Dr. Robert Needlman
Specialist in pediatric behavior and development.
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 Ask Dr. Needlman
The Right Time to Start School | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Needlman,
When is the right time to send a kid to school?— Curious Parent | | | ANSWER |
October 17, 2000 | | | Dear Curious Parent
I'm not sure if you're wondering about preschool or elementary school, so I'll try to give a general answer to your question.
There are lots of things to consider in making the decision to start a child in school: How mature is your child, both physically and intellectually? Do her needs match a particular school's philosophy? (For example, some five-year-olds are more comfortable with an academically oriented kindergarten, while others need more time to play in an unstructured setting.) What sorts of social and intellectual stimulation is the child getting at home? How does he get along in groups of his peers?
In making your decision, it might help to know that currently more than half of infants less than 12 months old spend some part of their day in out-of-home care. Many two- and three-year-old children to go to play groups, sometimes accompanied by a parent, for a couple of hours at a time; if mom and dad both work, they may spend part or all of a day in child-care centers. By age three or four, many children are going off to preschool or nursery school. And by age five, most children are in kindergarten.
If you have concerns about your child's situation, talk with a doctor or nurse practitioner about a school-readiness assessment. This can help evaluate if he is ready for the stimulation and stress of school.
— by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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