I found a good way to judge whether a child is ready...its got nothing to do with their intellectual ability - thats why they're going to school. The School principal at my DD's school suggested to us last year, to think about how your child would react if they discovered at school they had forgotton their lunch. What would they do? Cry, go without, go tell a teacher...... I know now, today, my 4 year old would probably cry. Yet in 12 months time, when shes ready for kindergarten, i would hope she would have the initiative, to tell the teacher. I found this a good (yet simple) way to judge a childs readiness....