It's getting to be that time of year again #- the New York State Fair has started, the “Back to School” sales are in full swing, and it's almost Labor Day. Yes, school will be starting in the next two weeks and parents all over the country ask themselves, “Is my child ready for school?”

Of course, we're not talking about the new clothes, the backpack and the school supplies, but that nagging question: “Will my child succeed?” Parents with children returning to school are thankful for summer vacation to be over while parents of children just starting school often find themselves in a state of turmoil worrying about their child's first school experience. How can they be sure that their child is “ready?”

Many parents have heard teachers talk about “readiness,” but what does it really mean? If you look up “ready” in Webster's New World Dictionary, you'll find definitions such as “prepared to act,” “willing” and “likely.”

Each of those definitions can be easily applied to a child's entry into school; is she “prepared” to learn, to follow directions, to play with other children, is she “willing” to take turns and to share toys; is she “likely” to separate from mom or dad and to enjoy her time at school?

We all know that every child is different, bringing with them varying abilities, knowledge and experiences, so how does one “know” if their child is ready to start school? As a parent, I believe that parents know their children best; they know how they learn, how well they play with others and how sensitive they are to the world around them. Given that knowledge, parents have a pretty good idea of how their children will respond to school for the first time.

Of course, this knowledge sometimes “gets in the way” of doing what we know is best for children; in this case starting school. As parents, we want to protect our children and make sure they are happy, but we also know that they need to begin to develop skills necessary for future success.

So, what's a parent to do? Do I send my 3-year-old to preschool or do I wait until he is 4? Or should I wait until he's 5 and ready for kindergarten?

There are no right or wrong answers, but there is plenty of research that can provide valuable information to parents as they make their decision about when their children should start school.

Research has shown that preparing a child for school begins at birth. Babies begin learning as soon as they enter the world, and the quality of their early experiences have a direct impact on their future learning. Research has also shown that school success is based on children's abilities in all areas of development: social, emotional, physical and cognitive.

Research has also shown that children who are in “quality” preschool or child care settings, enter school (typically kindergarten) better prepared to learn and to succeed, and children who enter school “behind” developmentally, are usually at a disadvantage.

If we know that preschool is good, how do we know whether our child is ready? As an educator, I know that there are “predictors” of school success that have been proven true time and time again.

The following readiness skills should help you decide whether your 3-, 4- or 5-year-old is ready for school:

• Can your child recognize letters

• Can he count to 10 or higher

• Can your child write her name

• Can he follow directions

• Can she use and understand language

• Has he developed his fine motor skills

• Is she interested in books

• Does he play well with other children

• Is her emotional development age-appropriate

Please don't forget that each child is different and the ultimate decision about when to send your child to school must take into account the “whole child” and his or her ability to benefit from being in school.

Patricia Gridley, Ph.D., is an associate professor and the coordinator of the Early Childhood program at Cayuga Community College

On the Net

The following sites are good resources for additional information about school readiness:

• www.gettingready.org and

• www.zerotothree.org