| Although Kindergarten is not compulsory in many | | | | their child. Here are 9 questions you may want to |
| states, most families choose to start their child's formal | | | | discuss before you send your child to Kindergarten |
| education in this setting. Kindergarten is thought by | | | | - Do they recognize letters and numbers from 1-10? |
| most professional educators to lay the foundation for | | | | - Can they recite the alphabet? |
| a child's educational experience. It is believed that how | | | | - Do they read along with you when you share a |
| a child is exposed to letters and their sounds, numbers | | | | favorite book? |
| and patterns, and other early academics will determine | | | | - Are they able to print their first name? |
| if they are successful in learning to read. The only | | | | - Are they excited about the prospect of going to |
| question that seems to arise is at what age a child | | | | school? |
| should begin this formal training. | | | | - Do they have a sibling already attending school? |
| The majority of school districts have strictly enforced | | | | - Have they spent time in a preschool where |
| policies about the age a child must be when they enter | | | | academics were emphasized? |
| Kindergarten. This specific age requirement differs | | | | - Can they focus their attention on guided and direct |
| throughout the United States. In some districts a child | | | | instruction for ten to fifteen minutes? |
| must be five years old by July 1 of the year they are | | | | - Are they able to spend six to seven hours a day |
| planning to enter school. Other places set a | | | | away from you without becoming upset? If the |
| September 1 deadline. The latest date is typically | | | | answer to five or more of these questions is yes, your |
| December 1, meaning that students in those school | | | | child is most likely ready for school. If not, have a family |
| districts may be 4 years old through the first several | | | | discussion about the possibility of waiting until the |
| months of Kindergarten, if their birthday is late in the | | | | following school year. Many schools do not allow a |
| year. | | | | child to repeat Kindergarten if the child is not |
| These birth date recommendations are just that; each | | | | successful. The child is expected to continue on to first |
| family determines if their child is ready to start | | | | grade without the benefit of extra instruction. Many |
| attending school. With Kindergarten now a full day | | | | children suffer self-esteem and other psychological |
| program in many cities across the United States, the | | | | issues when this situation occurs. Make sure that your |
| program may be too rigorous for some children even | | | | child is mature enough and ready for school before |
| if they have already celebrated their fifth birthday. | | | | sending them to Kindergarten. |
| The family must determine when the time is right for | | | | |