Physical development also plays a role in school readiness. The important thing is not how tall the boys and girls have grown, but rather that they are already resilient enough for everyday school life. They should also be able to draw and cut with scissors, catch and throw a ball, and hop on one leg. And of course there are also intellectual requirements for little school starters. Inga Margraf: “They should be able to grasp tasks without ‘grasping’ them with their hands, recognize letters and the number of eyes on a cube, and retell little stories.”
What parents can do:
Parents who are unsure can take a school aptitude test with their child. Information on this is available from educational counseling centers, the school secretary’s office or the school psychologist. “Or contact the kindergarten teachers,” Inga Margraf advises doubting parents. “They know the little ones well and can assess whether they are ready for everyday school life.”
But don’t worry: Being ready for school doesn’t mean that a child can already do everything that is required at school. A child becomes a schoolchild at school. And parents should also take their child’s wishes into account. “Six-year-olds often already know exactly what they want,” says the psychologist. “And whether a child absolutely wants to go to school or would rather still go to kindergarten should definitely play a role in the decision.”
