The first day of kindergarten. It is usually an exciting time for children and their parents, a happy milestone in the child development stages of a son or daughter. Sometimes, however, it can be a time of anxiety for parents. They wonder if their child is capable of handling the demands of school.

Is he ready to learn the beginning skills of reading, writing, and arithmetic? How's her child social development? Will she get along with other children?

Here are some simple guidelines drawn from child development research to help you evaluate if your child is ready physically, intellectually and socially to start school:

Physical Abilities:

  • Can dress with little assistance
  • Able to catch a bounced ball and throw a ball overhead
  • Uses a knife and fork well
  • Able to use scissors and cut on a straight line
  • Goes down steps easily without using a handrail
  • Can skip well and run on tiptoe
  • Able to balance on one foot and then the other for five to ten seconds
  • Rides a tricycle skillfully, may express interest in having a bike with training wheels
  • Can run, tumble, gallop and dance
  • May be able to tie (or Velcro) own shoes

Intellectual Abilities:

  • Understands about 13,000 words and can make sentences using five to eight words
  • Able to memorize and repeat name, address and phone number
  • Knows the basic colors
  • Understands that stories have a beginning, middle and end, can tell a story of their own, and can remember stories they like
  • Counts up to ten
  • Can recognize some letters of the alphabet and a few numbers
  • Recognizes categories of objects
  • Can use comparative words such as big, bigger, biggest and can place objects in order
  • Likes to trace and copy letters
  • Can draw simple pictures of people, objects, and animals

Social Skills:

  • Can play well in small groups
  • Can understand that games have rules
  • Able to complete small chores
  • Begins to understand the feelings of others
  • Is developing a sense of humor, and is able to enjoy jokes, riddles and silly songs
  • Has a beginning understanding of words like right and wrong, good and bad, and knows what adults approve or disapprove of
  • Enjoys "taking care of" and playing with younger children
  • Can pretend and engage in dramatic play
  • Able to play without constant supervision
  • Shares and takes turns



Ms. Zundel is a freelance writer, book author and homeschooling mother. She specializes in writing educational and family oriented articles. 

Sources:
Ages and Stages:5 Year Olds
Iowa Family Childcare Handbook
L. Oesterreich, B. Holt and S. Karas
Iowa State University Extension

National Network for Child Care website
Social and Emotional Development of Five- and Six-Year-Olds
M. Lopes
Caregiver News, September 1994
University of Massachusetts Cooperative Extension