Is your child ready for kindergarten? Here's how to enroll in Tippecanoe County

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Although spring is just beginning to emerge in Indiana, Greater Lafayette schools are already thinking about fall.

Matt Ridenour, principal of Burnett Creek Elementary School, said as soon as the district's winter break is over each year, the school is already planning for the fall's kindergarten class, evaluating staffing needs for the next school year.

Sue Scott, communications coordinator for the Tippecanoe School Corp., said that in 2021, the district saw its largest kindergarten enrollment of 1,150 students, sparking a need for more staff. Knowing what the school corporation will have in terms of kindergarten population helps them get the resources they need in place.

When can I enroll my child for kindergarten in Tippecanoe Schools?

Kindergarten enrollment has officially begun for the Tippecanoe School Corp., according to a news release, encouraging families residing in the district begin calling their respective elementary schools to enroll their kindergarten-aged children for the 2024-25 school year.

Is my child old enough to be in kindergarten?

Children must be 5 on or before Aug. 1, 2024 to be eligible for enrollment in kindergarten, according to the release. If a parent feels their child is not emotionally mature enough for exposure to the school environment, the release said, the family may wait a year before enrolling.

If the parent feels the child is ready for kindergarten, but does not meet the birthdate eligibility requirement, the parent may apply to the school district's superintendent, according to the release.

How can I prepare my child for kindergarten?

Kelly Stockton, a kindergarten teacher at Burnett Creek Elementary said she sees children more academically prepared than ever before, but has seen a decline on the emotional level.

"More kids are going to preschool, which gives them an academic foundation, but emotionally and independently we are seeing a decline," Stockton said. "Parents are doing a lot more for their kids than they maybe use to."

While it's hard for parents to see their children as anything but little, Stockton explained kids are more capable of independence than they're given credit for. When independence and emotional skills are taught at home, Stockton said it makes for smoother academic education in the classroom.

A few ways parents can strengthen those skills, Stockton advised, are by doing simple activities with their children, such as sitting down to color or practicing writing their name.

"Playing games with them that teach them to take turns is another way to build emotion skills," Stockton said. "Not letting them always win and allowing them to lose, and be okay with it, is really important, too. Reading with them is always something I recommend as well. Just spending some good, quality time with your child is important."

Along with strengthened emotional skills, Stockton said some of the other things parents should look for when evaluating their child's kindergarten readiness are fine motor skills, such as the ability to cut with scissors or hold a pencil.

One of the biggest things she hopes parents who are new to sending a child into school can understand, Stockton said, is that their child will be OK.

"This is a safe place for them — we give them a lot of love here," she said. "We take care of them, we make sure they're learning and growing, but just trusting us as teachers is the biggest thing parents can do."

Jillian Ellison is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. She can be reached by email at jellison@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @ellison_writes.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: How do I enroll my child for kindergarten in Tippecanoe County?