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Is Your Five Year Old Ready For Kindergarten - Ten Questions To Consider
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Can your child sit and/or stay focused for 1/2 hour?
Not all five year olds are ready for kindergarten. Besides age, you must also consider your child’s academic ability as well as their social and emotional levels. When deciding if your child is really ready for kindergarten, here are ten things to consider:
1. Is your child excited about learning, about starting kindergarten?
Does she approach new situations enthusiastically, ask questions, enjoy trying new things, and keep trying instead of giving up? Are they proud they are going to start school, and eager to pick out school supplies?
2. Does your child showing desire to be independent?
Can he enjoy time away from his parents, put their own things away, without being told and take pleasure in doing things by themselves? Do they use the bathroom on their own and then wash their hands?
3. Can your child take care of their own basic needs while at kindergarten?
Are they able to button their coat, zip their pants and tie their shoes and use silverware correctly on their own?
4. Does your child show basic academic knowledge?
Can they recite the ABCs, count up to 25; name the primary colors and basic shapes?
5. Does your child know their personal information?
Can they clearly state their first and last names, their address and their phone number? Do they know their parents first and last names?
6. Can your child sit still for up to 30 minutes at a time while at kindergarten?
They will not only need to sit still but listen and stay focused on the appropriate activity for 30 minute (or more) intervals.
7. Is your child capable of demonstrating acceptable social skills?
Does he play, share and work with other children? Does he understand authority and follow rules? Does he understand is he breaks a rule there is a consequence?
8. Does your child have Expressive/Receptive Language Comprehension?
Can she speak in full sentence that are understandable? Is she able to understand and then follow simple directions? Is she capable of retelling an event she experienced?
9. Can your child demonstrate the motor skills needed in Kindergarten?
Do they have a grasp on both gross (throwing a ball, skip, climb) and fine (use scissors, hold a pencil) motor skills?
10. Is your child's behavior under his control?
Are they able to uses their words over acting out physically, not hit or bite others when upset? Do they use appropriate words and actions and not cry when dropped off?
A parent knows their child better than anyone else and in the end; it falls on them to make the right choices. None of us want our children to struggle and sometimes, the wise choice is to let them have another year at home. All kids grow at their own rate and some early 5's (that just make the cut off) do great while others quickly fall behind. Taking all of the child, and their abilities, into consideration will help make the best choice for your child.
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