Is my Child Ready for Kindergarten?

The First Step

Kindergarten is a very important event in a child’s life.  It can be the start of a lifelong love of all things educational, the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom.  Or, it can be a painful, intimidating process that can teach a child to dread the start of school every September.  Love, or hate, of the academic journey can flow from that first year of kindergarten.

This naturally leads to two questions: 

• How can my child be successful in kindergarten?
• What can I do to make sure my child is ready for kindergarten?

No parent can guarantee that their child will have a successful future.  But at the very least, they can make sure their child is in the best possible position to enjoy kindergarten and is ready and eager to learn.

Milestones

Developmental milestones help to chart the progress a child is making.  They can also be used to determine whether a child is ready for kindergarten. Depending on what website you use, these developmental milestones can vary a bit, but the core is usually the same.  Here are some examples of what teachers look for in a child that is ready for kindergarten:

• Language skills (use full sentences that people other than family usually understand)
• Academic skills (familiar with own name and tries to write it themselves)
• Math skills (count from 1 to 10 without skipping any numbers)
• Self care skills (use the bathroom on their own)
• Social and emotional skills (for the most part doesn’t get upset when separated from their parents)
• Fine motor skills (can put together a simple puzzle)
• Gross motor skills (can jump with both feet together)

Maybe you’re looking at this list and you’re uncertain if your child is meeting each category.  Now what?

Observation and Dedication

First, get ahold of one of the many lists of milestones that are online, or you can start with the list included here.  Next, observe your child.  Is she meeting the necessary milestones, consistently?  If she’s struggling in any category, help her practice situations so she can succeed.  Do it in a fun way so that she’s engaged.  

For example, if her favorite snack is goldfish, help her with her math skills by counting out goldfish during snack time.  Or for gross motor skills join her in a lovely game of hopscotch.  There are many ways you can help her pick up the skills that she lacks.  

Significance of Social Skills

Social skills are just as important, if not more so, then any of the other skills.  Kindergarten is a wonderful place to develop social skills, such as making friends, taking turns sharing, playing team sports, etc.  But without a basic understanding of social skills before entering kindergarten, it will be more difficult for your child to adjust to the classroom and its routines.

That’s why the ability to follow instructions is best learned before entering kindergarten.  Also, being friendly with other children can definitely be practiced before kindergarten rolls around.  Parties, play dates and holidays are prime teaching moments for children to learn how to interact with others, to learn how to self soothe and be okay with not being attached at the hip with their parents for hours at a time.

Possible Solutions

Many children, through no fault of their parents, or for that matter, their own, just aren’t ready for kindergarten.  They are lacking in one if not several categories, even after their parents have tried to teach them at home.  Sooner rather than later, parents should seek support  from a qualified professional, like a speech pathologist.  A speech pathologist builds up language skills, as well as academic and social skills.  For the other skills it could be a good course of action to seek the aid of an occupational therapist, physical therapist, counselor, or behavior interventionist.