Getting Ready for Kindergarten

• Your child shows awareness of language sounds (e.g., rhyming, hearing the beginning sounds of words, and identifying sound patterns)
• Your child is able to recognize and name as many as 10 letters, especially those in his or her own name
• Your child is learning how to identify the sounds of a few letters
• Your child understands that signs and labels convey information
• Your child can memorize or participate in reading poems and familiar books
• Your child can correctly hold a book, turn the pages, and is able to pretend to read, using some of the language from the text, and using pictures to order the events
• Your child is able to retell some events from a familiar story when prompted by an adult
• Your child is able to write some letters correctly and attempts to convey meaning with words and pictures

• Your child is able to count to 20
• Your child is able to count up to 10 objects when asked “how many?”
• Your child is able to match a number with a group of objects, "That's a 3 and there are three puppies on this page."
• Your child is beginning to understand and use measurement words (big, small, tall, short, heavy, full, long)
• Your child is able to match, sort and name some simple shapes (circle, square, triangle, rectangle)

• Your child is beginning to manage rules, routines, and transitions with occasional reminders
• Your child is able to take turns and function appropriately in groups
• Your child is able to focus on a task for at least 5 minutes
• Your child is able to follow 2-step directions
• Your child is able to work independently
• Your child is able to take care of dressing, hygiene and toileting needs
• Your child is able to recognize and manage their emotions

• Your child continually learns new words and is expanding his or her verbal vocabulary
• Your child is able to speak in complete sentences
• Your child is able to speak clearly to express thoughts, feelings, and ideas, including descriptions of familiar people, places, things, and events
• Your child is able to take turns speaking and listening in short conversations, remembering and responding to what is said
• Your child is able to ask simple questions to get their needs met or better understand concepts or directions

Thinking and Reasoning:

• Your child is starting to solve problems (puts the big block down first so the tower won't fall)
• Your child is eager to learn and talk about a range of topics, ideas, tasks, likes and dislikes
• Your child is able to engage in pretend and inventive play (make a tent with a towel, pretend to be a teacher, cook, builder, doctor, bus driver)
• Your child is able to remember and name at least one or two objects that are taken away while playing, "What's missing?"
• Your child can group objects by using a single characteristic such as shape, size, or color (puts all the blue things together)
• Your child can group objects that go together (shoe and sock, paper and pencil)

Fine Motor:

• Your child is able to use scissors
• Your child is able to use writing tools to copy, trace and/or draw letters, numbers or shapes
• Your child is able to write or copy own name

Gross Motor:

• Your child is getting better at movement skills, such as jumping, galloping and skipping
• Your child is able to throw a ball

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