One topic that has been discussed often in parenting circles is the idea of kids needing to know more and be more educated at a younger age. It’s no secret that Kindergarten is now the new First Grade. Gone are the days of half-day Kindergarten, which have been replaced with full-days of Preschool for ages 3 and 4. We don’t send kids to Kindergarten anymore to learn to read. They must already know how before day one. Playful Kindergarten classrooms, with toys and play kitchens and game centers have been replaced with tables and desks and workbooks.
My pediatrician told me recently how she’s seen this shift play out in her office, too. More and more children being referred for ADHD at younger ages because they can’t sit still in their Kindergarten classes. Parents are flocking to her office with worried faces because their 5 year old is not reading yet. “What can we do??” they asked. Her advice: chill out. Enjoy your child at home. Let them play outside. Read to them at night before bed. Let them be little.
I don’t say this to minimize the effectiveness of Kindergarten. I believe it can be a crucial year for children. Females especially seem to take off and begin reading. But for boys particularly, it can take longer. I know for my one son, he was not taking off in reading at age 5…or 6…or 7. At age 8 he’s still slowly plugging along, but he’s getting there. Being my 3rd child, I had learned not to freak out and believe that there was something wrong with him. He’s learning. He’s growing. He’s reading….at his own pace.
I found this article in the Washington Post very interesting. It explains why pushing kids to learn too much too soon is actually counterproductive. As the article point out, it’s rare for a child to be “on grade-level” in every subject. It goes on to say, “Given the nationwide push to teach children more and more complex concepts at earlier and earlier ages, you’d think that there surely must be an extensive scientific literature to support these efforts. Not only does no such data exist, but an emerging body of research indicates that attempts to accelerate intellectual development are in fact counterproductive.”
The article goes on to say that there are alternatives to putting our children through this exceptionally rigorous form of education. “These can take the form of Montessori, Waldorf, or other schools that overtly and automatically individualize their curricula to meet each child’s developmental needs. Many public school districts offer charter schools or magnet schools that provide alternatives to a one-size-fits-all educational approach, and there are private options as well in many cities. Other intuitive parents take on homeschooling as a potential alternative solution.“
All in all, I appreciate how the article closed by saying, “Regardless of which solution is right for you, the key is to be actively engaged in your child’s education.” I couldn’t agree more! Whether a public school, private, charter, or homeschool, us parents need to be our child’s biggest cheerleader and support them in their educational needs. This will look different for every child because there is no one-size-fits-all educational method. All we can do is pray for God to give us the wisdom to make wise choices for our children.
