The Top 5 Signs Your Child is Not Ready for Kindergarten:

1. Does not have a basic understanding of letters and numbers.

Most schools anticipate that your child will enter Kindergarten with enough academic background in numbers, letter sounds, and writing to not fall behind. Especially in the school systems that offer only half-day Kindergarten, it is important that your child starts the year ready to dive into fast-paced learning, as well complete homework that is assigned to make up for the second half of the day. Kindergarten is called "the new first grade" because familiarity with these basic concepts is expected.

2. Does not show an interest in learning.

As young learners, children about to start Kindergarten should be wildly enthusiastic about learning. If your child does not react positively to reading, discovering new knowledge, or trying new learning experiences, then it is likely they will not adjust well to the Kindergarten classroom setting. 

3. Does not possess the ability to listen.

Listening is the starting point of your child's ability to follow instructions. It is also the backbone of reading comprehension, which will help your child learn new information, become more familiar with vocabulary, word patterns, and sentence structure, and develop critical thinking skills. Although the process of listening and analyzing is just beginning at this age, it is necessary that children are able to maintain focus long enough to understand and complete tasks assigned in the classroom.

4. Does not follow the rules or instructions of adults other than parents or guardians.

Willingness to follow directions and participate in structured activities is an essential tool for Kindergarten. For many students, this setting might be the first time they have had to interact with adults who are not their primary caregiver. It can be confusing and upsetting to not have their parents or guardians nearby. Your child must have developed enough independence to behave well in a group in order to succeed in a Kindergarten classroom.

5. Does not possess oral language skills.

Your child should be able to express themselves through words. They should be able to tell you what they like, where they’ve been, and any other discoveries they make daily about the world around them. If your child is unable or unwilling to share their ideas verbally, it will be difficult—not only for them, but also for their teachers.

Let SpiderSmart work with your soon-to-be Kindergartener! We can show them how much fun learning can be, and that the world of reading introduces them to fun, exciting characters and adventures.  

Our tailored Reading and Writing Program will provide your child with the opportunity to experience dialogue and language patterns, and open up a world of discovery! By hearing a word in context several times, your child is far more likely to retain that information. Also, by answering questions about books, your child will learn to make connections to their own experiences. It will provide endless topics for them to open up about and explore! 

We also offer early math programs to instill number sense, counting, and critical thinking skills in a supportive, interactive and fun environment!