Assessing Kindergarten Readiness

My son will turn 5 on Nov. 21. The entry cutoff date for kindergarten is Dec. 1. So he'll start school at 4. What is your opinion of this? He's gone to preschool for the past two years and loves it. I just don't want to make the biggest mistake without all the facts. -- Want an Answer
Answer: In every kindergarten class there will always be younger and older children. Age is definitely not the only determiner of a child's success in school. Nevertheless, almost every research study on the age of entry to school concludes that the youngest children in kindergarten classes usually do not do as well as the oldest children. There is disagreement about how long the effects of being youngest last. Many researchers feel that by third grade the differences due to age disappear. On the other hand, other researchers find that some slight academic difficulties continue throughout the elementary years.
When considering the readiness of your child for kindergarten, you need to find out what your son will be expected to do in kindergarten and in first grade. There is considerable pressure now for kindergarten programs to be more academic in nature. Some of these programs are not developmentally appropriate for young children.
You also need to remember that kindergarten is about more than academics. Does your son have the necessary social skills? Can he play well with other children? Will he follow simple one- or two-step directions? Does he have good communication skills?
Consider also your child's motor skills. Does he have the gross motor skills that will help him in physical activities, such as skipping and jumping? Does he have the fine motor skills necessary to do academic activities like learning to write?
You might find it helpful to consult with your child's preschool teacher, pediatrician and others who know the child well in order to evaluate his readiness. In the end, your own opinion is the most important because you are the one who knows your child best. If you have very strong doubts about your child's readiness for a particular kindergarten program, the child is probably not ready.