Kindergarten Entrance Age Requirement Varies by State, with Inconclusive Results
There is little research to show how a child's kindergarten entrance age affects his short and long term academic and social development. A June 2006 by Todd Elder and Darren Lubotsky of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign shows that children who are older when entering kindergarten do score higher on achievement tests not only in kindergarten, but also through the eighth grade. Interestingly, their study shows that children with a delayed kindergarten entrance age are not more physically mature nor do they have a higher learning capacity than the other children in their grade, but that the students who entered school later may achieve better because of other outstanding factors, including parental income level. In their study, it turns out that students with a higher kindergarten entrance age but lower household income level do not perform as well as the higher income level students with a higher kindergarten entrance age. A report by Kristie Kauerz of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) furthers the point that increasing the kindergarten entrance age hurts the development of children who do not have access to pre-kindergarten learning programs (most likely lower income children) and spend the extra non-kindergarten year without any development activities.
With no federal mandate for kindergarten entrance age requirements and minimal studies to conclude what the ramifications are for a child's age when entering school, it is difficult for parents to make a decision on when their child should enter kindergarten. Barbara Willer from the NAEYC states a parent should also consider each child's unique situation, including whether or not a child is curious and likes to figure things out him or herself. When in doubt, Ms. Willer recommends following your state's guidelines for kindergarten entrance age, as holding a child back may not improve his or her chances for success in the future.
Published by C.M. Paulson
C.M. Paulson is a versatile writer and analyst with extensive business experience working for 2 Fortune 100 companies. View profile
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15 Comments
Post a CommentKeep the kids home ans let them be kids. I was in a hurry got them in and then held two back. they got good grades but the maturity level is not there. My daughter is going through the same thing. Keep them home it won't hurt them. why is everybody in such a hurry for kids to grow up!
I know this girl whose parents got her into K-garten before the recommended date. She made straight A's throughout school, and teachers tried to make her skip grades.
But I think Chris M. put it wisely.
She said she was not emotionally ready, plus her pyhicial growth lagged behind the rest by about 3 yrs.
That alone is hard for a girl (or boy)!
Then her folks made her skip 12th grade and go to a large university at the age of 16.
After a year of perfect grades, she had to drop out -- it was emotionally exhausting. She never had a graduation, and she says she still misses those lost years of being a kid.
Just another perspective.
I live in the state of Texas. The cutoff date is Sept.1 for kindergarden. My daughter is very smart and mature for her age. She loves school and learning. Her birthday is 9/9/05 so she will miss the deadline by 8 days. I was thinking about enrolling her in pre K but we make to much money. I could send her to another district but I dont want to make that drive everyday. I looked into homeschooling her for preK and keeping her love for school alive. HELP!! What would you do?
My grandson's birthday was October 9th, and emotionally not ready. He also did not have preschool.He is now experiencing difficulty and the school is trying to label him and are suggesting special education. He is a very bright boy and I find it outrageous that they are already putting so much pressure on Kindergarten kids to meet higher and higher standards! In his case a repeat of Kindergarten is all he needs. He simply wasn't emotionally ready. So for some kids a later enrollment time is best.
There are a lot of arguments from both sides (advocates of earlier or later admission). No one should forget, that parental care, especially in early years of young human, is something that could not be overestimated. It is not only the matter of education, but also emotional development of child.
www.kindergarten-duesseldorf.de
@ Tenequa what did you do to alter. Because I am considering do that as well. My child is way ahead and like you said she is way past Pre K and ready for Kindergarden.
There are several factors to put in perspective. One of which is many children that enter school are more than ready for Kindergarten.....however the youngest of students tend to faulter in middle school and high school. I am not talking about academics but social and emotioanl growth. My daughter's birthday is January 1st and I am thankful that she is one of the older more mature students in her class.
Think about the big picture.....are children ready to go to college at 17 years old. Most are not!
My daughter's b-day is also 12/08 and it is extremely frustrating. Since she has attended daycare and now pre school, she is ahead of kids her age and even the older kids. She will have to stay in pre school another yr since she will not make the cutoff next year. I've rec'd the suggestion of changing her dob as well but wasn't sure if that would cause any legal problems in the future. Kudos to you for doing so!!!
my son os born in Oct.2004, so when he will be legal to start KG in NYc, first Grade in a public elementary school? can he complete half year in KG in NY and then relocate to Florida or he will have to start from the beggining KG?
my son's birthday is 7/19/04 he will be 5 nxt month and were debating on if we need to enroll him in kindergarden this yr or next. my husbands a oilfield pipeliner so we move around but we have thought about moving to hawaii next yr and just enroll him nxt yr. What are the cut off and rules for the states of texas, new mexico, colorado, louisanna and hawaii? we float between these states.