Preschool Readiness

Is My Child Ready for Preschool or Kindergarten?

Emotional Maturity

Separates from parents without difficulty
Maintains attention to classroom activities
Makes eye contact with adults
Independently chooses activities of interest
Behavior is easily redirected
Uses words to express wants and needs versus using actions/aggressive behavior
Able to use words to tell stories, share ideas and express feelings

Social Maturity

Plays by him or herself
Plays next to a peer
Cooperates when playing in a group
Takes turns
Shows concern for friends
Helps friends when needed
Adapt easily to change of routine

Cognitive / Literacy Skills

Recognizes first name when written
Able to print first name
Able to print last name
Recite the ABC’s
Able to name capital letters
Able to name lowercase letters
Knows letter sounds
Identifies rhyming words (ie, cat / hat)

Fine Motor / Self Help Skills

Recognizes first name when written
Able to print first name
Able to print last name
Recite the ABC’s
Able to name capital letters
Able to name lowercase letters
Knows letter sounds
Identifies rhyming words (ie, cat / hat)

Fine Motor/Self Help Skill Development

Three to Four Year olds

Traces around the edges of basic shapes
Copies a horizontal line and circle
Makes continuous cuts with child-safe scissors
Dresses self with help with fasteners
Can put on/ take off coat
Puts shoes on correct feet
Fastens large buttons
Brushes own teeth
Draws a person with 3 different body parts
Cuts a piece of paper in half with scissors
Uses restroom independently

four to four and a half years old

Puts socks on correctly
Traces simple shapes (ie, circle, square, triangle, rectangle)
Draws simple shapes (ie, circle, square, triangle, rectangle)
Cuts out simple shapes (ie, circle, square, triangle, rectangle)
Cuts on a line
Holds scissors correctly
Zips most zippers

Five Year olds

Prints first name
Draws a person with 6 or more different parts
Cuts well with scissors
Uses pincer grasp with pencil
Shows hand preference