If My Child is Ready to learn, Why Isn't He Ready for School?

Children are always ready to learn – even at birth – and children are always learning. However, despite an increased focus on academic skills at the Kindergarten level, school is about more than just cognitive learning regardless of an individual program or curriculum. The typical Kindergarten classroom in the United States presents a unique and structured setting for learning, with rules and expectations for social behaviors.

While it would be ideal for every Kindergarten setting to have the resources to meet every individual child where he or she is developmentally, this simply is not the reality in many schools, in large part due to increased demands for accountability and higher test scores.

As such, in order for children to function at their fullest potential and meet the expectations of the classroom and curriculum, they typically need a certain level of physical, emotional, and social readiness, in addition to being intellectually ready, in order to succeed in school. Talk to the teachers and administrators at your child’s school to learn more about how and when to ensure the best start for your child.

How do I know if my child is ready for kindergarten?

What is school readiness?

What does my child's stage of development have to do with readiness for school?

If my child is old enough to start school, is there reason to wait?

What is "developmental age" exactly?

What happens to developmentally young children?

How will I know when my child is ready to start school?

If my child is ready to learn, why isn't he ready for school? You Are Here

What can I do to get my child ready?

What about children who are developmentally young but still make high grades?

Aren't children disappointed if they don't go to school with their friends or peers?

What can I do to help my child feel about about when she starts school?