Smart Parenting Series #6 At What age should you start your child for academic enrichment?

While the minimum age to join an enrichment school is not cast in stone; most children in Singapore start enrichment classes at the age of 4. It is important to judge the age suitability on the following factors:

• Duration of the class

• Teacher student ratio/ Class size

• Pre-requisite skills, if any

Younger children generally do not have the capacity to sit for long, have shorter attention span and need personalized attention. Classes that are conducted in small groups and encourage play based lessons are ideal for younger kids. Also, a child should be fairly capable of following teacher’s instructions and communicating with peers and teachers. It is also important to determine whether the child has the necessary gross and fine motor skills required for the class. Intensive sports that require oodles of stamina and muscle strength might not work for younger kids. However, lessons in language, music, art and low impact sports usually work well for younger children.

In fact research points at a growth window available for kids upto the age of 7 where they pick up skills and absorb knowledge like a sponge, as the brain forms synapses for every new input.

So sign up for lessons that build the cognitive and mental capabilities of the child and help in his/her overall growth.