first day about not teasing him in the playground etc.

Anything else I can do to make this transition easier?

Thanks!

Hi Yael - no advice sorry! Just wanted to wish you well on this journey. xx

No real advice except I wouldn't personally call the grade one teacher. I think it would just set them up for ideas as at this age they probably don't think anything of it. DS has just started prep and realised that some of his old friends from kindy are there in an older grade and they all play together at lunch time and don't think anything of the fact that they are in different grades, anymore than in different classes. And once he makes friends in his new year he will probably drift a little away from his old friends.

I think I would leave it at what you have explained to him and not go on & on about it. Like krysalyss said, they all just play together at that age and he won't know any different if no-one tells him. As for the teasing, I am sure they would be keeping a close eye on him anyway.