What i think the dad should do is build the child confidence, their are example of great guy who started slow but end up to be inventor, top of the class. Look for few of the example and let the child know he end up to one of them. Look to the future, and more focus.

I don't think it is good to tell your son if he does extra-good in school that they will bump him up a grade because who says this will happen? The school? I highly doubt this will happen and I would not have left him a grade behind due to shyness but that might be a moot point now.

If you think your son is far enough ahead to be in his "normal" grade(the one he would have been in) I would request from your school an educatioanl eval and see what the results bring.

Good luck.

Adding to my previous answer:
steveinflorida, if them leaving him behind one more year for being shy is the case, I would demand academic evaluation to get him to 2nd grade this year!!! They would definitely have to have a better reason than that to keep him behind. I would do everything in my power to get him to his academic level asap even if it would mean to go to the board of education and raise Heck.

Dear steveinflorida, both of my children went to school before their time; I was also told that they were not emotionally ready for it (especially my son). Since they told me that academically they were fine, I had no second thoughts about sending them on. My son is initially shy and takes a little while to get to know other, so don't worry because the friends will come. I'm not really understanding the situation on how others from his kinder class are in 2nd grade and he's in 1st, however all you can do about him telling others that he's in 2nd grade is to let him know that he should never be ashamed (keep telling him that he is not to tell fibs about that) and REASSURE him that he is VERY INTELLIGENT (Always be positive when speaking to him about this issue). When my children express bad feelings about their teachers, I always make sure to speak to the teachers and let them know that I am very involved with my child's education, and that if they are not acting professionally, I will be sure to take it up with them and the principal. If my children are still not happy, I make the principal move them to another class. I have dealt with a mean teacher before, and after expressing my concerns about her (with her), she changed her whole attitude. I really feel for you because I know the pain a parent goes through when these types of issues arise, but don't worry! Take it step by step and everything will be fine. Slowly it will get better. Good luck to you and your son.

That's absurd. They held him back because he's shy? IMO, 1st grade wasn't much different than Kindergarten (I live in FL, too).

Maybe you should talk to his doctor about his feelings? They could have advice or point you in the right direction. Good luck.

The school that your son goes to had no right setting him back one year! Just becasue he is shy! When my son started first grade he was shy too! And the school that he went to did not set him back one year!Your son is not to shy if he has friends in the second grade! from when he was in kindergarden! That school was wrong to set him back! Maybe you should home school him so he won't feel like he is being left behind his friends at school! And home schooling is not hard to do with one child at home! As long as you make it fun! My son was shy in kindergarden all the way to first grade and second grade and on! He eventualy out grew it when he got in middle school!