This is the time of year parents start to register their kids for kindergarten and parents wonder if their child will be ready come September. Many school districts rely on age as the determining factor for school readiness but, some educators believe that the most important factor in determining if a child is ready for kindergarten is how much experience he or she has had in a school like setting.
Some districts might test children before the school year has starts. The kindergartners may be evaluated on the child's physical development, alphabet recognition and his or her knowledge of body parts, colors and shapes. This serves as an indicator of a kindergartners physical and cognitive development.
What should you do if your district doesn’t offer pre-evaluate for children entering Kindergarten? Below are a few guidelines to look for at home:
* Language – Does your child speak in full sentences? Are they able to understand and then follow simple directions, and are they capable of retelling an event they experienced?
* Motor Skills – Does your child demonstrate both the gross (throwing a ball, skip, climb) and fine (use scissors, hold a pencil) motor skills needed daily in kindergarten?
* Independence -- Can your child dress him/herself and wash their own face and hands?
* Socialization – Does your child play and work with other children, understands authority, follow rules, and understand sharing?
There is no perfect formula to determine when your child is truly ready for kindergarten. There are many factors that will affect an individual child and in the end, as parents, we must rely on the fact that we know our child the best and make the best decision that will lead to their success.
Sources: www.preschoolerstoday.com
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