Kindergarten Academic Readiness Skills

This is a list of academic skills your child should be working on in the year before going to kindergarten. Although your child does not need to have mastered these skills before kindergarten, it is very important that he/she has a good grasp on these concepts. The more secure your child is, the greater his/her chance of success!

Mathematics
Your child should be able to…
Ø        Count to 20
Ø        Recognize number 0 – 10
Ø        Recognize and name basic shapes (square, rectangle, circle, triangle)
Ø        Sort objects by color, shape, size, and type
Ø        Play learning games such as Memory, Go Fish, and Hi!Ho Cherry-O with other children

Language
Your child should be able to…
Ø        Recognize most capital letters
Ø        Recognize most lowercase letters
Ø        Recognize some letter sounds
Ø        Follow multi-step verbal directions
Ø        Listen to a story without interrupting
Ø        Correctly retell a story
Ø        Write letters or words to tell about pictures that he/she draws

Small Motor Control
Your child should be able to…
Ø        Color a picture without scribbling all over the page
Ø        Cut on a straight line with scissors
Ø        Use glue appropriately (with appropriate amount of glue)
Ø        Copy letters, shapes, and numbers
Ø        Hold a pencil correctly
Ø        Button and zip independently for bathroom use

Personal Skills
Your child should be able to…
Ø        Say his/her full name
Ø        Say his/her parents’ full names
Ø        Write his/her first name correctly with first letter only capitalized ( ex. Mary, not MARY)
Ø        Tell another person his/her phone number
Ø        Recognize eight basic colors