Before you know it, that beautiful young baby boy or girl of yours will be old enough to start school. Kindergarten is the first step but you begin to wonder if they are ready or not. If you are trying to decide if this is the year for your child to start school, read on to find out what you should consider when making the decision.

Did your child attend preschool? - Children that attend preschool are better prepared to enter kindergarten when the time comes than those children who spent the year at home. Classroom settings in kindergarten are not what they were thirty years ago. When I was in school, kindergarteners played a lot and they learned colors and shapes but the environment was relaxed. Today, with the pressure to succeed and achieve certain academic goals at an earlier age, the kindergarten classroom is more structured. Attending a preschool program introduces your child to a traditional classroom setting. They sit at their own desk and learn to raise their hands when they need the teacher’s attention. Children learn to recognize colors, shapes, animals, and more. Having other children around gives them a chance to practice their interpersonal skills with one another.

How old is your child? – Children typically start kindergarten when they are five years of age. Depending on the state, the cut-off date for age can range from September of the current school year to January which is half way through the current school year. If your child turns five after the cut-off date they would normally roll over into the next school year to enroll in kindergarten. Now, some schools are leaving it up to the parent’s to decide if their child is ready at the age of four. Four year old children must meet certain criteria to qualify for that school year. The child must be potty trained. Most kids are going to the bathroom by age four, but there are exceptions to that rule. The children must be able to follow basic commands like, “sit down in the chair” or “pick up the toy on the floor”.

What if you wait an extra year? – There is no benefit or drawback to waiting another year unless your child is prepared and you hold them back for whatever reason. If a child has not attended preschool and you want them to have the background, then that is okay. The child will be actively learning for that extra year and the skills they learn will help them in kindergarten. If the child will be the youngest in the class and you want them to be older, that is an ambiguous reason for waiting an extra year. If your child is mature enough to be in a classroom setting no matter how young they are, you should send them to school. If your child will be staying at home with you and relaxing for the extra year then they are better off in school where they will be gaining instruction in basic skills.

Just because your child is four or has not attended preschool does not mean that they can’t handle kindergarten. They will get a better start if they are five and preschool trained, but if the teacher is good, your child can catch up with the other students. Don’t make them feel bad by holding them back if they can do the work. Talk to a kindergarten teacher in your school district. Ask them what they like to see in a student who is attending kindergarten for the first time. Make a list of the skills they mention and test your child to see if they can at least demonstrate half of the list. Then, make your decision with the information you have gathered.

Kindergarten is the first step on your child’s road to getting an education. Start them off right. If they are ready let them enroll in school.

Article Source: http://www.thewahmshack.com/articledirectory/

About The Author:  Are you ready to challenge your preschooler’s mind even more? Take a look at www.kidsactivitycalendar.com for Alphabet Fun for your preschooler. The alphabet audios, coloring sheets and other activities are a great way to prepare your little one for kindergarten. To get your free sample lesson, stop by www.kidsactivitycalendar.com/letter-a-sample.htm today.

THIS ARTICLE is Free for reprint only if it remains unchanged and in its entirety, the Author's Resource Box AND our Article Source Credit URL are included, and ALL links are made active.

Print Article Add to Favorites Email to Friends Publish Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated