Summary: It’s July, and that means, the beginning of school is (hopefully) around the corner. If you’re like my wife and myself, you are desperately praying that schools open this fall! If it’s time for your child to enter kindergarten for the first time, this may be a day that you’ve been looking forward to. Or, for some of you, the thought of your child entering kindergarten might bring some anxiety. It’s kindergarten! And it’s the first step in a long series of educational milestones. However, as excited as you and your child might be, it’s perfectly normal to question if your child is ready for this big step. Today’s kindergarten classroom looks very different from the one you and I remember. How can we as parents know if our little one is ready? Most districts have a cut- off date for kindergarten enrollment. When they reach a certain age, they must enroll. There is a little bit of wiggle room that allows you to wait to enroll until the following year. But, how do you know whether or not to hold them back? As parents, we’re often not the best judge of readiness, simply because we can be plagued by anxieties. We might worry that they’ll get lost in the crowd, not have any friends, get picked on by others, or not be able to keep up with instruction! Keep in mind, there are some basic guidelines to help you determine if your child is ready. You need to consider your child’s age and maturity. Most of us think the magic number is the age of 5 for starting kindergarten. Most children enroll at the age of 5, but just because your child is the right age, doesn’t mean they are automatically ready for school. In this episode we look at a list of signs that can help you determine whether or not your child is ready for kindergarten.
