How to Know Your Child is Ready for Kindergarten

The new million dollar question in education has become: "Is my child ready for kindergarten?" As a kindergarten teacher since 1996, I would like to share some thoughts on when a child is ready.

Remember, all children are different and you never really know how a child will perform until he/she actually gets to kindergarten, but I have noticed some definite attributes in children who do well, as well as in those who struggle.

Instructions

1. Be mindful of your child's birthday. Children who will not turn 5 until after kindergarten starts are considered "young" and may struggle developmentally. I tell parents that regardless of how their child does in kindergarten, they must remember that the child will be among the youngest in the class for the next 12 years, which is almost never an advantage.

   Most teachers who have children with fall birthdays hold them back a year. It's called "giving them the gift of time."

2. Consider your child's maturity. I explain the difference between "mature" and "immature" as a child who plays with dinosaurs or pretends to be a dinosaur. I am not suggesting that being immature is a negative thing; I am only suggesting that most of the "mature" children in kindergarten have probably already turned 5, and "immature" children might struggle socially.

3. Do not obsess over your child's academic ability. Where a child is academically is the least of my concerns when trying to decide whether or not he or she is ready for kindergarten. You truly never know how children are going to perform academically until they actually get into kindergarten.

4. Consider where your child was the year before kindergarten. If it was preschool where the hours were significantly shorter than kindergarten, there might be a struggle with the longer day.

5. Consider the birth order of your child. Typically, a child with older siblings matures faster and is more independent than a first child.