One question I get asked a lot when a child has a summer birthday is, “Is my child ready for kindergarten?” and I wanted to share some of the things I tell other mom friends when they ask this question. I am not going to tell you yes or no, but I want you to consider the things you’re about to read!
Is My Child Ready For Kindergarten?
I am going to talk about three broad topics and dive deeper into each one. I want to say this question is not black and white. There are a lot of gray areas but at the end of the day, you know your child best, and using this post as a guide will help you make the best decision for your child.
Kindergarten Readiness: Social Emotional
I am starting with this one because it is one that is usually overlooked. We know that if our kids know their alphabet and numbers then they are for sure ready for kindergarten. While that is true, it is only partly true.
Problem Solving
Think about how your child problem-solves, listens to others, or manages their emotions when not in their ideal situation. If a child takes a toy they were playing with, are they usually able to stay calm, find a way to solve the problem, or ask for help? We don’t expect a child to be able to do this every time but CAN they do this?
Listening to Others
This is a big one, too! Not only listening to all adults, but also to other kids in their school. This can also go hand in hand with following directions. Being able to complete 2-4 step directions is important in kindergarten. This is also that can be practiced at home. It is also important to listen to others so everyone stays safe. Using school supplies and navigating the school should always be done in a safe way and the teacher will be explaining how to do this from the first day.
Managing Emotions
This one can be hard for anyone. We all get upset, but we know how to manage our anger or sadness in a way that won’t hurt others or in a way that we can calm down within 15 minutes. If your child has a hard time calming down or even gets extremely upset when you leave, that is an important thing to consider when they are going off to kindergarten.
Kindergarten Readiness: Independence
Kindergarten is the age that they start to gain some independence. For example: making choices, working on assignments on their own, allowing them to problem solve on their own, etc. There is also the independence of getting ready for school, and taking care of supplies at school, too.
Getting Ready
A big part of school is getting ready for different parts of the day: coming to school, going to recess, and going home. All of these things require your child to get coats or backpacks on and off. Is your child able to zip their coat, and put on their boots, hat, and mittens (if applicable)?
Potty Trained
Are they fully potty trained? This is usually required and accidents do happen but they should be able to ask to use the bathroom and go independently. Most schools will not allow pull-ups either!
Using School Supplies Correctly: Fine Motor
This one should have an asterisk because these things are taught at the beginning of kindergarten but if you notice your child has very poor fine motor skills it would be a great idea to work on strengthening them before they start kindergarten. They will be expected to cut and use a pencil or crayons starting the first day. They should have had a little experience with these tools before.
Kindergarten Readiness: Academics
This last one is important but shouldn’t be the biggest decision in starting kindergarten. I think having these academic skills will help but if they can’t manage emotions effectively or listen then academics will be put on the back burner to address the social and emotional issues.
Letters and Numbers
Knowing every single letter and sound is not a requirement for kindergarten however I would say knowing everything about their name is key. It is so helpful when they can recognize their name, write their name, and know the letters in their name. I also think counting to 10 is a good starting point. Now, these are not required but if you want to start somewhere with your preschooler, I would start there.
Attending Preschool
I want to say this is not required!! However, it is super beneficial for your child. They will learn how to be around kids their age, listen to other adults, and have a more structured part of their day. These things can also be learned through library storytime, church groups, or playdates. I don’t want to say you have to go to preschool to be ready. I know many kids who missed out on preschool and still were successful in kindergarten. My son only went to preschool at 3 and had to stop in March 2020 due to Covid. We skipped 4-year-old kindergarten and he was fine in kindergarten. This is just a great option if you are looking to get your child ready for kindergarten.
I’ve said it before, you know your kids the best, and if you ever question whether to start them think about some of the topics I brought up. If you’re looking for some preschool activities to get kindergarten ready, check out my TpT store!
