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Home › Webmother's Musings

Kindergarten, Here We Come!

By Elisa Ast All

Fishing for Blue Gill at the lake – Skills acquired: hand-eye coordination, patience and compassion to let them go.

Catching tiny tree frogs and little lizards in the brush – Skills acquired: stealth, bravery and eagle-eye accuracy.

Swimming and hiking – Skills acquired: strength, stamina and acute observation techniques.

These are memories from the summer of 2004 that I will always cherish, and it's hard to say which is my favorite. Each activity ignited a spark in our children, and you could almost hear their minds stretching with each new concept.

In the three short months since the end of preschool, I have seen my children grow both physically and emotionally. Once so small they could fit into the palms of my hands, our 5-year-old twins embrace each new challenge and yearn to learn more each day. Babies no longer, these are little people who are ready for kindergarten.

In addition to a thirst for knowledge, there are other ways to know if your child is ready for kindergarten. Below is a readiness checklist to see if your child is prepared for the move to elementary school:

Fine Motor Skills
  • Holds a pencil correctly
  • Uses scissors properly
  • Puts a 12-piece puzzle together
Gross Motor Skills
  • Walks backwards
  • Runs, jumps and skips
  • Walks up and down stairs easily
Social Skills
  • Enjoys being read to
  • Plays with other children
  • Follows simple directions
  • Expresses feelings and needs
  • Goes to the bathroom by herself
  • Speaks clearly and talks in sentences
  • Waits his turn and knows how to share
  • Asks questions and can tell a story
  • Can spend extended periods away from parents
  • Uses words when angry (rather than being physical)
Academic Skills
  • Can identify six parts of the body
  • Counts from 1 to 10 and knows some of the alphabet
  • Tries to write own name and recognizes own written name
  • Understands concept words such as under, up, down, in, out, behind
  • Recognizes shapes and colors, and can sort items by color, shape and size
Personal Information
  • Knows own full name and how old he is
  • Knows Mom and Dad's first names
  • Knows her address and phone number

If you answered affirmatively to most of the items on the list, it may be likely that your child is ready for kindergarten. If your child has not mastered at least half of these skills, you may want to discuss any concerns with the kindergarten teachers at your child's school and get their opinions. But remember that all children are different. You know your child best, and only you can determine if she is ready. Parents' instincts about their child are usually correct!

To view the interactive version of this checklist and for more on kindergarten preparation, visit iParenting's Preschool & Child Channel.