Kindergarten Readiness: Is Your five-year-old Child Ready for Kindergarten?

In less than two months, you will be sending your child to Kindergarten for the first time. It’s a giant leap for your child, and for parents, it can get emotional. So kindergarten readiness assessment comes in handy for parents before the school year even starts.

Now, your thoughts are soaring high because next month, your child will start school. And you’re not confident if your child is ready. However, you’re not alone in this.

How do you determine if your child is ready for Kindergarten? Will your child meet the readiness assessment for Kindergarten? What does your child need to know? 

These questions are what’s running through your mind.

I can understand where you’re coming from. Your concern is valid. Any parent would wonder the same. 

On my end, I finished a whole year of homeschooling my PreK daughter this May, and I feel like it wasn’t enough. So there it is, the concern or question in the back of my mind. Is she going to be ready?

I kept her at home for her preschool due to the Covid pandemic, but she is eager to enter Kindergarten this coming fall.

My son attended preschool when he was at that age, and he adjusted well in his kindergarten year. However, I know every child adapts individually and learns differently.

Here’s what we’ll explore in this post.

What is Kindergarten Readiness?

The Readiness Skills To Check

In what ways can you help your child prepare for Kindergarten

When it’s three weeks before school starts

Final Thoughts on School Readiness

Then, let’s start by knowing what does being ready for kindergarten means.

What is Kindergarten Readiness?

Being ready for Kindergarten takes on a complex process for your child. Each child is different. Some children can do well on particular skills and others in other areas. 

It requires an early assessment of your child’s skills and learning. It will also be determined how your child meets his developmental milestones such as physical, emotional, social, and psychological. 

Federal laws or states have their series of Pre-Tests. For example, some follow the Common Core, and some states follow their standard KRT (Kindergarten Readiness Test). 

Here’s more information regarding Common Core.

What is the Test for?

You must be wondering, what’s the objective of the school for performing the Test? It assesses a child’s readiness and strengths at the beginning of the school year. It will also be conducted again before the end of the school year. 

This Test is to identify a student’s strengths/weaknesses in skills and to identify students who may need special education or individualized teaching plan. The tests score doesn’t indicate if your child doesn’t meet these requirements, she can’t attend school. 

Teachers also administer this test around the first two weeks of the start of school. It all depends on when the school schedules this test for every kindergartner.

The School Readiness Skills To Check

The academic skills mentioned are the expectations/goals for a kindergartner to master at the END of the school year. True that if your child has learned most of the listed skills below, they will have a temporary advantage in learning. 

However, you don’t have to feel concerned if your child can’t master all these before school starts. Remember, your child will have a whole school year to master them.

If you want to know your child’s learning goals that year, please refer to your State’s Curriculum. You can also contact your child’s teacher ahead of time before the start of school. 

These skills are categorized into four areas. These kindergarten skills are listed in no particular order and aren’t comprehensive like those used in the school system. However, you can use this chart as a guide to assess your child for school readiness at home. 

Kindergarten Skills:

Self-Care Skills

• Feeds Self
• Practices Good hygiene
• Dresses Self
• Uses the bathroom independently
• Says full name and age

Social/Emotional Skills

• Separates from Parents
• Interacts with adults and peers positively
• Asks for help when needed
• Uses words to express self
• Shows interest in learning
• Knows how to share and care

Academic Skills

• Recognizes name in print
• Able to sit and listen for five to ten minutes
• ABC recognition and can write them
• Color, Shapes Identification
• Counts 1-10 and can tell how many
• Ten or more sight words
• Recognizes beginning letter sounds
• Completes a pattern
• Recognizes rhyme words

Motor Skills

• Holds a pencil, crayons, or markers
• Uses glue, paper, and scissors
• Runs, jumps, climbs, hops on 1 foot
• Plays catch/bounces ball

You can print a copy of this FREE Kindergarten Readiness Checklist here.

Although, most think academic skills are a priority to achieve. Don’t count out the personal care skills, social and emotional skills of your child. 

I’d say these non-academic skills play a much important role in seeing your child succeed primarily in school and life as well.

In what ways can you help your child prepare for Kindergarten

These are some tips that can help prepare your child for this big transition.

Routines

Having routines at home can aid in preparing your child for school. Consistent practice of routines can ease the transition for your child. In addition, knowing what to expect and have a predictable schedule can reduce their anxiety and stress levels.

Morning and Bedtime Routines can make or break the start and end of your day. A child who follows routines at home can adjust much more quickly to the new practices in school. 

Your child already has the advantage of a routine concept that needs to be followed. 

Play as part of Kindergarten Readiness

Encourage play and exploring minds. Your child can thrive in learning through hands-on experience. Join in imaginative playtimes at home, such as tea parties, pretend school bus rides, and library times. Simulate scenarios of what happens during school time.

Set up playdates with friends or cousins. (Since the pandemic started, this has been a drawback for my kids). Let your child have stress-free interactions with kids under supervision. 

Reading Aloud

Help your child cultivate an interest in learning through books and stories. Encourage thinking minds and exploring feelings by asking questions like “what would happen on the next page?”, “why do you think the character said those words?” or “how would you feel if it was you?.”

Establish a quiet routine for reading at home, as short as 10 minutes to 20 minutes a day. Setting a reading schedule can help your child anticipate timings in routines.

Promote curiosity

Ask “how things work” questions whenever there’s an opportunity, at home, in the playground, during car rides, and more. 

Boost your child’s natural interest, such as asking open-ended questions about the things around them. For example, you can visit museums or arboretums.

Promote healthy habits and wellness

Proper hygiene, eating healthy, good sleep, and move your body activities can benefit your child overall. 

When health is prioritized, the learning can proceed smoother. Keeping stress under control can also play an essential role in your child’s learning ability.

Keep doctor’s appointments and keep track of immunizations.

When your child gets the annual check-up, they get assessed by the doctor on the developmental milestones. 

Remember, those forms you answered in light speed while waiting for the nurse to come in are the checklists about your child’s development.

Ask questions to your child’s doctors about any delays noted and seek referral consultations as needed.

RELATED POST: The Doctor Visits Your Child Will Encounter Before Entering Kindergarten

Model empathy and kindness

Your child will be dealing with a new environment, new classmates, and teachers. 

It’s beneficial to your child when they:

• Shows kindness to others
• Shares
• Takes turn
• Learns to ask for help
• Is being courteous and respectful

It can be pivotal to your child’s preparedness to be in Kindergarten and sustain strong connections. 

Help develop independence and responsibility.

The expectation includes using the bathroom and doing proper hygiene without assistance or prompting. Also, clearing the table area after lunch and simply putting shoes on. 

Another avenue to foster responsibility is doing chores at home. These activities can promote a sense of accomplishment through completing kids’ chores. Again, choose kids’ age-appropriate chores.

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Three weeks from the start of school: 

First Tip: Doing a school mock-up. 

This time is where you and your child will follow a daily schedule. Let’s say every day for 2-3 weeks; it’s up to your preference for how long—routines from waking up to the time for school pick-ups. 

• Wake up time, Mealtime, Hygiene time, Dress-up time
• School Drop off
• School Circle time, ABCs, Reading (bathroom breaks as needed)
• Lunch Break
• Play, Art, and Math time (bathroom break as needed)
• Then School Pick-up

What’s the benefit of doing these mock-ups? Children thrive on routines. When they know what to expect, they’re in control and less stressed. Your child can practice and get used to doing the structured routine followed in school. 

Of course, you’ll have to follow your morning routine up to the point when you drop off your child in school. Then resume your home routines as you get home from school. 

Second tip: Read Books about going to school.

You can purchase or borrow from library books that show kids what happens in school. So, for example, your child can have an idea of school expectations through picture books. 

You can also include books about empathy, sharing, and being kind — another way to promote kindness in your child. 

I’ve included some resources at the end of this post for you and your child.

Third tip: Reassurance

Your child must know that you’re going to be there every step of the way. Although not physically in school, let your child know you’ll be thinking about them and can’t wait to hear about school at the end of the day.

Talk to them positively about learning in school, the relationships your child will create, and learning essential life skills. 

Also, attend Meet-the-Teacher Day; this way, your child can see you interact with their teacher. If your child has any questions for the teacher, encourage the conversation.

Last Tip: Fun Shopping for Supplies

Now, I must be one of the few parents who love shopping for school supplies. But, I know how it can get out of control when everyone is rushing into the shopping stores. 

Plan it and pick a day when parent shoppers are less likely to flock to the shelves and aisles for school supplies. 

Let your child pick the notebooks, pencil case, backpacks, and lunch bag. Plus, grab a new jacket and shoes. 

Most schools will have a Buy Your School Supply Week. Everything that a student needs will be in the school supply package. 

So, make the preparation fun for you and your child.

Final Thoughts on Kindergarten Readiness

Your feelings of apprehension, anxiety and concern are normal for parents of new kindergartners. Also, you love your child, and you want them to have the best experience in school. 

Preparing your child at home is one way for you to gauge readiness for kindergarten and progress in any skills. However, repetition of said skills needs patience from parents and children. 

In addition, parental guidance over your child’s mastery of learning skills, interpersonal connections, and personal care needs is critical for your child’s easy transition to Kindergarten.

My daughter will be a kindergartner this coming fall, and she’s looking forward to attending the new school. It’s going to be a new chapter in our family life.

I think I’ll be checking on me once August rolls in. I still can remember the mixed emotions I had when my son first went to kindergarten school. That year took some adjustments, and we finally found the rhythm to it. 

Oh, how the years flew by! 

Your child is set for Kindergarten, are you?

Let your child know you’ll be there to support them wholeheartedly. Then, when your child sees your enthusiasm in going to this big kid school, they will most likely do the same.

And for the record, you know your child best. Therefore, you can adjust accordingly in your methods of helping your child get ready for this school year.

Thus, emphasize that school is for learning and growing. It’s a place to meet new friends. Who knows, your child will be waving bye to you without any teary blinks, and you got to be ready for that to happen. 

As a mom venturing into a new phase as well, anxiousness may occur but normally felt. Give more credit to yourself for coming this far in providing a great headstart for your child. This phase is a new leaf in your motherhood, and so embrace it completely.

Here are Kindergarten Resources:

Sammy Chases the Alphabet

Your Really Wild School

Educational Posters for Kids

100 Sight Words

Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten

♦ Kindergarten Website Resources

♦ State Assessment Resources

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