How Can I Tell If My Child Is Ready For School?

It’s one of the biggest questions parents face. And it feels like it could affect your child’s whole life! Are they ready for school?

Don’t worry if you don’t know the answer. Most experts can’t even agree! There is no universal definition of “readiness.”

The reason is simple: “readiness” is complicated! And U.S. kindergarten teachers say that 35% of their students are not ready to “participate fully in school.” The reasons, they say, are:

Photo credit: stockimages

Let’s discuss these points. It will help you determine when your child is ready.

Language deficiencies

When your child is in school, they have to communicate with others. All day. They need to tell adults if something is wrong. And ask for help. They need to share ideas and answer questions. 

And they need to listen. They need to understand rules and lesson plans.

It’s fine if your child isn’t perfect. It takes practice! But they will need some degree of mastery when they start school.

Luckily, you can help! Talk to your child. Ask them great questions to promote language development. Play rhyming games and other activities that help their phonemic awareness.

And read to them! For twenty minutes a day. It is one of the best ways to get your child ready for school.  Be sure to check out these 5 Fun And Easy Steps to get the most out of reading.

Emotional intelligence

School is an emotional place! Many kids feel separation anxiety for months after starting school.

On top of that, your child will need to deal with frustration. And work out differences with other children. And calm down.

So help your child learn to control their emotions. Practice the marshmallow test. Use good dialogue to help them learn to express themselves. Ask them questions that explore their feelings. And model the behavior you want to see in your child.  

General knowledge

Teachers put this third on the list. Luckily, it is probably the item you can control the most.

Start with the suggestions above. Promote language skills! These skills will make learning to read, listen and write that much easier.

You can also take advantage of reading programs like StudyDog. We provide customized games for kids as young as three. It’s educational. And it’s fun!

Not sure if your child is ready? Talk to their (future) teacher to find out what skills they expect in their incoming class. Spend some time in the classroom to see if it’s a good fit.

Social confidence

Photo credit: Stuart Miles 

Can your child make friends? Do they play well with others? Do they greet adults… or hide behind you?

A child’s happiness in school relies more on their social confidence than their grades. And early experiences can make a lasting impression.

If your child hasn’t spent much time with other children, or you’re concerned about their social skills, join a playgroup! Spend a few hours a week playing around other children.

Remember, most children play alongside other kids before they are ready to play with them. This is a normal part of their development.

Look for the signs.

Again, judging readiness is tough. Get input! Talk to your pediatrician, friends and teachers. But in the end, you know your child best. Trust yourself.

If in doubt, there’s nothing wrong with waiting. Research shows that there are no long-term consequences. Whether for a semester or a year, you should do what you think is best for your child.

Parents: How will (or did) you know when your child is ready for school?