JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Parents, teachers and behavioral health experts are raising concerns about kindergarten readiness among young children.
A Facebook post by St. Louis native and kindergarten volunteer Marcia Jennings highlighted alarming struggles among kids with basic tasks.
“It was so overwhelming for them to understand the concept of staying in line, wiping themselves, buttoning their own pants, opening a milk container, holding a pencil correctly…" Jennings wrote. “I had one who didn’t understand how to unzip his lunchbox so he could eat. Some can’t tell you their name, or don’t KNOW their actual given name that is on the roster.”
She added, “So many had never held a pencil at all, couldn’t sing the alphabet song (let alone recognize any letters/numbers), couldn’t count to 10 or recognize shapes/colors.”
Pediatric psychologist Holly Antal of Nemours Children’s Health explained that this kindergarten class is the first cohort of pandemic babies, making their readiness a historic marker.
“Kindergarten readiness is a really important factor because it predicts later outcomes academically, socially for many years,” Antal said. “So it’s really important to be keeping an eye on trends and kindergarten preparedness.”
Nemours Children’s Health provides a checklist of typical skills for 5-year-olds, including:
- Talking with more than three back-and-forth exchanges
- Counting to 10
- Identifying some letters and numbers
- Buttoning buttons
- Writing some letters of their name, and telling a story with at least two events.
Preschool enrollment also dropped during the pandemic, contributing to these challenges. The U.S. Census Bureau reported a nearly 10% decline in preschool attendance among 3- to 6-year-olds between 2019 and 2021.
Antal encourages parents to engage their children in social settings and teach basic skills at home before school starts.
“Parents have a lot of opportunity to support their children obviously throughout their life,” Antal said. “They are the first and primary caregiver and best to help identify gaps or help additional supports come into place.”
She acknowledged that posts like Jennings’ can trigger various reactions but sees that as positive.
“We certainly want parents to feel supported in that moment, and I think that feedback from the teacher is the first step,” Antal added.
For concerned parents, Antal suggests consulting their child’s pediatrician to determine if further evaluation or support is needed.