Dear Melissa,
My son will turn 5 in June. I am torn between starting Kindergarten this fall, or waiting another year. Your thoughts?
As a pediatric occupational therapist, this is a question I’m often asked. Quite frankly, many parents of children who have summer birthdays begin asking me this question when their child is only 2 or 3 years old. When college athletes choose to “redshirt” a year before fully joining the team, they benefit from having an extra year to become stronger and more skilled in his/her sport. Similarly, some parents choose to “redshirt” their 5 year olds, holding them back from attending kindergarten even when they are old enough to attend. But, is having this extra year to mature and strengthen academic skills always the best choice? There are arguments on both sides of this debate. Here are a few of them.
An Argument for NOT Redshirting
According to Dr. Elizabeth Graue, professor of early childhood education at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, “The oldest kids in a class aren’t always the ones who excel…by third grade it all evens out. The difference of a year between two youngsters isn’t noticeable at all.” Additionally, the National Association for Education of Young Children (NAEYC) strongly recommends that all children should enter school when their school district says that the child is chronologically ready. The NAEYC further states that it is the job of the school to create an environment conducive to learning for each and every child, no matter what their developmental level is upon entering kindergarten.
An Argument for Redshirting
Unfortunately we don’t live in a perfect world. While I understand the NAEYC’s perspective, I’m concerned that some schools just don’t have resources to provide the extra support that some children need. AND, the demands of kindergarten
keep getting greater and greater. Some expect children to be reading before they even start the first day of school, and they certainly must know all of their letters, sounds, and numbers. These expectations can be even more challenging for boys. Fred Brown, former president of the National Association of Elementary School Principals, reports that “Generally, there is a developmental delay of at least six months between boys and girls, so a boy with a late birthday may be at even more of a disadvantage.”
keep getting greater and greater. Some expect children to be reading before they even start the first day of school, and they certainly must know all of their letters, sounds, and numbers. These expectations can be even more challenging for boys. Fred Brown, former president of the National Association of Elementary School Principals, reports that “Generally, there is a developmental delay of at least six months between boys and girls, so a boy with a late birthday may be at even more of a disadvantage.”
Key questions to consider
When helping families over the years there are certain questions I consider before giving the green light for kindergarten. It is certainly not necessary to respond, “yes” to all of the questions below. But, it is a good place to start.
- Can the child color a picture and cut it out, including consistently using his/her dominant hand?
- Can the child write (not copy) his/her name with reasonable legibility. This counts even if it is just the first name in upper case letters.
- Can the child sit at the table for at least 20 minutes at a time. This could be for meals, playing legos, coloring, etc.?
- Can the child generally follow verbal directions? Not only does your child comprehend verbal directions, but does he generally want to follow directions?
- Can the child use the bathroom independently? This includes generally being independent with clothing management, wiping, flushing, and washing hands.
- Does the child generally get along with other children? Can your child share? Is your child aggressive toward other children? Is your child always too shy to talk to another child?
- Does your child use materials appropriately. In general, can your child use various toys, eating utensils, art materials appropriately? After your child is finished with these materials, is she capable of putting them away properly?
- Probably most importantly, is your child curious and ready to learn?
Consult with experts, then trust your gut
Ultimately parents have to trust their gut instincts. However, I applaud parents who try to fully inform themselves before making a decision. The professionals that regularly work with your child will likely each be able to offer advice. They may either alleviate unfounded concerns, or point out possible concerns given their area of expertise. Consider consulting with the following:
- Pre-K Teacher
- Occupational therapist
- Physical therapist
- Speech/language pathologist
- ABA therapist
- Pediatrician
Do you have questions that you would like me to address in my weekly blog?
email: share@childrenstherapyteam.com
Resources:
Kindergarten Readiness Indicator (accessed May 2015)
8 signs Your Child is Ready to Start Kindergarten, Amy Ettiger, Care.com (accessed May 2015)
Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten?, Beth Levine, SesameStreet.org (accessed May 2015)
Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten? Ben Mardell and Melissa Tonachel, National Association for Education of Young Children (Accessed May
2015)
2015)
Children’s Therapy TEAM, Offering individualized perdiatric therapies (OT, PT, ST and DT) in Northwest Arkansas