This is a Kindergarten Readiness Checklist. While not every item needs to be checked off, at least 90% should be, for a child to be considered ready to start Kindergarten. Some items are required such as using the bathroom appropriately and independently.
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 independently
Follows simple safety rules
Offers to help peers and family
Tries to regulate emotions properly and articulates feelings in words
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
Able to zip coat/jackets
Able to button/unbutton
Reasoning & concept development
Matches or groups objects according to size, shape or color
Groups objects that are the same
Understands concepts of in/out, under/over, on/off, front/back, etc.
Shows an understanding of the passing of time, including concepts of before and after, and today, yesterday and tomorrow
Experiments enthusiastically with new games and toys, sometimes in a trial-and-error manner
Describes how objects are the same or different
Language skills
Talks in sentences
Follows one- and two-step oral directions
Uses sentences that include two or more ideas
Uses descriptive language
Knows by heart and recites some common nursery rhymes and 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 their 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
Can rote count to 20
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
Science
Shows interest and asks questions about objects and events observed in their environment
Notices common properties and differences among objects and materials
Knows some facts about common plants and animals, such as what they eat and baby names
Recognizes some objects in the sky such as the sun, moon, clouds and lightning
Creative arts & music
Recognizes and names basic colors
Draws recognizable shapes and simple objects
Tells a story with pictures
Moves to a beat
Explores with common musical instruments
Enjoys improvising or copying musical patterns
Social studies
Recognizes basic traditions such as birthdays
Understands that people live in different parts of the worlds and have different customs and traditions
Explores simple maps and visual representations of neighborhoods or communities