Does your child need another year of
preschool? If you're not sure whether kindergarten should wait, take
a look at the questions to ask right now.
What Will Your Child Get out of the
Extra Year?
Your five-year-old is on the cusp of
the kindergarten cut-off date. While they could graduate from pre-k
in the spring, you aren't ready to decide yet. Before you sign up for
another year of preschool or enroll your child in kindergarten,
consider what they'll get out of another year in their current (or a
new) early childhood center.
Years of research have found plenty of
educational, social, and emotional benefits of pre-k. Beyond the
benefits for your child right now, some of the perks of preschool
last well beyond the early childhood years. If you think your child
needs one more year of preschool, ask:
What will your child learn?
Will a second year in pre-k mean your child repeats the same
curriculum? Talk to the educator or school director about how a
second year in pre-k will differ from the first and what new content
or skills your child will tackle.
Are there areas for
improvement?
Even if your child may need to repeat the same or a
similar curriculum, ask if this is to your child's advantage. If
your child struggled in some areas last year, a second year offers
time to reinforce concepts and content.
Will your child get more out of
kindergarten?
A child who has excelled in preschool may need the
challenge kindergarten has to offer. If the pre-k teacher feels your
child has gotten the most out of preschool possible, it's time to
move on and up.
Along with the curriculum and classroom
content, you need to consider other (non-academic) areas of
development. Read on for more information about social and emotional
development in preschool.
Is Your Child Socially and
Emotionally Ready for Kindergarten?
Academic skills aren't the only
abilities to focus on when it comes to kindergarten readiness. An
additional year in pre-k can help students who may have the academic
or cognitive skills to handle kindergarten but aren't socially or
emotionally ready for the transition.
When it comes to social and emotional
development, your child may need an extra year of preschool if they:
Have trouble expressing
emotions with their words. Can your child verbally express their
feelings, or do they lash out, bite, or hit? Even though young
children are still developing emotional mastery, some children need
an extra year of preschool to build basic skills.
Can't share. This social
skill is central to your child's development in the context of the
classroom setting. If they still struggle to share toys or take
turns more often than not, they may need more practice before they
start kindergarten.
Have consistent tantrums.
Uncontrolled emotions can lead to outbursts. While it's normal for
very young children to have tantrums, it's not likely the
kindergarten teacher will indulge this behavior.
Whether your child needs to build more
complex emotional skills or sometimes struggles socially, an extra
year of preschool serves more than one purpose. It gives your child
the time they need to naturally grow and develop. Beyond their own
developmental schedule, a second pre-k year also provides plenty of
opportunities to interact with like-aged peers - and build the skills
they'll need for kindergarten.
How Do You Feel About the Issue?
Does it seem like everyone has an
opinion about your child's kindergarten readiness? Even though your
parents, the media, your child's teacher, other parents, and your
well-intentioned neighbor weighs in on whether your child should or
shouldn't start school in the fall, this is a private decision for
you and your immediate family to make.
Are you searching for a new pre-k
program? Contact Riviera
Daycare & Preschool
for more information.
