The Gift of Time
Today’s topic: Something that you feel strongly about.
In the last 15 months as principal, I’ve come to feel quite strongly about the age that students begin formal education. Each time we advertise a new kindergarten class opening up, we get lots of interested parents, but many of them are trying to enrol students that are only 4 years old, or occasionally only 3! No matter how firmly I state that our policy is that students must be 5 years old before beginning (even this is early, in my opinion) and explain the reasons why, and the advantages to the child for delaying their enrolment, there are always a few parents that try to convince me that their child is “ready” or “smart enough” and thus should be enrolled. Just because a child could, doesn’t mean he or she should.
I’ve read numerous articles lately that suggest a link between the starting age of students and their mental health. According to some studies, delaying the starting age of kindergarten by a year can significantly impact mental health. In some countries, such as Denmark and Finland, formal academic education doesn’t begin until age 6 or 7, when students are considered mentally and physically ready for the challenges.
Sadly though, many parents are pushing their children into school at younger and younger ages (and preschools are getting more and more structured, formal, and academic). Some parents do it out of necessity, because they have to work. Others don’t want their children to “get behind," feeling their child will be at a disadvantage if they don’t go to preschool or start kindergarten as soon as possible. Here, many parents want their children to get a good education so they have more opportunities in the future - something they didn’t have - and I get that. But at what expense?
Tracy Gillett says it well: “Childhood serves a very real purpose. It’s not something to “get through”. It’s there to protect and develop young minds so they can grow into healthy and happy adults.” I just wish more people understood the value of “lengthening childhood” or “giving the gift of time” to their children, rather than pushing them into life before they’re ready for it. A year or 2 of “extra childhood” could easily prevent numerous issues down the road!
If you’re interested in reading more, here’s a good place to start:
https://www.teachermagazine.com.au/article/delaying-kindergarten-the-impact-on-mental-health
In the last 15 months as principal, I’ve come to feel quite strongly about the age that students begin formal education. Each time we advertise a new kindergarten class opening up, we get lots of interested parents, but many of them are trying to enrol students that are only 4 years old, or occasionally only 3! No matter how firmly I state that our policy is that students must be 5 years old before beginning (even this is early, in my opinion) and explain the reasons why, and the advantages to the child for delaying their enrolment, there are always a few parents that try to convince me that their child is “ready” or “smart enough” and thus should be enrolled. Just because a child could, doesn’t mean he or she should.
I’ve read numerous articles lately that suggest a link between the starting age of students and their mental health. According to some studies, delaying the starting age of kindergarten by a year can significantly impact mental health. In some countries, such as Denmark and Finland, formal academic education doesn’t begin until age 6 or 7, when students are considered mentally and physically ready for the challenges.
Sadly though, many parents are pushing their children into school at younger and younger ages (and preschools are getting more and more structured, formal, and academic). Some parents do it out of necessity, because they have to work. Others don’t want their children to “get behind," feeling their child will be at a disadvantage if they don’t go to preschool or start kindergarten as soon as possible. Here, many parents want their children to get a good education so they have more opportunities in the future - something they didn’t have - and I get that. But at what expense?
Tracy Gillett says it well: “Childhood serves a very real purpose. It’s not something to “get through”. It’s there to protect and develop young minds so they can grow into healthy and happy adults.” I just wish more people understood the value of “lengthening childhood” or “giving the gift of time” to their children, rather than pushing them into life before they’re ready for it. A year or 2 of “extra childhood” could easily prevent numerous issues down the road!
If you’re interested in reading more, here’s a good place to start:
https://www.teachermagazine.com.au/article/delaying-kindergarten-the-impact-on-mental-health
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