Every year, parents of young children agonize over the question of whether their child is ready to enter kindergarten. They ask me, "Should we enroll Charlie in kindergarten this year, or should we give him another year so that he will be a little older and more developed, and possibly more successful?"

As an educator, I have worked with children of all ages. In my early career, I spent several years working in American preschools and teaching kindergartners. Inevitably, the question of kindergarten readiness arises from anxious parents.

In my experience, teachers and parents, together, should evaluate a child's readiness for kindergarten by assessing the child's social, emotional, physical, and academic preparedness. The child's level of development as reflected in his skills in these areas will indicate his readiness for kindergarten.

Social Preparedness
When assessing a child's social growth, consider whether he or she has participated successfully in a nursery school or day care program. Keep in mind that day care centers often have kindergarten preparation programs, but these are typically quite different from what the child will be exposed to in kindergarten. The pre-kindergarten programs offered by day care centers or home day care providers are generally not as structured as actual kindergarten classrooms. Many times, children are encouraged but not required to participate in the activities provided. For example, if Mary wants to play with dolls rather than learn about different shapes or colors, that's her choice. Remember that in most kindergarten classrooms, the child will have only two options: participate in the group activity or be excluded from the group.

It is also necessary to consider the child's social behavior. Is the child able to interact well with other children? Is he able to take turns and share? Does the child communicate his thoughts and feelings adequately? How willing is the child to follow directions? These are skills that nursery schoolers will not necessarily be expected to have mastered, but they are skills that will assist with the child's social success in kindergarten.

Emotional Preparedness
The emotional needs of the child should also be addressed. If the child has not had any day care or nursery school experience, kindergarten classes could be a very traumatic transition for the child. The separation anxiety may be acute in such a case. The emotional stress arising from this, combined with the more structured environment and the more complicated social dynamics, can be extremely difficult for a child. If your child has not been in a day care or nursery school environment, I would recommend enrolling your child in lessons of some kind prior to his entering kindergarten. It will be helpful for him to begin to process the separation anxiety and the structured nature of the kindergarten program before the first day of school.

Physical Preparedness
There are specific physical skills that a child should have in order to ease his transition into kindergarten. Can the child tie his own shoes? Can he use the restroom without assistance? Is the child capable of buttoning and unbuttoning his own clothing? Does the child have the ability to put on his own jacket and shoes? Again, these skills are not requirements, but they will help the child to feel prepared and confident in the kindergarten setting.

Academic Preparedness
Academically, there are certain things that you can teach your child to assist with his kindergarten success. Can the child identify colors and shapes? Can he child recite the ABCs? Can he identify the letters of the alphabet? Can he write and recognize his name? Can the child identify the numbers one through ten? Can he count to ten and back? Has the child had experience using scissors and glue? In my experience, the students who have this knowledge upon entering kindergarten have less difficulty making adjustments and learning new things.

Finally, the decision of whether a child is ready for kindergarten is a personal one. As an educator, my advice is based on my teaching experience and professional observations. However, parents and teachers can be assured that if they consider the guidelines outlined here when contemplating this important decision, they can be confident that they are making an informed decision that will positively impact the future educational success of the child.

About the Author Jessica Chrisman hold a master's degree in Fine Arts specializing in curriculum design and instruction, and a bachelor's degree in elementary education. She has worked as a teacher in Minnesota for the past four years and has owned and operated a home child care business.