As a parent, you have to make a lot of tough decisions regarding your children. That includes deciding when your child is ready for kindergarten. If you’re considering enrolling your child in a Montessori kindergarten, here are some tips to help you decide if they’re ready.
Counting and Alphabet Skills
Counting to 10 and reciting the alphabet are both good benchmarks for deciding if your child is ready to start kindergarten. Kindergarten is designed to build on a basic foundation that you lay at home, so it’s good to make sure your child understands the alphabet and basic counting. The more you can teach your child about the basics of counting, spelling, and reading, the easier it’ll be for them to start school.
Motor Skills
In addition to making sure your child knows how to count and say the alphabet, you should also make sure they have basic motor skills before they attend kindergarten. Your child doesn’t need to have incredibly advanced motor skills to start kindergarten, but they should be able to hold pencils, scissors, and other objects they may need to hold.
Bathroom Skills
It’s not uncommon for preschool children to need a little help with the restroom, but you should make sure your child knows how to use the bathroom on their own before you send them off to a kindergarten. Your child should be able to use the restroom on their own and wash their hands, and they should also be able to get dressed on their own.
Behavioral Skills
When your child attends a Montessori kindergarten, they need to behave themselves when they’re at school. It’s not unusual for young children to have minor disciplinary issues from time to time, but your child might not be ready for kindergarten if they have frequent outbursts or trouble listening. It’s up to you as a parent to gauge whether or not your child can behave well enough to start kindergarten.
Sending your child to a private school for kindergarten is a big decision, so you don’t want to rush it. A Montessori kindergarten can be a great way to start your child’s education. According to U.S. News and World Report, there are about 4,000 Montessori private schools in existence, and that number is rising. If you think your child might be ready for a Montessori kindergarten, contact us at Rowntree Montessori School to find out more.
