Many parents wonder when is the right time to send their children to kindergarten—especially if their birthday falls close to the school's cutoff date. While it’s natural to want your son or daughter to get a jump start on academic life, there are other factors parents must consider when deciding how to nurture healthy child development. These are explored in the guide below.

Skills Beyond the Academic

While your son or daughter may have already grasped the fundamentals of letters and counting—proving themselves academically capable of a kindergartener’s coursework, there is also a social and emotional component of child development, which they might not have the same head start on.

Between the ages four and five, many children learn to control their reactions to a greater extent—expressing their feelings in words, rather than with fits of temper or physical displays. They learn to develop empathy for others, which can help them to share on the playground. Additionally, their ability to pay attention increases, so they are more prepared to follow the teacher’s directions. Lastly, it will be easier for your child to make friends if they are on the same emotional page as their peers. As a parent, you know your child better than anyone—including whether they have reached this stage of maturity.

What to Do

To best support your child's social and emotional growth, as well as their academic potential, prepare them for kindergarten by enrolling them in a child development center that offers preschool options. They will learn essentials like letters, numbers, shapes, and colors in an environment that encourages social interaction, relationship-building, and emotional exploration and growth. School, especially in the crucial early years, is never entirely about textbooks and curriculum; the evolution of child development into more refined social and emotional skillsets is just as important.

If you’re not quite sure that your son or daughter is ready for kindergarten, talk to the fully-trained and licensed staff at World of Knowledge Child Development Center about their half-day preschool and summer school offerings. This early learning center serves the Lincoln, NE, area, providing a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment for your child to thrive. Call (402) 483-4769 or visit them online to enroll.