Preparing for kindergarten is an important topic for many parents, early childhood educators, and daycare providers. In our interview with Dr. Gloria Rothenberg, clinical psychologist and school psychologist at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Kindergarten Center in New York, Dr. Rothenberg describes signs of kindergarten readiness in the areas of concept development, physical, social, and emotional development, number concepts, language, and reading and writing.
OwnADaycare: What is kindergarten readiness?
Dr. Rothenberg: Readiness for kindergarten refers to the ability of the child to participate in a learning community apart from his/her parents. They need to be able to separate from parents at least part of the day, be able to use language to communicate their needs and understand language to comprehend the wishes of others, be able to apply social rules to the extent that they can delay gratification and not engage in physical means to get their way or negotiate conflict, and be able to understand the concept of adults as authority figures whose directions are important to follow. In addition, they need to be independent in the area of self-help skills so that they can use the toilet appropriately and feed themselves without adult assistance.
OwnADaycare: Is there a best age to start kindergarten?
Dr. Rothenberg: There is no universal agreement on this but most schools around the nation set age cut-offs so that children have turned five years old by the time they enter kindergarten in September. It is not uncommon for children who are still 4 years old upon entrance to kindergarten to exhibit problems with fine motor skills such as cutting with scissors, drawing, and learning to write letters and numerals. Proficiency in some of these fine motor skills are not developmentally expected prior to age 5.
OwnADaycare: What are some signs of kindergarten readiness that parents and child care center owners should look for with respect to the following areas of development: Concept development, physical development, social and emotional development, and number concept?
Dr. Rothenberg:
Concept development:
Can identify colors, some shapes, and own name in print
Can name letters in own name
Has had exposure to letters of the alphabet and that letters are connected to words which are connected to objects that they name
Has been exposed to some number ideas and can identify numerals 1-10 in print.
Can understand and use imaginary play schemes
Are able to learn the idea of safety
Physical development:
Can walk up and down stairs independently
Can use the bathroom (including knowing when they need to use the bathroom) and wash own hands independently
Can eat and drink independently
Can handle some fasteners on clothes and with minimal assistance
Can sit in one place for 10 minutes
Can manage seat belt on a school bus
Social and emotional development:
Is willing and able to follow verbal directions (up to 2 steps) from adults
Can delay gratification of wishes
Can make eye contact with a speaker
Can share and take turns with peers with some assistance from adults
Can use words (not grabbing, hitting, crying or whining) to make requests and express preferences
Can pay attention in a large group (e.g. class of 20) for at least 10 minutes
Can accept comfort from adults when upset
Number concept:
Can count aloud from 1-10
Can count out a group of items up to 5
Knows own age
Has some rudimentary concepts of quantity such as more, less, bigger, smaller
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