By the age of 5, kids might be expected to know and possess a few basic skills before entering kindergarten. They might be able to say their complete name or recite the Alphabet with some lapses, which they can master when they start school anyway.
But a new checklist that is going viral on the internet is making parents worried and anxious. The kindergarten readiness checklist is setting such high standards that parents wonder if schools are actually expecting more from the kids. Is the pressure warranted?
The list was shared by Reddit member Hatcher 1981, who started a discussion in the site. It apparently was being distributed at the Hamilton County school district in Tennessee. The checklist showed that for kids to be deemed kinder-ready they must already be able to:
- write their name while holding the pencil properly
- use the scissors properly
- identify 30+ letters, shapes and colors, among others
Today pointed out that parents who saw the checklist reacted to the "30+ letters" that was enumerated, especially when there are only 26 letters in the Alphabet. Below is the copy of the actual list.
What the list highlights is that schools seem to have such high expectations from 5-year-olds. Many parents chimed that it is making them anxious because the expectations might pressure the kids in school. Some doubt if they have not prepared their child enough. One father also shared in the same Reddit thread that schools today believe kids should be able to "read fluently by the end of Kindergarten," when this skill is supposed to be mastered in first grade.
But a former teacher shared that there could be a good reason to set such standards given in the checklist. Apart from ensuring that schools are competitive, it's also so that the teachers would have an idea of what the child actually knows. When kindergarteners enter the school, they are on different levels and footing. Some can communicate well, some can already read and white, while some might not have any skills at all.
However, it is up to the parent to identify the skills their kids are good at or where their kids might need improvement, which is probably why the checklist was distributed in the first place, according to AOL. The checklist should only serve as a guide to help the teachers prepare their approach for the children. This was confirmed by one school principal in the district, via Today.
Do you think that this kindergarten readiness checklist sets too much standards for the kids? Let us know your thoughts!
