What are the pros and cons of holding a child back a grade?

What are the pros and cons of holding a child back a grade?

Kimberly Oliver (National Teacher of the Year, Broad Acres Elementary School, Maryland) gives expert video advice on: How can I tell if my child is falling behind in school?; How can I help an underachiever improve his performance? and more...

There are many pros and cons to be considered when deciding if a child should be held back. One of the pros is that a child may need more time to acquire the certain skills and certain knowledge that are necessary or expected in a certain grade level. However, some of the cons include social ramifications in that a student who is held back does not move on with his peer group and may not feel comfortable with the new peer group to which he is assigned.