Kindergarten: to wait or not to wait….that is the question.

Speed rules these days. Information is shared often before it’s vetted for accuracy so it can reach its audiences before the competition. People shoehorn one more activity into their stress-laden life, always trying to squeeze in more. Sometimes we seemingly rush through life so — ironically —one day we can slow down. When it comes to our young children, however, maybe slowing down now is the answer.

This is the time of year when parents begin to ask whether they should push to enroll their child in kindergarten or wait. I’ve always said education is not a race and the gift of time is important. I now feel validated because some very interesting research supports this position. As with any studies, there is no one approach that is perfect for every children, so you need to delve a little deeper into the data to find your answers.

A study titled The Gift of Time? School Starting Age and Mental Health by researchers at Stanford University and The Danish National Centre for Social Research provides evidence that children who delay kindergarten entry by one year demonstrate better self-regulation skills when compared to children who start kindergarten on time. These benefits persisted as the students progressed through elementary school. The authors found that the one-year delay resulted in a 73% reduction in inattention and hyperactivity by the time the average student was 11 years old.

In the discussion and conclusion of the study, the authors note, “Specifically, a literature in developmental psychology emphasizes the importance of pretend play in the development of children’s emotional and intellectual self-regulation. Children who delay their school starting age may have an extended (and appropriately timed) exposure to such playful environments.”

The data were obtained from a national Danish mental-health screening tool completed by more than 54,000 parents of 7-year-olds and a follow-up of almost 36,000 parents when these same children were 11 years old.

 I encourage you to read the research, really think about your child’s individual needs and then speak with educators about your thoughts. Decisions about what’s best for your child and his or her education simply cannot and should not be rushed.