My 4 year old’s birthday is in November, but I honestly think he would be bored with starting preschool in September. He’s known his alphabet since he was 2, he can count to 40, knows all of his colors, shapes, sounds of letters, can color better than myself, etc. He can take the early entry exam in May, but I’m just wondering what type of knowledge this test requires so I can make sure he’s prepared. Thanks.
Posted in Kindergarten information
he needs to know the sounds of the alphabet of major letters like m b d f L and so on. not just what the letter is.
that is one of the questions they asked my daughter when entering kinder. just to make sure she was ready.
All schools are different, but for kindergarten, ABC’s, being able to count to 20 without assistance, colors, shapes, knows their full name, knows their address, knows their parents names, and I believe at least 3 nursery rhymes. He should be good to go! Sounds like you’re not going to have any problems with your little guy!
The problem is that if you prepare him for the test, they will not have a clear picture of where he is at developmentally and he may be placed in a situation that he is not ready for. The tests vary, but they are not testing how smart he is, but rather what level he is at developmentally and what he is ready for. You’re not supposed to prep the kid for these tests.
If he hasn’t been in preschool, that might be an issue because important skills are learned that are put to good use in K. K is now like 1st was back when I was in school, much more right into the work, not learning the basics that are now learned by most kids in preschool, like sharing, waiting, turns, building up wrist strength by play for writing (pushing cars on windy tracks, painting, etc), structure, social behavior, etc. Very important skills for success in K. You might see about putting him in a part-time preschool/daycare situation if he isn’t in one now, to see how he does and ask the teacher’s advice because they can compare to what his peers will be like in K and give you a honest assessment. You don’t want him to be behind the other kids developmentally. If he’s athletic for his age or has older siblings, that seems to help socially.
My son taught himself to read at 2 (literally, drove us crazy asking what EVERY word we saw was) and could read fluently at 3, with great comprehension, the books his very rigorous private school read during 1st grade. With a spring birthday he was one of the youngest in the class, there were kids a full year older than him. He’s always been a very mature, easy-going kid and had been in play preschool since 2, but if he didn’t stand out academically the way he did, I could see where there might be issues. Some of the other young kids had trouble down the road. Because my state public school admits kids with Dec 2nd 5th birthdays into K, there are some younger kids in my son’s private high school and you can definitely tell the difference, even when they’re 14.
You probably already know this, but make sure your son is actually counting objects, rather than reciting numbers. Important distinction. And recognizing the letters, again not reciting.
Good luck!