The 25 Things Your Child Needs to Know Before Kindergarten

Preparing your child to begin kindergarten can feel overwhelming. The expectations for children entering school today may be different from what you remember. Both you and your child might feel many emotions. You want to help your child succeed, and we understand that.

The key is starting strong.

According to The Children’s Reading Foundation, “Every year, four out of 10 children test below grade level in their kindergarten entry assessments. Students who start kindergarten without the basic skills struggle to catch up. Sadly, most of them never do.” However, your involvement makes a huge difference. This checklist can help you prepare your child for a strong start.

“Kindergarten readiness” is a term educators use to describe the skills a child should have to help ensure a smooth start into their school career. And while 25 things may seem like a lot, your child likely knows many already – and what’s left can be worked on over the summer. The following list includes things like:

• Basic life skills and hygiene
• Social and emotional skills
• Fine and gross motor skills
• Language and listening skills
• Literacy and math skills

 

Checklist for Kindergarten Readiness

Use this checklist to see if your child has developed some foundational skills. These skills can help make the transition to kindergarten positive and successful.
 

Can your child recognize these things?

• When two words rhyme
• Their first name and attempt to write it
• The parts of the body
• That letters form words
• Basic shapes like circles, squares, triangles, stars, etc.
• Basic colors (primary and secondary) and be able to identify them
• The difference between more than and less than
• When a group has up to four objects without having to count them
• The meaning of common signs (stop signs, familiar logos, etc.)

 

Can your child recite these concepts?

• The alphabet and identify at least half the letters
• Numbers 1-10 in the correct order without skipping any
• Their first name, last name, and age
• The days of the week
• What happened in a story after hearing it read aloud

 

Is your child able to do these things?

• Use the bathroom and wash hands independently
• Get themselves dressed in the morning (it's okay if they still need help with difficult zippers and shoelaces)
• Separate from a caregiver without getting overly upset
• Interact with other kids
• Pay attention to a task or adult for at least five minutes, and follow multi-step directions
• Use scissors correctly and be able to trace dotted lines
• Run, jump with both feet, walk up stairs, and hop on one foot
• Grip a pencil, crayon, or marker correctly
• Express emotions and react appropriately when someone is sad
• Take turns with other children
• Communicate basic needs and be able to ask for help

Do you have questions or concerns about your child’s kindergarten readiness? We are here to support you. Check out NHA’s additional resources below. We encourage you to connect with your local NHA school, schedule a tour, get to know the school, and connect with our staff for any questions about kindergarten readiness.
 

Additional Resources

• Check out what Kindergarten at National Heritage Academies looks like
• Practice Social/Emotional Skills at home
• Improve your child’s Reading Skills
• Improve your child’s Math Skills
• Explore At-home activities to improve your child’s Fine-Motor Skills
• Wondering what age your child should start Kindergarten? Check our Kindergarten Calculator
• You can also check out these free interactive worksheets
• Preparing Your Kindergartener for the New School Year