Is Your 6-Year-Old Prepared for First Grade?

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Updated: Aug. 26, 2016
Originally Published: March 19, 2015

I often think about a tale my grandmother used to share. At just six years old in Montreal, she would walk to her first grade class all by herself. One day, when she was running late, she had a clever solution: she decided to sneak through St. Augustine’s Catholic church. That way, when the nuns scolded her for tardiness, she could honestly say she had been at church, and they would let her off the hook.

She also recalled a classmate who frequently got sent home for mischief. Instead of facing her parents and explaining her situation, she would hitch a ride with the milkman and spend her day joyriding in his truck. Sounds safe, doesn’t it?

These stories came to mind after I read an article in Slate discussing a checklist from 1979 to determine if six-year-olds were ready for school. Some of the items still resonate today:

• Can your child clearly communicate where they live to a crossing guard or police officer?
• Can they color within the lines when drawing?
• Can they balance on one foot with their eyes closed for five to ten seconds?

However, there’s one item that would surely raise eyebrows today: Can they navigate the neighborhood alone (four to eight blocks) to reach a store, school, playground, or a friend’s house? This question sparked the Free Range Kids movement and has led to plenty of discussions.

As KJ Antonia from Slate noted, “It’s astonishing how much has changed in the last few decades.” The skills expected from a 1979 first grader, who also needed to be “six years, six months” old and have “two to five permanent or second teeth,” seem almost archaic now. In terms of life skills, that child would be ready for middle school, confidently riding a bike and finding their way home independently.

Have our cities transformed so dramatically? Are we simply more aware of potential dangers? Or have we collectively become overly cautious?

For more insights on navigating parenthood, check out our other post on home insemination options here. If you’re looking for reliable resources on starting a family, Make a Mom offers great advice, while Resolve provides excellent information about family-building options.

In summary, the landscape of parenting and childhood readiness has evolved considerably. While the skills expected of children may have shifted, the essence of preparing them for independence remains vital.