Kindergarten Readiness Checklist
Make sure your little ones are ready to enter the wonderful world of education with this Kindergarten Readiness Checklist! With so many bases to cover it can be overwhelming to make sure your children have everything they need to begin a more formal education.
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So what are the most important skills that your child needs in order to be prepared for kindergarten? This is a question that many parents ask themselves when they are preparing their children for schooling. One of the best ways to answer this question is by looking at what schools require kindergarten students to know, that way you know where your homeschooler is at.
Read about some of the kindergarten readiness skills and knowledge included in a kindergarten readiness checklist so you know what to work on with your little students!
10 Kindergarten Readiness Skills:
Ability to Follow Directions
The ability to follow directions is an essential skill for beginning kindergarten. This includes understanding what a group of words mean, as well as following through with the instructions given.
Most children at this age should be able to follow two step directions. A great way to practice following directions is by playing a game like Simon Says or by following simple instructions around the house like picking up toys. A chore chart is a great way to get kids in the habit of having some responsibility and following directions.
Ability to Get Dressed
The ability for a child to get dressed on their own is important because it demonstrates fine motor skills like buttoning a shirt, zippering a zipper and tying shoelaces. It can also give a child a sense of independence and confidence that they will need when facing difficult problems.
Try these Learn to Dress Boards to help your children practice buttoning, zipping, snapping, tying, buckling and lacing.
Know How to Count to Ten
Children should be able to tell the difference between numbers and understand what they represent when counting things. The best way for parents to help their children with this is by doing math at home, including lots of one-to-one matching games!
Counting to ten is a great starting point for entering kindergarten, especially because kids who are really struggling can use their fingers as a helpful tool.
You can also try these Counting Pegs, Counting Bears, or simple Number Flashcards to practice counting with your children.
Recognize Letters of the Alphabet
Children should be able to recognize letters of the alphabet before they begin kindergarten. Even if they are not able to recite the sounds they make just yet.
Singing the ABCs, using Alphabet Flash Cards, or practicing some Preschool Letter Activities are some great ways to get your little ones familiar with letters of the alphabet.
Recognize Colors and Shapes
Recognizing colors and shapes includes being able to identify different shapes as well as what color they are. Help your preschooler learn this by finding shapes and colors in the world around them, using some educational tools, or reading some books.
Ability to Get Along with Others
This includes understanding how other people might feel, as well as knowing how they should behave when interacting with them. Parents can help their children learn these skills by talking about how other people might feel when they are faced with a problem and then discussing what would be the best way to help them.
A great way to help kids remember how to treat others is by teaching them the bible verse Luke 6:31 “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” You can also read some books like Lily’s Golden Rule and The Berenstain Bears and the Golden Rule.
Ability to Write Name
Practice their name in three different ways. Write it neatly on a piece of paper or index card and practice writing the letters separately, as well as putting them together to spell their name. This will also help them to recognize their name in print.
Use Magnetic Letters to spell out their name or a Lined Dry Erase Board where they can trace their name and try to write it.
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Ability to Hold Pencil or Scissors
Your children should know the correct way to hold a pencil and scissors, even if they cannot use them well yet. As long as they can hold them correctly they can practice using them as much as they need.
Great practice tools for this include Pencil Control Books and Scissor Skills Workbooks. You can also purchase Triangular Fat Pencils and Small Children’s Scissors to make it easier on those little fingers.
Shows Interest in Reading and Being Read to
One of the most important things for a child’s education is the interest in reading and being read to. There is so much for children to learn through reading so it’s essential to inspire a love of reading in them. Make a habit of reading together every night before bed. You can also try listening to audiobooks or making up a story as you drive or go for a walk.
Some of our favorites include Dr. Seuss, Beginner’s Bible Stories, and the Magic Treehouse Series.
Can Complete Gross Motor Skill Activities
Gross motor skills at this age include running, jumping with two feet together, hopping on one foot, climbing stairs, bouncing a ball and trying to catch it. Most children can complete these gross motor skills. However, you can easily make up fun games if your child needs to practice one or more of them.
It is important to remember that all children have different strengths and weaknesses when it comes to learning new tasks. Start with one of these skills at a time and make it fun. You want children to enjoy learning so they keep coming back for more!
