Contributed By Eve Fontaine, PhD, a licensed child psychologist at Orenstein Solutions, P.A.

Michael is a bright 4-year-old who turns 5 at the end of September. His parents are amazed at how quickly he is developing and changing. Like any preschooler, he sometimes has trouble sharing with others and cries when things don’t go his way. His parents wonder whether Michael would benefit from starting kindergarten early. What if he cannot handle the material and gets frustrated? Then again, what if he gets bored with another year of preschool?

In North Carolina, children must be 5 years old by August 31 in order to begin kindergarten that academic year. However, children who turn 4 years old by the preceding April 16 may be eligible to start kindergarten early, provided they are gifted and have the maturity to be successful in school. How do parents know and decide?

It’s important to consider what Michael will have to do in kindergarten. He will be expected to pay attention to instructions, attend to and complete tasks and follow classroom rules. Social expectations include interacting appropriately with his peers, sharing and taking turns. He will need to exhibit a certain level of fine and gross motor skills, such as walking, running, holding a pencil and using scissors. Toileting skills will also be expected.

Parents who consider enrolling their 4-year-olds in kindergarten must get an evaluation of their child’s academic readiness. These evaluations are typically conducted by a child psychologist. They include measures of aptitude and early academic skills, on which the child must score at or above the 98th percentile to be considered for early kindergarten entry. The child’s social, emotional, language and motor development may also be assessed.

When seeking this evaluation, it is important that parents find a psychologist who specializes in psychoeducational testing and has experience working with children. Because the goal is to get the child’s best performance across tasks, the child should feel comfortable and at ease rather than pressured to perform. The psychologist should provide a comfortable setting and allow breaks for relaxing and fun activities.

Upon the completion of testing, parents should receive verbal and written feedback about the results. The school will use this information when determining the child’s eligibility for early kindergarten entry. Additionally, parents and teachers may benefit from learning about the child’s skill levels and overall strengths and weaknesses.

Let’s say Michael does well with the testing and the school determines he is eligible for early kindergarten entry. Just because he can start early does not mean that he should. What does the research say about starting Michael early in kindergarten? Unfortunately, the research shows mixed and inconsistent results. Some research has found positive benefits for gifted children who enter kindergarten early, suggesting they perform very well both academically and socially. This research concludes there is no evidence to support holding back a gifted child who is emotionally and socially ready.

In contrast, other research indicates there may be either no benefits or potential disadvantages to early kindergarten entry. For instance, one study found that children who were age 5 or younger when beginning kindergarten measured behind their older, 6-year-old peers on measures of reading, mathematics and general knowledge at the end of their kindergarten year. Just to complicate things further, other research has suggested these differences in academic skills disappear throughout time.

In addition to the educational impacts of starting a child early, there are financial considerations, such as the expense of another year of preschool. Given the importance of this decision, it is critical that Michael’s parents get information specific to his situation. A good psychologist will not only conduct the evaluation to standard, but will get to know Michael as a person and understand his developmental capabilities. Factors to consider include Michael’s general cognitive skills and knowledge, as well as his emotional, social, motor and language development. This will aid the psychologist in advising Michael’s parents to make the best decision for Michael specifically.

Naturally, Michael’s parents want the best for him. In deciding whether he should start kindergarten or wait another year, gathering all the data they need and speaking with a trained child psychologist who has expertise in this area can help them make the best decision.

Fontaine is a licensed child psychologist at Orenstein Solutions, P.A., with offices in Cary and Chapel Hill. She specializes in the assessment and treatment of giftedness, learning disabilities, anxiety, OCD, depression and ADHD in children and adolescents. For more information, call the office at (919) 428-2766.