Every year parents ask me this question. Just because the calendar says that a child is ready to start her formal schooling doesn't necessarily mean that your child should be enrolled this year.
A study recently published in the Canadian Medical Journal says that kids who are born in the latter months of the year are more likely to be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
It begs the question about whether certain behaviours, such as restlessness or inability to concentrate, are leaving younger, more immature classmates vulnerable to an inaccurate diagnosis of ADHD than their older, more developed peers.
In other words, maybe they were simply not ready to start school.
When my children started elementary school they were fortunate to have the world's best school principal.
I recall him musing one day that he would like to see a system which would allow kids to enter school when they were ready, rather than based on when they were born.
I also spoke with an elementary school teacher who said that kids who are not ready seldom catch up. Keeping them home for a year, having them attend pre-school instead of kindergarten will likely enhance their entire school experience.
So, what are the considerations when determining school readiness?
Is your child able to be away from you? Has he had experience in a pre-school and/or daycare setting?
Can she listen to instructions and then follow them? Children need these skills to function in class, to keep up with the teacher and with their peers. And is she able to take direction from other adults?
Then there are the basic developmental tasks. Can she use the washroom on her own?
Can she put on and take off her own coat, mitts and shoes?
Can he hold a pencil? Cut with scissors?
He will need these fine motor skills to begin working on writing the alphabet and to keep up with classroom projects.
Does he have some rudimentary knowledge about academics? For example, can he recite the alphabet or count to 10?
Does he display any curiosity about learning? Is he interested in books?
Can he talk about stories you read to him or his favourite TV programs? Is he curious and receptive to learning new things?
If a child's curiosity is stronger than his fear of the unfamiliar, he will do well in school.
And what about her social development?
Does she get along well with other kids?
Does she know how to share and take turns? She'll be interacting with other children all day, so social skills are particularly important for success in school.
Can he work together with others as part of a group?
The ability to put his needs second, to compromise and join in a consensus with other children, is also part of emotional competence.
Few children will meet all these criteria, but it is a good idea to assess your child's readiness using these questions rather than automatically going along with the his or her birth date. If you answered no to most of these questions, consider the option of holding him or her back.
As a parent or guardian, you know your child best and you will sense whether he is ready or not. Trust your instincts.
But, what if you know he would love to start school in the fall but doesn't meet the criteria we listed?
He may just need some direction to get caught up with the other kids.
You can teach him how to be more independent.
Give him opportunities to co-operate with other children and become comfortable being part of a group of kids.
When children are ready for any new developmental milestone they are more likely to experience success and thrive as they mature.
Kathy Lynn is a parenting expert who is a professional speaker and author of Who's In Charge Anyway? and But Nobody Told Me I'd Ever Have to Leave Home. If you want to read more, sign up for her informational newsletter at www.parentingtoday.ca.
