Gestational Age or Chronological Age?
When preemies are babies, parents and pediatricians often use gestational age, instead of chronological age, to determine whether they are meeting developmental milestones on time. Most parents abandon that practice when their children “catch up” to their full-term peers. Some babies are using chronological age well before they can walk; others, because they were very premature or very sick during infancy, take longer. If your child has a birthday near the kindergarten cut off and took a long time to catch up, then using gestational age instead of chronological age might be appropriate.Signs of School Readiness
Experts generally agree that signs of school readiness are more important than age when deciding whether a child is ready for school. Signs that a child is ready for kindergarten include:
- Physical readiness: Children are physically ready for school if they are in good health and fully potty-trained. They should be able to run, jump, and play outdoors, should be up to date on their immunizations, and should have begun regular dental care.
- Social and emotional readiness: Children who are ready for school can communicate well and follow directions. They are curious and enjoy learning new things and playing with other children. They can share and can calm themselves when upset.
- Academic readiness: Before beginning kindergarten, children should know that letters make words, and should be able to recognize some letters and the sounds they make. They should be able to count and sort, and should know shapes and colors.
School’s Academic Climate
For children who meet only some of the signs of kindergarten readiness, look at the school itself. Visit the school, talk to other kindergarten parents, and talk to the principal or kindergarten lead teacher. Is the school highly academic? If so, then a child who is only physically ready might not do well. Also, look at the different programs that a school offers. A child with special needs might do very well in kindergarten, even if he or she is not entirely ready, if the school offers good support.Unless a child is very immature, there is often very little benefit in delaying kindergarten. Studies show that most young kindergarteners have caught up to their peers by third grade, so any benefits to delaying kindergarten are short lived. Premature babies, even those born between 32 and 36 weeks gestation, tend to require more special education services than full term babies , and early access to these services is another good reason to send your child to school when you are able.
Sources:
Chyl, Lisa J.; Lee, Henry C.; Hintz, Susan R.; Gould, Jeffrey B.; Sutcliffe, Trenna L. “School Outcomes of Late Preterm Infants: Special Needs and Challenges for Infants Born at 32- to 36-Week Gestation” Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey Nov 2008, 63: 691-692.
Conger, Krista. “Slightly early birth may still spell trouble later in school, study finds.” Accessed April 20, 2009 from http://news.stanford.edu/news/2007/may9/med-premature-050907.html
Michael E. Msall, MD; Germaine M. Buck, PhD; Brian T. Rogers, MD; Nancy L. Catanzaro, PNP. “Kindergarten Readiness After Extreme Prematurity” Am J Dis Child 1992: 1371-1375.
US Department of Education. “Preparing Your Child for Kindergarten” Accessed April 20, 2007 from http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Preparing_Your_Child/.
