Parenting Advice From Your Physicians at Kaiser Permanente

Its almost time for kids to head back to school and if you have a child who might be starting kindergarten you may be wondering if they are ready to go.

How do you know if your child is ready to start school? How do you prepare them in time?

While some basic academic skills (being able to talk, understand sounds letters make, and identify numbers, directions, colors, and shapes) will help, being ready for school isn’t just about academic readiness. Instead, a child’s social and emotional development are likely even more important. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states:

“Several qualities that are necessary for children to be ready for school are physical and nutritional well-being, intellectual skills, motivation to learn, and strong social-emotional capacity and supports.”

Kid who are ready to start kindergarten are usually able to:

• Follow directions
• Take turns and share
• Sit and listen to a story
• Focus on a task for at least 15 minutes
• Independently use the toilet
• Express their needs and feelings
• Understand how other people might feel
• Control anger and aggression
• Hold a pencil or crayon to draw

Not all kids develop these skills at the same time, but they may still be ready to head to school. Also, children come from a wide variety of backgrounds. The AAP also reminds us that:

“It is the responsibility of the schools to be ready for all children and to work with families to make the school experience positive for all children, even those who may be at varying stages of readiness. School programs should be flexible and adaptable to each child’s level of readiness.”

That means schools need to be ready to teach all kids who are kindergarten age – regardless of their preparation. Your child may be ready to start school but may not have mastered a few of these milestones yet. Or your child may have special educational needs. When they start kindergarten, it’s helpful to advocate for them by communicating with their teacher. Let the teacher know about their strengths, the areas where your child may need some help, and your family and home life.

Well before kindergarten, your child’s education starts at home. You can help them be ready to transition to kindergarten by focusing on a few “Rs.” Nope, not Reading, ‘Riting, and ‘Rithmatic.  You truly don’t need to teach your child to read and write before kindergarten starts!

But the American Academy of Pediatrics hopes that all parents will follow their “5 Rs” of early education. These Rs help children learn, have a positive self-image, and be resilient as they face challenges:

• Read together every day with your child.
• Rhyme, play and cuddle with your child every day.
• Develop routines, particularly around meals, sleep, and family fun.
• Reward your child with praise for successes to build self-esteem and promote positive behavior.
• Develop a strong and nurturing relationship with your child as the foundation for their healthy development.

If your child has a birthday near the cutoff age for school enrollment, you may be struggling to decide whether your child is ready to go to school. First, check with the school district. In many districts today, when your child is within the age range for kindergarten, they need to start at that time. Otherwise, they may be placed into first grade the following year.

If you have concerns, talk with their preschool teacher and your pediatrician. Know that there aren’t answers that apply to everyone, but in most cases, it’s to their advantage to start school when they’re at the required age. Once they start, keep in communication with your child and their teachers to help ensure they’re having a positive experience.

Resources for Parents:

The American Academy of Pediatrics:
The Power of Play
Developmental Milestones of Early Literacy
Is Your Preschooler Ready for Kindergarten?