Learning & Development

Insights into how children grow, learn, and build skills in their early years â with guidance on supporting development through play, care, and everyday experiences.

Should my child repeat kindergarten? An honest take before you decide

Holding a child back for another year of kindergarten before they start school is a decision more Australian families are weighing up, and the conversation usually has very little to do with academic ability. Kylie from Edge Early Learning, a Queensland early childhood provider, says the most common reason families consider an extra year is emotional readiness, not learning gaps. Signs that often prompt the conversation include challenges with confidence, independence, or coping with change. Kylie has worked through this decision herself as a parent. The right answer, she says, is rarely obvious, and it changes from child to child. School readiness is about more than turning the eligible age. Here is what to look for, what to ask your child's educators, and how to think through the conversation without getting tangled in stigma or other people's expectations.