Parent guide
Kindergarten readiness checklist
Starting school is a big step. This checklist covers the skills many children are working on before kindergarten (called Reception or Year 1 in the UK, and Foundation or Prep in Australia), with easy ideas to practice at home.
An important note first: no child needs to tick every box. Schools expect children to arrive with a wide range of skills, and teachers are there to help them grow. Use this list as a guide for playful practice, not as a test.
Early reading and language
- Recognizes some letters, especially the ones in their name.
- Knows that print is read from left to right and top to bottom.
- Can hear rhymes (cat, hat) and first sounds in words.
- Listens to a short story and answers simple questions about it.
- Speaks in full sentences and can tell you about their day.
Practice at home: read together every day, ask “What do you think happens next?”, and play rhyming and “I spy” games.
Early math
- Counts to 10 or higher, and counts small groups of objects correctly.
- Recognizes numbers 1 to 10.
- Names basic shapes like circle, square and triangle.
- Understands “more”, “fewer”, “bigger” and “smaller”.
- Spots and continues simple patterns (red, blue, red, blue…).
Practice at home: count snacks and stairs, find shapes on a walk, and make patterns with blocks or beads. See our guide on teaching counting.
Fine motor skills
- Holds a crayon or pencil with a comfortable grip.
- Draws lines, circles and simple pictures.
- Is starting to write their first name.
- Uses child-safe scissors with help.
Practice at home: play dough, threading beads, coloring pages and tracing letters all build hand strength.
Social and emotional skills
- Can name feelings like happy, sad, angry and scared.
- Takes turns and shares, with reminders.
- Follows simple two-step instructions.
- Can be apart from a parent for a few hours.
Practice at home: play board games for turn-taking, talk about feelings in stories, and give simple jobs like “Put on your shoes and get your bag.”
Self-care
- Uses the toilet and washes hands on their own.
- Puts on a coat and shoes (maybe not laces yet).
- Opens a lunch box and snack packets.
- Knows their full name.
Keep it positive
The most useful thing you can give a child before school is a love of learning. Short, cheerful practice, lots of reading together and plenty of praise for effort go a long way.