Kindergarten Skills Checklist
Ready, set, kindergarten! Preparing your child for kindergarten is made easier with these tips from a mom of two and former elementary school teacher.
Author
Katie Wickliff
Published:
July 2025
Key takeaways
- • Children begin kindergarten at different stages of development
- • Kindergarten readiness involves a mix of social-emotional, behavioral, and academic skills
- • Parents can help their children prepare for kindergarten through games, songs, and play
If you’re a parent with a rising kindergartener, you might be wondering if they’re prepared to start school with success. After all, the transition to kindergarten can feel exciting, emotional, and stressful–all at the same time! This article explains several important kindergarten readiness skills in an easy-to-follow guide and checklist for parents.
Why Does Kindergarten Readiness Matter?
Kindergarten readiness is more than arriving on the first day able to identify letters, count to ten, and draw simple shapes. While these skills are important, kindergarten readiness is more about whether a child has developed the social, emotional, physical, and basic academic foundation that helps them adjust to a school environment. If building readiness sounds overwhelming, try not to worry. You can help your child develop these skills through play, conversation, and daily routines.
What Readiness Skills Does My Child Need Before Starting Kindergarten?
While it’s helpful for children to have certain readiness skills before starting kindergarten, it’s also important to remember that every child develops at their own pace. For example, some children begin kindergarten with basic counting skills, while others might be learning how to identify numbers from 1-10. Some might have a smooth transition to a full day of school, while others may have more trouble separating from their parents or caregivers.
Whether your child has mastered many skills or just a few, this checklist will help you keep track of their development and ease some of the overwhelm that can come with a big change. We’ve also included a handy printable version to keep or share.
Table of contents
Social Emotional
Language and Communication
Early Academic Skills
In addition to helping your child prepare for kindergarten’s social, emotional, and behavioral aspects, it’s a good idea to practice some of the skills your child will learn in the classroom, such as identifying colors, counting, recognizing shapes and patterns, or writing their name. Simply being familiar with these concepts can help boost their confidence in the classroom.
Early Literacy Skills
Early Math Skills
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Self-Care and Independence
Printable Kindergarten Readiness Checklist for Parents
We’ve gathered all of the above readiness skills from our guide into a printable kindergarten checklist:
FAQs about kindergarten
Most children start kindergarten at age 5, but this can vary based on your school or state requirements. Along with age, it’s important to consider your child’s unique development and overall readiness.
Don’t worry if your child hasn’t mastered these skills by the time school begins. Simply being familiar with these concepts can help boost your child’s confidence in the kindergarten classroom.
You can help your child prepare by checking out the kindergarten readiness skills in our parent guide and checklist. Practicing these skills through creative activities like singing, dancing, and plenty of outdoor play makes preparing for kindergarten fun and exciting.
About the Author
Katie Wickliff
Katie holds a master’s degree in Education, has over 15 years of education experience as a primary classroom teacher, and is Orton-Gillingham certified tutor. Most importantly, Katie is the mother of two primary school students, ages 8 and 11. She is passionate about maths education and firmly believes that the right tools and support will help every student reach their full potential.
