When is my child ready for school?
When should my child start school? This question is on the minds of many parents every year. Especially if their child's birthday is after the deadline for school enrolment. The solution is complex, but there are pointers that make the decision easier.
Firstly, this is a topic where it is not possible to lay down general rules for all children. In the end, it will always be an individual decision that the parents have to make together with the environment, the teachers, the paediatrician and ultimately their child.
Nevertheless, I believe that there are a few aspects and pointers that can help with the decision and that I would like to pass on to parents. In my opinion, there are three aspects to school readiness:
Physical maturity: is the child reasonably within the norm in terms of height and weight? Is the child's dexterity and gross motor skills reasonably age-appropriate?
Mental maturity: Is the child developing a basic understanding of numbers? Can it concentrate for a certain period of time? Can they play memory games, copy and recognise figures, etc.?
Social/emotional maturity: If the child is treated unfairly, does he/she manage to calm down again? How does the child deal with being reprimanded? How does the child deal with injustice? Etc.
Point 3) is, in my opinion, the most important when it comes to whether a child is considered ready for school or not. That's why I often tell parents that I can't make the best judgement in practice in such a short time. That's why the most important thing is to talk to the people who experience the child on a day-to-day basis. These are usually the nursery school teachers or the leaders of gymnastics or play groups. Because they see their child interacting with other children. And if a child feels comfortable and reasonably safe with their peers, I believe this is the most important criterion for recognising that a child is ready for school.
In general, parents should simply trust their gut feeling. And if they are in doubt, if they are unsure, then please always say: It's better to start school a year later than a year earlier. Ultimately, it is important that everyone in the family is happy and has a good feeling about starting school. And if the parents are already feeling insecure, then you can be sure that this will be passed on to the child. And that would be an unnecessary first negative factor when school starts. And school should actually be something positive for the child from day one. And not filled with fear.
Further interesting tips
Language development
Comparing children is rarely a good idea. But in one area, comparisons with others are even more stupid than they already are: language development. Because this is a very individual story. Nevertheless, there are of course a few pointers and tips. Not only the doctor knows this, but also Myriam Mayländer, speech therapist in Lorch.
Catcalling
A topic that initially looks like a social/political issue, but which is also relevant from a paediatric and adolescent medical perspective: catcalling. The doctor wasn't really aware of this topic and its importance for a long time. However, his three young adult daughters were able to help him understand.
Sore throat
With all the justified corona debates, we should not forget the classic symptoms. A sore throat today. A very banal topic. Actually ...