Is your child ready for kindergarten? Although each child is unique and develops at his or her own pace, most educators and developmental experts agree upon a certain set of skills as essential tools for further development and achievement in school. Here’s a checklist of the developmental skills children need exposure to and knowledge of before they enter kindergarten.
Kindergarten Readiness Checklist
Social Skills
Uses words to solve problems or conflicts
Uses words like please, thank you and excuse me
Adjusts to new situations
Attempts new tasks knowing it’s okay to make mistakes
Shows pride in accomplishments
Follows a simple direction
Stays with an activity to completion
Asks for help
Interacts appropriately with adults and peers
Respects the rights, property and feelings of others
Works cooperatively (listens to others, shares and takes turns)
Demonstrates increasing self-control
Participates in clean-up activities
Takes responsibility for own belongings (lunch, coat, etc.)
Is able to dress self
Adheres to a routine and schedule for personal hygiene, eating meals and going to bed
Uses good hygiene habits and table manners
Uses appropriate bathroom skills
Follows simple safety rules
Motor Skills
Puts puzzles together
Cuts with scissors
Holds and uses crayons, markers, pens and pencils correctly
Builds using blocks
Tries to tie own shoes
Bounces, kicks, throws and catches a ball
Rides a tricycle
Enjoys outdoor activities, like running, jumping and climbing
Moves to a beat
Reasoning & Concept Development
Knows his/her own body parts
Recognizes and names colors
Matches or groups objects according to size, shape or color
Groups objects that are the same
Understands concepts of in vs. out; under vs. over; on vs. off; front vs. back, etc.
Shows an understanding of the passing of time, including concepts of before and after; and today, yesterday and tomorrow
Language Skills
Talks in sentences
Follows one- and two-step oral directions
Uses sentences that include two or more separate ideas
Uses descriptive language
Knows (by heart) and sings or recites some common nursery rhymes or rhyming songs
Pretends, creates and makes up songs or stories
Tells or retells stories and/or everyday experiences
Asks questions and expresses curiosity
Expresses ideas so that others can understand
Reading Skills
Looks at books or pictures on own
Pretends to read books by reading the pictures
Tries to read in everyday situations (signs, labels, etc.)
Recognizes rhyming words
Blends sounds into words
Recognizes some common words in print
Recognizes many uppercase and lowercase letters
Recognizes some letter sounds
Describes characters’ actions and feelings in a story
Relates stories to personal experiences
Puts events of a story in order
Writing Skills
Tries to write, scribble or draw
Asks you to write words or notes to others
Attempts to write own name and recognizes own name in print
Mathematics Concepts
Compares the size of groups of objects using language such as “more,” “less” and “same as”
Arranges objects in size order (big to small, or small to big)
Uses comparison words, like bigger, smaller, heavier, etc.
Understands concepts of none, some and all; and more than and less than
Identifies and draws a square, circle and triangle
Correctly counts four to ten objects
Knows that the final number counted represents the total number of objects in a set
Recognizes some numbers, 1 – 10
Can distinguish numbers from letters, and understands that numbers relate to quantity
Understands the effects of addition and subtraction
Sign in to your child’s Learning Path to learn more about the skills required for kindergarten and beyond, get insights into the skills your child is exploring while playing with LeapFrog products, and to get personalized learning tips and insights.
