When Your Child Should Start Kindergarten

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Despite the national recommendation that your child start school at the age of five, it is not required.  Starting your child too early can have drastic consequences.  Since children are maturing at such rapid paces in this age range, it is important to start your child at the right time.

It is important that you don’t start your child too early or too late.  If your child is 1 year younger than everyone else in the class, they could be made fun of for being shorter or other differences.  This would cause your child’s self esteem to fall along with their love of school.

Starting your child in kindergarten at the age of five is acceptable if you think your child is mature enough to handle the stresses of kindergarten.  It is a tumultuous time for your child as it may be the first time in an organized school environment.  The key thing is that you child must be socially mature enough to handle a school environment.

If you’re still having trouble deciding if it is ready for your child to start, consult with the information below.  It will give some items that your child should be able to perform in order to be ready for kindergarten.  If you can answer yes for you child to at least half of the questions, your child is probably ready to start kindergarten.

1. Can your child button her own shirt and zip things?
2. Can she tie her own shoes?
3. Is she potty trained effectively?
4. Does your child wash her hands without being told after using the bathroom?
5. Does your child volunteer to help with chores around the house?
6. Can your child demonstrate a sense of sharing with peers?
7. Does she make friends easily?
8. Can she communicate with other adults?
9. Does your child recognize at least eight colors?
10. Does she recognize at least 5 shapes?
11. Can she memorize simple songs and jingles?
12. Does she follow instructions easily?
13. Can she follow a story line and retell it to you?
14. Can your child tell the difference in sounds?

Take time to evaluate the list above and see which items your child can complete.  If she has trouble with over half of the items listed, it won’t be a good idea to put her in kindergarten.  Also remember that just because your child might be an academic whiz kid, if her social skills are sub-par she will struggle in kindergarten.

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