When does early enrollment make sense?

Who decides on early enrollment?

You cannot make your own decisions about early school enrollment for your child. Early admission to a primary school depends on the respective head teacher. Before that, however, your child will be assessed by specialist staff to determine whether your child is really ready for early school enrolment. The following points can help you as parents to assess whether or not your child should start school early.

When does early enrollment make sense?

If early school enrollment is an option for you, it is important that you first observe your child’s behavior closely and, above all, critically. For example, the fact that your child already knows all the letters at the age of five, can read or solve simple arithmetic problems does not necessarily indicate precocity or higher intelligence. Your child may also have picked up these skills by accident or “learned” them, for example because an older sibling is already going to school. You should also distinguish between “know” and “understand” because they are two fundamentally different things. For example, your child knows that the simple arithmetic operation “4+4” results in eight, but did your child also understand that “1+7” also results in the number 8?

So before you storm the nearest school and enroll your child, check if they have the following skills that are required. Please note that this list cannot in any way replace a medical certificate. Ultimately, the statement of the educator, the school or other responsible persons is decisive.

• Cognitive abilities: Cognitive abilities are your child’s ability to take in signals from their environment through their senses, to process and store information in their brain and to assign meaning to objects. Your child should already be able to classify terms such as “high-low”, “fast-slow” or “earlier-later”. It must also have the ability to think logically. Can your child articulate meaningfully and coherently? Test this with a story from everyday life. It should also be able to draw simple shapes and cut them out with scissors.
• Motor skills: Your child will have to act much more independently at school than in kindergarten. The motor skills should therefore be developed to such an extent that it can climb stairs independently at school and catch a ball in physical education. Your child should also be able to hold a pen so that they can learn to write at school.
• Ability to concentrate: Your child must be able to concentrate and sit still for at least 15 minutes. Your child needs to be able to listen intently during class. Does your child listen to you with concentration when you read and explain for a longer period of time? Can it spend a lot of time looking at picture books?
• Endurance: Your child shouldn’t give up right away, even if they lose. Not everything will work out right away at school and other children may be faster or better. Can your child play alone for a longer period of time (20 to 30 minutes)? Can they resume play after a break without having to start over?
• Physical abilities: At school, your child must be able to carry their school bag with all the learning materials. Is he physically able to carry his school bag to and from school by himself? Your child will also have physical education classes. Can it undress and change by itself? Will he be able to follow the pace of his classmates in physical education?
• Linguistic skills: At school, your child not only has to communicate with and understand their classmates, but also their teachers. Does your child speak clearly without mumbling or stammering? Does it formulate the sentences without gross grammatical errors? And can it confidently use singular, plural, past and present? Can it relate in an understandable way what it experienced in kindergarten or at the weekend with grandma and grandpa?
• social behavior:The social behavior of your child is just as important as independence, cognitive and physical abilities. The school is a social institution where different children from different backgrounds meet and have to get along with each other. You will take part in group activities, you will need to integrate and you will need to be able to hold back in certain situations. If your child is still very restless or finds it difficult to communicate with other children, you should refrain from starting school early. It is also important that your child can get along without parents or known people for a certain period of time. Excessive clinging or fear of loss can be a sign that your child is not ready for everyday school life. Does your child like going to kindergarten? How does the farewell go? Does your child participate in group games that require rules? Can they understand, accept and comply with these rules?

If in doubt, no early enrollment

Early school enrollment means that your child is required to attend school from this point onwards and it is no longer possible to leave. Involve your child in the considerations, but don’t let them decide for themselves. You are an adult and can assess the situation better. However, do not push your child to do anything and do not present the school in a particularly dazzling or negative way. In general, if there are any uncertainties or doubts, it is often advisable to decide against early enrollment.