Citing selected studies and experiences at the Gesell Institute of Human Development, the author argues that grade repetition benefits children whose behavior age is less than their chronological age. She emphasizes parent cooperation for dealing with the child's temporary emotional upset over being retained. Condensed from "Early Years," December…

Extra-year school readiness programs, which serve as "developmental kindergartens" or "junior first grades," are well-intentioned transition programs between kindergarten and first grade that are intended to serve children judged to be at risk for early school failure. Despite their good intentions, these programs are…