How Do I Know If My Child Is Ready For Kindergarten?

Taming the Parental Worry Lobe

Picture of CrayonsKindergarten is just 6 months away! Can you believe it? Your little baby will be going off to school! Pull up your boot straps and fasten your seatbelt it’s going to be a wild ride. And before you know it they will be in high school. Trust me it goes so fast!

If you’re like me when you drop your child off you will put on your brave face and say your goodbyes. I was only brave until I  was safely in my car and the floodgates opened.  I had so many questions running through my mind…would my child make friends? Would he get lost in the school? Would he be able to  open the applesauce that I packed? Would he be able to undo the fastener on the new pair of pants he insisted on wearing? Would he miss me? As parents, the minute our child is born I think we automatically grow a new lobe to our brain. The worry lobe!

How can you make this transition a success for you and your child?  Knowing what is expected and checking your child’s skill level is the best place to start! Kindergarten is very different than when you and I went to school. Not to mention it is now a full day instead of a few hours. Children are expected to know things before beginning school. Here are a few examples of what your child will be expected to know when entering Kindergarten.

  • Can your child listen to directions and follow them?
  • Is your child able to answer and ask basic questions?  
  • Can your child orient and put on their coat including the fasteners?
  • Can your child recognize the need to go potty and make it to the bathroom?
  • Can your child wash and dry their hands?
  • Can your child open containers that may be accompanied in their lunch box?
  • Can your child recite the alphabet and count to 10?
  • Does your child have a dominant hand that they hold their pencil with?
  • Does your child hold their pencil with a functional grasp (3 fingers)?
  • Can your child cut continuously along paper for 8 inches?
  • Is your child interested in books? Can they sit still to be read to?
  • Can your child share a toy?
  • Can your child join another child’s play?
  • Can your child keep their hands to themselves?
  • Is your child curious about learning new things?
  • Can your child transition to new activities without upset?

If you answered yes to most of these questions your child is ready for Kindergarten. If you answered sometimes and no to most of these questions you have 6 months to get them ready. Let’s start training! If you feel like you need help with how to train your child for this upcoming life milestone, please give us a call. We are experts in child development and help children “Connect The Dots” to learn unmastered skills. We also train parents how to continue working on these skills within the home.

Help tame that parental worry lobe. Be proactive in this process. There is still plenty of time to get help if you need to.

Eugene Clinic:
84 Centennial Loop
Eugene, OR 97401
Phone: (541) 255-2681
Fax: (541) 255-3537

Clinic Hours:
8:00 to 6:00 Monday – Thursday
8:00 to 5:00 Friday

Corvallis Clinic:
375 NW Harrison Blvd.
Corvallis, OR  97330
Phone: (541) 255-2681 (Eugene)
Fax: (541) 255-3537

Clinic Hours:
8:00 to 6:00 Monday - Thursday
8:00 to 5:00 Friday

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