Is my Child Ready for Kindergarten?

“Red-shirting” kindergarten-aged children has long been a topic of discussion among teachers & parents alike. Over the years, we’ve dealt with many parents of children with birthdays near the cutoff date who are concerned that their child may not be mature enough to sit through kindergarten classes. There are other parents that believe that their child can gain an advantage in academic, athletic, or social settings by being older than average for their grade level. While there are pros & cons to each side of delayed enrollment, we want to stress that children grow and develop at different rates, and what is good for most children may not be good for your child.

We are here to provide parents with resources and information to help them make an informed decision on when to have their child graduate from preschool and move onto kindergarten. If you find yourself unsure of your child’s kindergarten readiness, our guide should help. Take a look at the following guidelines that include a range of academic, social, and developmental factors to consider:

• Enthusiastic About Learning: Your preschooler should be eager to explore and discover new ideas or concepts and needs to be comfortable asking questions. A child that is willing to persist even when a task is difficult is often ready for kindergarten.
• Language Expression & Communication: Your child should be able to communicate needs and express feelings appropriately, both among peers and to teachers.
• Ability to Listen: A child ready for kindergarten will be able to follow simple two-step instructions and listen to stories without interrupting.
• Desire to be Independent: If your child can be separated from you easily during the school day, will take responsibility for personal belongings and can use the bathroom themselves, it is a good indication that they are ready for kindergarten.
• Ability to Interact with Peers: A child ready for kindergarten should be able to share or is learning to share, can take turns with classmates, and is showing interest in problem-solving.
• Utilize Strong Fine Motor Skills: Preschoolers ready for kindergarten will be able to hold and use a pencil, cut with scissors, and in the process of learning to print their first name.
• Have Letter & Number Awareness: If your child can sing or recite the alphabet, recognizes letters or numbers, and can count to 10, they are a good candidate for moving on to kindergarten.

As we have mentioned earlier, there are both pros & cons to delaying enrollment, but it’s important to consider if a few small benefits outweigh the potential number of consequences. Parents who are considering holding back their child in order for them to gain an academic advantage need to know that any academic edge a child gains is usually short-lived. According to a report in Science Daily, “Older kindergarten students scored 24 percentage points higher than their younger peers during the first few months, but the lead narrowed to just 4 percentage points by the time the students were in the eighth grade.”

Parents of children who have birthdays near the cutoff date often consider holding their child back to give them time to mature. But, studies have shown that a child who is older for his or her grade doesn’t perform any better than children who enter at the usual age. All in all, the most important signs of kindergarten readiness are the ability to communicate needs & wants along with being curious and enthusiastic about trying new activities. Discussing your concerns with your pediatrician and their current preschool or day care provider can help you gain a better understanding of how well your child is prepared for school.

If you have questions about enrolling your current preschooler into kindergarten this upcoming year, stop by or call to speak with one of our qualified educators who can offer advice and guidance. Here at Kids ‘R’ Kids, a child success is our most important goal. We can offer resources and information to help make sure your little one starts off their educational years with grace and success.