How will I know my child is ready for Kindergarten?

Each state has determined a specific date in which your child must have turned five years old in order to attend kindergarten the following year. Once your child has met that milestone, you must determine if your child is ready socially, cognitively and emotionally. The mistake many parents make when judging kindergarten readiness is whether their child can write and recognize their alphabet, numbers and name. While working on some of these skills will prove helpful in kindergarten, it is not necessary. Teaching your child to be an eager learner will assist with the transition into kindergarten, making this new environment, teacher and school more readily enjoyable.

Providing an environment rich with learning activities and games can develop an eager learner. Many families enroll their preschool aged child into a structured learning center to assist with this task. A quality learning center will provide an environment that encourages exploration through play and will guide your child to the path towards a life-long love of learning. If you decide not to enroll your child in an early childhood program, organize exciting outings to many different places like the library, zoo, park or any other activity children love to experience.

You will know your child is ready to attend kindergarten if he/she shows evidence of the following developmental skills:

1. An enthusiasm toward learning. Children naturally show eagerness toward exploring a new environment or activity. By providing children with many different experiences, environments and opportunities you are encouraging them to grow and be more curious. Children who are enthusiastic towards learning usually ask many questions. Asking questions is how children learn more about the world around them.
   
   
2. Solid oral-language skills. Preschool children can learn up to five words per day. Providing children with many different experiences and labeling their actions and objects, asking open-ended questions and discussing situations about their experiences builds vocabulary, critical thinking skills and comprehension. Reading books with children while asking questions is an excellent way to develop language skills. Another way is to sing songs with your child. Sing in the car, on a walk or in the house while doing an activity. Start off with popular songs then add different words or sounds to the melody.
   
   
3. An ability to listen. Listening is a big part of kindergarten. Children need to listen to simple two and three step directions and carry them out with little guidance. The best thing a parent can do to develop a good listener is to read to their child everyday. Reading is interesting and fun for the child when it keeps them interested and involved in the story. Choose stories that allow a child to act out actions or sounds. Use variations of voice for each character. Remember to ask questions both during and after the story is complete. Provide your child with simple two and three step directions to practice following directions and becoming more independent.
   
   
4. A desire to be independent. Encouraging self-help skills are a critical part of kindergarten readiness. Kindergarten teachers are responsible for larger groups of children and rely on children's self-help skills for smooth transitions through the daily lessons and activities. Children should be able to, but not limited to, dress themselves, hang up their coats, take off and put on shoes, use the facilities, wash hands, and pour liquid into a cup.
   
   
5. An ability to play with others. Children need to have experience with simple socialization skills like sharing, taking turns, verbalizing feelings and handling conflicts with other children.