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Being a Savvy Parent : Education Decisions

Submitted by Amanda, Boulder

How will I know if my child is ready for kindergarten?

Answered by Amy Rees , Savvy Source Parenting & Preschool Editor

Kindergarten in the U.S. traditionally includes kids who are five years old, or who will be in the next two or three months. And, not coincidentally, the educational framework of kindergarten readiness looks for behaviors and strengths and coordination that kids that age typically have. But here's where things get tricky: private school age cut-offs are quite different in many cities, and even at public schools, parents have recently (and controversially) decided to hold their children back. The flow-through effect of these decisions is a kindergarten class including some kids who are still four or freshly turned five and some who are already solidly 6. If you've got a June birthday boy or twin August girls, perhaps you've got a judgment call to make about your child's readiness for kindergarten. Talk to your preschool teachers, learn about the readiness assessment, review a checklist, and go with your always-knows-best parent instinct.

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Cami Dalton said:

As the mother of 3 children, (now teens) and a veteran public school teacher (20 years with students in grades 3 - 6), I have observed and worked with hundreds of children. It is my experience that in most cases, it is better to be absolutely certain that your child is ready for kindy and err on the side of waiting. How do you know if a 5 year old is ready? Social maturity is the key. Can he/she sit still for more than 5 minutes? Does she have a reasonable amount of self control and self confidence? Does he have good fine motor skills (for manipulating scissors, pencils, etc) Even if the child is academically advanced, a lack of social readiness can have a negative impact on their ability to function well in the classroom setting. How a child learns to interact with adults and peers in kindergarten and the early grades sets the stage for how he/she views herself as a learner all through school. I find that by the time students reach third grade, it is often easy to tell which children are "younger" than the others.... who has a summer birthday? This is especially true for boys. My general recommendation to parents who ask is to trust your intuition. If you think your child may not be quite ready, he probably is not. It is easier and preferable for a student a grade later on, than it is to be held back or to struggle academically or socially for 12 years! Our kids grow up so quickly! Enjoy their PRE school years. Before you know it, they will be 18 and heading out the door!

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