There are pros and cons to how old a child is "ready for school" i. As well as differences in the ages of the children when they started talking, they also have psychological and social school readiness factors at different ages.
When you determine when your child will start school, consider the child's abilities and the environment. Gather accurate information about the child's development, especially communication skills, such as language and listening skills; social skills and the ability to mix with other children and adults, as well as physical abilities such as running and playing with crayons or pencils. Talk to your pediatrician or kindergarten teacher who can provide objective and useful information.
Some schools may hold special tests to evaluate your child's abilities. Certain tests tend to concentrate on academic ability, but usually tests evaluate other aspects of development. This test is far from perfect, as some children who test poorly do well in school. However, you can use this test as a reference in the development of your child compared to other children his age. Often times, a parent's intuition of a child's abilities is accurate enough to determine how ready they are to go to school, especially if you have previous experience with the child.
If you or the school find some areas of late or lagging child development, use this information to help you and the school to give your child the special attention it needs. By sharing information with your teacher, you can help the school get ready to work with your child. At the same time, you are forming partnerships for sustainable child education.
Parents can help improve cognitive, physical, and emotional development in children before entering school. Kindergarten teachers love having students who are enthusiastic and curious about new activities, can follow directions, and are sensitive to the feelings of their peers, and can take turns and share.
Some specific abilities that can facilitate the first year of school, include the child's ability to:
- Play well with other friends by minimizing fighting or crying
- Pay attention and be silent when the story is read
- Use your own toilet
- Install zippers and buttons
- State name, address and telephone number
This can be useful during the growing period of the child. Help your child develop basic skills, such as recognizing and remembering letters, numbers and colors. Provide learning experiences such as visits to museums, arts programs, or science. To improve social development, encourage children to play with other children in the home environment and participate in community activities.
Some parents consider delaying their children from school. They believe that their child can have an advantage and be more successful academically, athletically, or socially if he or she is more mature than their classmates. Postponing going to school for these benefits does not guarantee success. While there is some evidence that the youngest child in the class can have academic problems, these will disappear by the 3rd - 4th grade. On the other hand, there is evidence that older children in the class have a greater risk of behavioral problems when they reach adolescence.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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