Kindergarteners are typically children who are about 5 years old when they start kindergarten. Most children enter kindergarten at age 5 and turn 6 during the school year, though some may start as young as 4 depending on the cutoff dates set by states or school districts
. The exact age range can vary by location due to different enrollment cutoff dates, which usually fall between August and December. For example, a child must often be 5 years old by a certain date (such as August 31 or September 1) to start kindergarten that school year. This means some children start kindergarten just after turning 5, while others might be nearly 6
. There is also a practice called "redshirting," where parents delay their child's kindergarten start by a year, resulting in some children starting at age 6. This has become more common over recent decades but varies by family choice and readiness of the child
. In summary:
- Typical kindergarten starting age: about 5 years old
- Age range: roughly 4 to 6 years old depending on cutoff dates and readiness
- Most children turn 6 during kindergarten year
- Some children start at 4 if cutoff dates allow or are advanced
- Some children start at 6 due to delayed entry ("redshirting")
This age range reflects the diversity in policies and parental decisions across regions
