Getting Ready for Kindergarten

I understand a lot of states have an age cutoff date for kindergarten and first grade at September 1st. I live in California and the date is December 1st. I have heard this is in the minority. I was told that all but five states use a date before October 15th. My son is born October 22nd and I am trying to understand the implications of his readiness over the long term for education. If I send him to Kindergarten when he is four is this really a good idea?

You are wise to want to think of all the ramifications. Please bear in mind that no state has mandatory school attendance at age four, so you do have the option of waiting a year before enrolling your child. Do not let neighborhood tradition make your decision.

If there is a chance that you may relocate to another area at any time during the next twenty years, consider the fact that your child may be the youngest in his class. Consider what that means during adolesence and teenage years. Peer pressure is always present during those times.

If you do choose to enroll your child in kindergarten, be sure it is developmentally appropriate. It should not have an academic emphasis but rather an abundance of activities such as singing, moving, sharing, listening to stories, learning rhymes and playing. Kindergarten is the foundation for all future learning and where the love of learning begins.

A trip to the local school and visit with the principal would be very reassuring. The principal can give you the philosophy of the school and kindergarten in particular as well as the number of children in the class who were born between September and December of the year your child was born.

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