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Is Your Child
Ready For School?
by Teresa, The CuteKid™ Staff
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Many parents find themselves asking the question, “Is my child really ready
for school?” My son was born August 24th, the cut off date for kindergarten
was September 1st. He barely qualified, if I decided to send him. As I
considered whether he was ready or not I thought about the skills, both
academic and social, that he needed to have before starting school. I asked
myself questions like those provided by the MetLife Consumer Education Center.
You can ask yourself the same questions to determine if your child is ready
for school.
- Does your child know the basic shapes and colors? Although these
skills are
reviewed in kindergarten it is better if your child knows
them before starting.
- Can your child write their name and cut with scissors? These are fine
motor-skills
that are needed by children starting school.
- Can your child count to ten? This is a pre-kindergarten skill most
children should
have.
- Does your child know some of their letters and numbers? It isn’t necessary
for your child to know all of their letters and numbers but knowing a few
is important, especially the letters in their name.
- Does your child exhibit confidence? Your child needs to be able to separate
from you easily and not be afraid.
- Is your child curious? School is a new learning experience and the child who
asks questions about their environment will be more successful.
- Does your child have age-appropriate verbal skills? Your child should be able
to communicate with adults and other children. If you aren’t sure talk to your child’s doctor about where they should be.
- Does your child demonstrate social skills? Social skills are very important
in a group setting. Your child needs to be able to share and take turns.
He or she should be comfortable in a group setting and know how to express
their feelings appropriately.
- Does your child have a lengthening attention span? School activities require
that a child be able to focus on one thing for a time.
- Does your child possess play skills? Kindergarten is about learning and
playing. Your child needs to know how to play with different materials.
- Does your child exhibit age-appropriate physical development? For example,
children should be able to feed themselves, use the toilet (including
buttoning and unbuttoning pants), and go up and down stairs.
Sometimes it’s not the child who isn’t ready for kindergarten but the parent
who is not ready to let them go. If your child is ready don’t let them know
how you feel. You don’t want to give your child a reason to fear starting
school. To help ease your fears meet with the teacher and principal before
school starts. Ask the teacher about things like classroom discipline and
learning activities. Most of all realize that for your child starting
kindergarten is the best thing for them, a chance to prove that they can do
things on their own.
I sent my son to kindergarten and he turned five the next day. It was the
best decision for us. He happily walked through the school doors without
even looking back. Socially he didn’t have any problems, although he was a
little behind in kindergarten he is now starting third grade top of his
class and reading at a third to fourth grade level. If I had held him back
he would be really bored in school now.
Read Other Related Article:
Starting Off the First Day of School Right
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