Is Early Kindergarten a Good Choice for Your Child?

I worry a frequently about how my daughter will fare when she reaches kindergarten age. At 3, she has already mastered kindergarten-level reading, simple mathematics, and most of the fine-motor skills learned during early elementary school. Knowing that she's still two years away from kindergarten, I'm concerned that kindergarten will leave her bored, frustrated and stagnant if she doesn't attend until age 5 or 6.

In some school systems, it is possible for children to enter kindergarten as early as age 4. Early kindergarten may be of benefit to some kids, but there are several points to consider before sending your preschool-age child to kindergarten.

1. Not all schools will allow it.

In general, private schools are more lenient than public schools in this regard. Public schools, in general, have fairly strict legal restrictions on the ages of students, and skipping a grade may not be feasible until later in a child's education. Your child may be able to enter kindergarten a year early if she is at or near the cut-off birth date to qualify for first grade.

2. Social and emotional maturity play a role.

Despite academic success, my daughter may not be ready for kindergarten next year -- even if I could have her enrolled at age 4. She may be reading and doing simple math, but she also has tantrums, potty accidents, and bouts of toddler-like clinginess. A child must be ready for kindergarten both academically and emotionally, and many very bright kids simply haven't mastered the social skills needed for kindergarten.

3. Your child should get to be a child. Some parents are hesitant about early kindergarten entry because they feel that it deprives students of the many of the joys of early childhood. If you're concerned that you may be pushing your child too hard, or encouraging her academic development before it is truly appropriate, it may be better to wait until sending your child to kindergarten.

4. Physical skill is also an issue.

A 4-year-old can be exceptionally intelligent and literate, but still lack the fine-motor skills necessary for writing words and participating in kindergarten-level craft activities. Many gifted kids, including my own daughter, have lagging gross motor development and may not be able to jump, run, and skip like other kindergartners. These areas of lagging physical development can hinder a preschool-aged kindergartner's learning as well as his ability to socialize normally with peers.

5. Consider an alternative school system. I ultimately settled on one solution for my daughter's education: the Montessori method. Montessori and other "alternative" school methods can accommodate gifted children who might be ready for early entry to kindergarten. These schools adapt to children's abilities and keep children in age groups spanning three years (for example, ages 3-6 will be in one classroom). These and other alternative schools can make the most of gifted children's precocious abilities as they near kindergarten.

The decision to send your child to kindergarten early is not an easy one to make, and it ultimately depends upon your own child's skill level and personality. Discuss your thoughts with your local school or your child's pediatrician if you think early kindergarten would be a good idea for your child.