Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten?

Five year old Angela can recognize many words by sight, reads simple books, and follows instructions well enough to handle rather complex tasks. She is very perceptive, and retentive. She can even learn the words of a poem after hearing it three times. She knows how to take turns, how to share, how to write and recognize her own name and address. She can even do simple math, although she writes her 2's, 3's and 5's backward. Is she ready for kindergarten? Definitely, and she would also benefit from other challenging learning experiences at home, such as writing stories and doing crafts. Her parents thought about letting Angela start first grade early, but instead decided on full day kindergarten. In later grades, she can enter a gifted program.

Is Ben ready for kindergarten?

Four and a half year old Ben gets himself dressed, takes good care of his toy trains, devises elaborate and imaginative role-playing games, in which he always saves the day ("your house is on fire, and I'll be the fireman"). He likes to play with others, both children and adults, as long as he can tell them what the game is and what the rules are. He has trouble sharing in the sense that he wants to control the use of his own belongings by others, for fear the toys will be damaged or misused. When very frustrated, he may kick and cry like a younger child, but normally uses words to handle conflict rather than hitting or yelling. Ben definitely needs kindergarten, where he can learn to interact with others, and even be a role model because of his careful, thoughtful ways

Kindergarten Readiness: Madison Is a Mama's Girl

Five and a half year old Madison is a mama's girl for sure. She wants to go wherever her mother goes and cries inconsolably when Mom goes away without her. Yet, she is quite precocious. She tells complex stories in sentences, can count to 100, recites her name and telephone number, and plays simple tunes on the piano. She sits obediently in "big people" church with her parents, but cannot be convinced to go into her Sunday School class. Is she ready for kindergarten? Yes, and she will benefit greatly by gradually adjusting to being away from Mom. Mom should begin leaving her for short periods of time in Sunday school class or play groups. Before school starts, arrangements can be made for Madison to visit the school, the teacher, and the classroom.

Max Is Not Ready for Kindergarten.

Max at almost five has immature speaking patterns, saying "me go now" or other lapses into babyish talk. He has a short attention span, getting frustrated by activities calling for fine motor skills, like coloring. He doesn't finish tasks, and abandons one thing to do another. He does not follow instructions well, and forgets rules; for his own safety he has to be monitored carefully when playing outside or at the playground. His bladder control is not consistent. Max will benefit from waiting another year to go to kindergarten, and trying two or three days a week in preschool.

Will Your Child Do Well in Kindergarten?

Although a child's readiness for kindergarten is gauged by social, physical, emotional and cognitive behaviors, an article at BabyCenter states "early childhood educators agree that a child's brain development is the most important gauge of readiness for kindergarten. In other words, your child may be small for his age, and lagging behind other kids socially and physically, but if his language, thinking, and perceptual skills are in place, then he'll probably do well in kindergarten."

Sources:
Personal experience
Kindergarten Readiness Checklist
Kindergarten Readiness & School Skills Checklist: School Readiness Skills Needed to Get Ready for Kindergarten
Kindergarten Readiness: Your Child's Fears
Is Your Child Ready for School: Cut-off dates, Considerations