The transition from preschool to kindergarten can be tricky. How do you know if your child is prepared for kindergarten?
Before we get to the Kindergarten Readiness Checklist, congratulations! If you have a child who is between the ages of 4 and 6, you are raising a Kindergartner-to-be. This can be exciting, but it can also be overwhelming.
How do you know which kindergarten program to choose? How do you know if your child is ready, regardless of his or her peers and what they are doing?
Here’s the good news: Children don’t have to “be ready” in every way to head to kindergarten. Your child will learn new things at a rate that differs from other children. That’s okay!
So take a deep breath. At Learnwell North Georgia, we will walk you through how to know if your child is prepared.
In this blog, we will cover common questions about kindergarten, what your options are, and what the Learnwell kindergarten program looks like.
You can also find our Kindergarten Readiness Checklist to help you navigate this season with confidence.
We have more good news for you: You do not have to be an expert in schools to make the right choice for your rising kindergartner. You’re already an expert on your child – and that’s enough!
Common Questions About Kindergarten
Does your child have to know his ABCs and/or how to read?
The short answer is no. At Learnwell, we receive students who have come from a preschool environment and students who have never attended preschool. Because our class sizes are small, we’re able to individualize the learning process. Trust us! Your child will not go to first grade without knowing his ABCs and having a good running start on how to read. And if your child already reads, that’s terrific. We also have a program for high-achievers at Learnwell.
If my child has a late summer birthday, should I hold him or her back a year?
This is very dependent upon the child and his or her developmental stage. We’d love to talk to you in person at an upcoming Discover Learnwell event to help you answer this question for your child.
Do I need to be teaching my child everything he or she would have learned in preschool if he/she had attended? Or do I need to follow up on the preschool experience he/she had to make sure there are no gaps in learning?
No. At Learnwell, we want you to be encouraged that YOU can teach your child with confidence. We have very experienced, loving teachers who understand that all children are wired with different strengths and interests. Our teachers partner with parents heavily to help each individual student thrive.
What are your options for kindergarten?
This is a very good question. We have an entire series related to choosing a school for your rising kindergartener. It’s called “Public School, Private School or Homeschool?” We truly want each child to find his or her best fit – even if that means he or she doesn’t attend Learnwell North Georgia.
But if you’ve ever wondered about homeschooling and thought you couldn’t do it, or if your child needs something a little different, we invite you to learn about our hybrid model and why it’s so unique.
What does the Learnwell kindergarten program look like?
Our students come from a variety of backgrounds. No matter where you’re coming from, we’d love to help your child thrive through:
- Authentic Community: Where your child is seen and known, embraced for who he or she is today.
- Play: We value play-based learning. Learnwell students get free time to play together, pursue creative projects and do kinesthetic (hands-on) learning activities.
- Realistic Expectations: Our model is built on mastery, not grades. Children develop at varying rates, so it makes sense that their brains acquire information at different rates too. That’s okay with us! We also partner with parents where YOU are – it’s important to know that we don’t expect you to have a teaching degree. That’s why we’re here!
- Christ-centered Teaching: All of our teachers are Christians, and they teach from a Christian worldview. While most of our curriculum isn’t specifically Christian, you can be assured that our model will not go against your Christ-centered beliefs.
Do you have more questions about what Learnwell offers in its kindergarten? Wondering about curriculum? Have specific questions about YOUR child? Our admissions director, Katherine Christman, would be happy to answer your questions.
Check out our Kindergarten Readiness Checklist and get in touch with us. We’re here to help.