Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten?

Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten?

You may be asking yourself this question if your child has a summer birthday close to the age deadline, or if you think your child would benefit from strengthening basic skills by repeating a year of Pre-Kindergarten. Here are a few points to consider.

Social Maturity

• Is your child ready for the expectations of Kindergarten?
• Does your child: share, cooperate with other children, take turns, follow 2 and 3 step directions?

Academic Success

• Research confirms that all children who are held back or pushed forward arrive at the same relative academic place by third grade.

Reading

• Does your child know most of their letters and the sounds they make out of order?
• Can they write their first name?
• Being able to read at age 5 is not a Kindergarten requirement or expectation. Readiness comes at different points for all children.

Mathematics

• Is your child able to count to 20?
• Can your child draw a triangle? Research suggests that a child is ready to read when they can draw a triangle.

Other Considerations

• Size – How will holding your child back or pushing them forward affect their self-esteem compared to children a grade level younger or older?
• Extra-curricular – Team sports, as supported by Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers, is one area where being the oldest gives children a competitive edge. Is this reason alone enough to hold a child back from a year of potential academic stimulation?
• Know your child, their excitement about learning, the ability to listen, follow directions, and have a positive experience.

We Want to Hear From You!

Do you want to share your thoughts on retaining children? When is it appropriate? When should you take a chance? Success stories, either way, are welcome.