Part 5: What If Your Child Isn’t Ready for Kindergarten Yet?

How to support your child’s readiness — and advocate for early education access for all!

The Concern Many Parents Have

You’ve followed our articles that have followed the research. You know that kindergarten readiness is a powerful predictor of future academic success.

But what if your child isn’t quite there yet?

Maybe they struggle with transitions, have difficulty expressing emotions, or haven’t shown much interest in letters or numbers. Maybe a preschool teacher raised concerns. Or maybe your intuition tells you they need more time.

If that’s where you are, you’re not alone. And you’re not without options.

Let’s have a quick review.

What the Study Found

The SFUSD Longitudinal Study followed a full kindergarten cohort from 2009 through high school. Its most important insight:

Children who entered kindergarten “Fully Ready” had significantly better academic outcomes—including test scores, GPA, and graduation rates—than children who were “Not Ready.”

Children who were “Not Ready” at entry made academic progress, but their trajectories remained lower and parallel to their peers. In most cases, they did not catch up—regardless of later efforts.

Preschool and TK attendance were positively associated with kindergarten readiness and better long-term academic outcomes.

High family engagement (e.g., daily routines, reading, use of libraries and parks, participation in support programs) was strongly linked to better GPA and test scores, even for lower-income families.

The best path to success for Not Ready children was not waiting, but raising the starting point before kindergarten through enriched early experiences

Yet, some children who were Not Ready did succeed—especially when their families were highly engaged and when behavioral suspensions were avoided.

Common Reasons Children Aren’t Ready

Based on the study’s data, common readiness challenges include:

Difficulty with self-regulation and social expression
Lower development in language, motor, or self-care skills
Limited preschool or early learning experiences
High screen time and low engagement in daily learning routines
Family challenges such as economic hardship, low social support, or parental depression

These are not insurmountable problems. But they do require active, early support.

What You Can Do Now

Your job as a parent is not to make your child perfect—it’s to raise their readiness before school begins.

Enroll in Preschool or Transitional Kindergarten

Children who attended high-quality preschool or TK entered kindergarten with higher readiness scores and stayed on stronger academic paths through middle and high school.

Look for programs with:

Strong routines and emotional support
Language-rich, hands-on learning
Parent engagement components

Engage in Learning at Home

The study found that family engagement was one of the most powerful predictors of later academic success—even stronger than some demographic factors.

Families considered “High Engagement”:

Read, sang, played, and did chores with their child 5–6 times a week
Visited libraries, parks, and museums
Participated in parent education or support groups

These families’ children had higher test scores and GPAs through high school, even when controlling for income and other variables.

Seek Developmental Support

If your child struggles with language, behavior, or fine motor skills:

Ask your pediatrician about developmental screenings
Contact your local school district about early intervention services
Explore therapies that address your child’s specific needs

Early support is far more effective than waiting and hoping for improvement.

Partner with Educators

Talk to preschool teachers or early educators. Share concerns, ask for observations, and work together to reinforce skills both at school and at home.

Is It Ever Helpful to Delay Kindergarten?

Yes—but only when used with intention.

Delaying kindergarten (often called “redshirting”) may benefit children who show persistent readiness challenges. But the extra year needs to include:

Enrollment in a preschool or TK program
Professional support for any delays
Enriching routines and learning at home

Waiting without support rarely changes the long-term trajectory. Using the extra time wisely can make a meaningful difference.

What About Children Who Can’t Access Support?

Here is the deeper issue: not every child has access to preschool, therapists, or enrichment opportunities.

While the study did not track which children received formal interventions like speech therapy or special education services, it did find that children who had access to high-quality preschool, transitional kindergarten, or strong family support had significantly better long-term outcomes—even if they weren’t fully ready at kindergarten entry.

In other words: early support makes a difference. The most successful children were those whose families and communities actively built readiness before school started—not those who simply waited to “grow into it.”

Many of the resources that help children become “Fully Ready” are expensive or limited to certain neighborhoods. That’s not fair—and it’s not sustainable.

The study underscores the need for public policies that ensure readiness is a right, not a privilege. Families should not have to rely on private programs or personal income to access high-quality early education. Publicly funded options like Head Start, transitional kindergarten, and universal preschool are critical tools for giving all children—not just those with financial advantages—a fair start.

What You Can Do as a Parent Advocate:

Contact your local school board or state Department of Education about free preschool and TK access
Ask about early intervention programs and public evaluations for developmental delays
Join with other families to push for universal preschool and family education supports
Share your story—your voice can help shape community investments in early learning