Kindergarten Readiness Checklist

Self Help Skills
Can use the bathroom independently and complete accompanying hygiene tasks
Able to dress self (puts on coat, fastens snaps, buttons and zippers
States full name and age

Social/Emotional Skills
Separates from caregivers without excessive upset
Plays/shares with other children
Waits his turn
Attends to an adult-directed task for at least 5 minutes
Recognizes and responds to other people's feelings
Uses "please" and "thank you"

Language Skills (Expressive and Receptive)
Expresses needs and wants verbally
Speaks in complete sentences (5 to 6 words)
Is generally understood by adults
Uses words, not physical action, to express emotions such as anger or disappointment
Understands and follows two-step directions
Understands positional vocabulary (i.e. on top of, below, next to)

Fine Motor Skills 
Holds pencil/crayon in a non-fisted grip
Able to control scissors to complete an intentional task
Traces lines and basic shapes ï‚· Copies basic figures such as a circle, square and a straight line

Gross Motor Skills
Runs and skips
Jumps with feet together and hops while balancing on one foot. 
Climbs stairs with alternating feet
Walks backwards
Bounces a kickball
Attempts a two-handed catch of a kickball

Math Skills
Counts from 1 to 10
Recognizes/points to/identifies basic shapes (square, circle, triangle, rectangle)
Beginning to count with one-to-one correspondence
Can sort items by one or more attributes
Identifies, either verbally or by pointing to, the colors of crayons in the 8-count box (black, blue, brown, green, orange, red, purple, yellow)

Literacy/Phonemic Awareness Skills
Enjoys being read to/listening to stories
Recognizes environmental print (familiar logos, signs and words)
Knows how to handle a book (i.e. holds book right side up, knows where it starts and ends)
Recites the alphabet
Identifies some letters and some of the sounds they make, either by sound to letter or letter to sound
Recognizes own name in print
Able to discern whether or not two words rhyme, may be able to provide a third rhyme for the words
Tries to write own name or other ideas by using symbols or letters
Can draw a picture to express an idea