Kindergarten is the first formal setting for academic work and many kids who know the alphabet and the letter sounds have a head start. Is your child ready to go?
With kindergarten just around the bend, here’s a handy kindergarten check list for you to access “where your child is at” before her first day.
- Count from one to 10 or higher
- Identify letters of the alphabet and know their sounds
- Name parts of the body
- Distinguish between left and right
- Demonstrate an ability for small motor skills like holding a pencil or a pair of scissors correctly
- Demonstrate an ability for following directions, including multiple-step directions
- Show an understanding of stories
- Demonstrate clarity of speech
- Demonstrate an increasing vocabulary
- Demonstrate the ability to tell a story in sequence
Behaviorally speaking, these are other areas you’ll want to check for:
- Enthusiasm toward learning. Is she eager to explore and discover? Is she comfortable asking questions? Does she persist even when a task is difficult?
- Does she communicate her needs? Express her feelings appropriately?
- Ability to listen. Can she follow simple instructions? Is she able to listen to an entire story without interrupting?
- Desire to be independent. Does she separate from parents for the school day? Is she starting to take responsibility for her personal belongings? Can she follow simple two-step tasks? Can she use the bathroom by herself?
- Ability to interact with children and adults. Is she able to share, compromise, take turns and problem-solve?
- Strong fine-motor skills. Is she able to hold and use a pencil? Cut with scissors? Is she learning to write her name?
- Basic letter and number awareness. Can she sing and recite the alphabet and recognize some letters? Can she count to 10 and identify numbers one to five?
