Tips on Whether to Skip

Experts in psychology and education offer these tips to parents who wonder if their child should skip a grade or more:

* Talk with the child. He or she needs to be part of the decision. Some kids are certain they don’t want to be moved away from their friends and others may just need a little support and encouragement to make the social transition to a new peer group.

* Be watchful that people at any program or school you are considering are not stressing the child’s academic needs over other social and learning needs. Look for a program with a whole-child focus and trust your judgment, seeking the child’s enjoyment and happiness.

* Considering a leap in grade level or early college entrance is stressful. Remember that a child becomes gifted largely because the parents have brought out the best in him or her. Parents in a position to even consider such a move should feel reassured that they are probably already doing many of the right things for their child.