Is Young Fives the Best Fit for My Child?

By: Rachel Piper & Suzi Naguib, Psy.D.

Congratulations! you’re child will be old enough to attend school this fall! That was fast. For many, it may seem like it was just yesterday when your child was taking their first steps, and now you’re starting to think about their enrollment into the Michigan Education System. Along with the excitement and anticipation of this new chapter in your child’s life, you’re likely also feeling nervous about this next step in their education. There is a lot to consider, and depending on when your child turns 5, among these considerations may be whether or not kindergarten or Young Fives is the best fit for your child. Keep in mind that not all school districts offer a Young Five’s option, so it is important to check what options are available in your district. In Washtenaw County your child is eligible to attend Young Fives if their birthday falls between May 1st and December 1st.

Young Fives
The Young Fives program aims to ensure kindergarten readiness for children born later in the calendar year. The Young Fives program is developmentally designed to help improve children’s abilities in the following areas: math, science, social skills, fine motor skills, language development, creative arts and expression, social studies, and age-appropriate computer technology. While this is a developmentally appropriate option for some children, keep in mind that not all public schools offer the Young Fives program, so it is important to enquire about what opportunities are available in your area. The Young Fives program is tuition free since it is a state-funded.

Kindergarten Readiness
Although your child may be eligible to enroll in the Young Fives program, it is optional. There are numerous criteria identified by the University of Michigan Towsley Children’s House that can evaluate your child’s current readiness for kindergarten. Ann Arbor Public Schools incorporate these “Readiness Indicators” into their Young Fives programs to equip children with the preparatory skills helpful for future kindergarten and educational success. These readiness indicators include:

The ability to speak in simple sentences and use a normal speaking voice
The ability to ask and answer questions, give information about self and express needs, feelings and opinions
Does not interrupt conversations, stories, and lessons
Understands that it is not okay to be mean or disruptive
Understanding and use of fundamental health and safety processes and procedures
The ability to recall some details of a story or video and recognize common sounds
The ability to follow directions
The ability to recognize first name in print
The ability to count to ten and notice shapes and forms

Please review Kindergarten “Readiness” by the Towsley Children’s house for more details.

The Research on Transitional Kindergarten Programs
The state of California has a program similar to Young Fives called California’s Transitional Kindergarten Program. This program was evaluated by the American Institutes for Research in 2015, and yielded very promising results. This study found that California’s Transitional Kindergarten Program improved children’s literacy and mathematics in ways equivalent to approximately 3-5 months of learning. Although there is limited research specific to the Michigan Young Fives program, the conclusions derived from evaluating California’s Transitional Kindergarten Program shows promising outcomes for similarly structured programs across the country, like the Young Fives program in Michigan.

Other Programs
Although the Young Fives program is a unique and helpful educational opportunity, there are a number of other programs that are also worth exploring, including:

Early Childhood Special Education: Special instruction and services for individuals ages 3-5 with special needs consistent with criteria provided by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Head Start: Federally funded, national organization that provides early childhood education, health and nutrition, and parent services to eligible low-income families.

These resources are intended to jumpstart your search, and to help you and your family better navigate the Michigan early education system in order to find the best fit for your child. After all, you do know your child best!

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