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Kindergarten Readiness Overview
Home » Early Learning » Kindergarten Readiness » Kindergarten Readiness OverviewPosted by Your Guide on March 3, 2006 10:26 PM
What it all boils down to is this: Is your child mature enough to be away from you for a few hours, handle their own toilet needs, and can they participate in a group setting without feeling overwhelmed? Only you can answer these questions and the hundreds of others that are probably churning in your mind as you make the decision about your child’s kindergarten readiness, but help is always available from many local sources.
If you are unsure about your child’s ability to have an enjoyable and successful kindergarten year, contact the local school district office. They can put you in touch with all sorts of local agencies that perform testing and offer evaluation programs for those nearing kindergarten age. The local Human Services Agencies can also put you in touch with child development specialists, preschool programs, and readiness programs such as Head Start, which help prepare preschoolers for their introduction to formal learning through kindergarten.
Can your child answer simple questions, tell a story about something that happened to them, or follow simple directions from you or the teacher? These are also good indicators of kindergarten readiness. One simple way to prepare your child for kindergarten level communication skills is to eliminate “baby talk” from your speech habits. Baby talk is great for babies, but not so great for preschoolers and kindergarteners. Not only will speaking to them in a regular tone of voice teach them to communicate effectively, but it also builds their confidence because it shows them that you value them and their ideas, and you demonstrate this by speaking to them the way you to do with others.
Some other things to consider before allowing your child to attend kindergarten are:
• How many children will be in the class?
• Is the program a full-day or half-day experience?
• Will the other children in the class be approximately the same age?
• Are parents involved in the program as aides and helpers?
• What methods will the teacher employ to ensure appropriate learning for each child?
• If your child still needs an afternoon nap, will your child be successful in an afternoon classroom setting?
If you are not sure your child is ready, schedule an appointment with one of your school’s kindergarten teachers. Take your child for the tour and ask as many questions as time allows. If possible, the kindergarten teacher can speak with your child and even evaluate their skills to help you determine whether or not your child is ready for a formal learning environment. Many school districts offer kindergarten readiness testing as part of the enrollment process.
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