A mom asked me last week what she can do to help her child be ready for Kindergarten in a year— she’s in a three year old class right now and is the youngest in the class, and seems a bit delayed.  My answer —”You cannot hurry development!”  God made us to develop at our own pace!

There are lots of factors that should be considered when determining if a child is ready for Kindergarten.  Unfortunately our education system has determined that the birthdate of a child is what signals that they are ready.  There is a huge difference between a child who turns 5 in October and one who turns 5 in July.  The temperament of the child, birth order, and life experiences should also be considered.  Premature babies and multiples often need additional time to develop.

Our expectations of children in Kindergarten have changed drastically in the last 10 years.   It used to be if a child could tie his/her shoes, sit in a circle quietly, and interact appropriately with their peers then they were ready for school.   Kindergarteners must now be able to read and are expected to do what used to be 1st grade work.

Giving children an extra year if they need it, is truly a gift.  Allowing them to mature socially and emotionally as well as physically will aide them in middle and high school.  Hoping they will succeed in sports is not a reason to hold a child back, but helping them to succeed in life is.  It is a lot easier to “give them an extra year” before Kindergarten than to “hold them back” later on.

Making the decision is often a very difficult one—your child’s teacher will have insight into their success in the classroom.  They usually can do lots more for their parents (like counting, etc), but they must be able to do it for their teacher.  See if you can have your child Gesell screened, a Kindergarten readiness test that should be administered by a Gesell screener that your child does not know.  This screening gives you the developmental age of your child.  For many people it is a great help in making the Kindergarten decision.  Ultmately you know your child and whether they are prepared to enter Kindergarten.

Your elementary school should be able to give you a list of their expectations, it varies from school district to school district.  Reading to your child, practicing fine motor skills, making them responsibile for their own belongings, allowing the development of self help skills, and encouraging good social skills will help your child to be ready to tackle that all important Kindergarten year!