80 SKILLS KIDS SHOULD HAVE BEFORE THEY START KINDERGARTEN from: 80 Skills Kids Should Have Before They Enter Kindergarten

Everyone knows that learning begins at home, but what should be taught? Are there skills and concepts kids should master before entering kindergarten? This list, which was compiled by researches for World Book, Inc. on the basis of a survey of 4,500 kindergarten teachers, represents the ideal – something parents can aim for. Don’t try to cram in all the lessons at once. Teaching these skills and concepts doesn’t require large blocks of time. In fact, school-readiness skills are best taught in small doses with repetition over months- and without pressuring your child.

READING READINESS

􀂉 Remember pictures from a printed page

􀂉 Repeats a 6 to 8 word sentence

􀂉 Pretends to read (and has been read to frequently)

􀂉 Identifies own first name in writing

􀂉 Prints some alphabet letters

􀂉 Prints own first name (only first letter in upper case)

􀂉 Answers questions about a short story

􀂉 Looks at pictures and can tell a story

􀂉 Understands that one reads from left to right

Knows:

􀂉 Names of letters of the alphabet

􀂉 Some nursery rhymes

􀂉 The meaning of simple words

Time:

􀂉 Understands night and day

􀂉 Knows age and birthday

LISTENING AND SEQUENCING

􀂉 Follows simple directions

􀂉 Pays attention

􀂉 Recognizes common sounds

􀂉 Retells a simple story in sequence

Repeats:

􀂉 A sequence of sounds

􀂉 A sequence of at least 4 orally given numbers

SIZE, POSITION, & DIRECTION

Understands:

􀂉 Big and little

􀂉 Long and short

􀂉 Up and down

􀂉 In and out

􀂉 Front and back

􀂉 Over and under

􀂉 Hot and cold

􀂉 Empty and full

􀂉 More and less

􀂉 Fast and slow

􀂉 Top and Bottom

Colors and Shapes:

􀂉 Recognizes primary colors

􀂉 Recognizes circles, triangles,

squares /rectangles

Numbers:

􀂉 Counts to 10

􀂉 Writes numbers 1-5

􀂉 Can count objects to 10

MOTOR SKILLS

Is able to:

􀂉 Run

􀂉 Walk a straight line

􀂉 Jump

􀂉 Hop

􀂉 Alternate feet walking down

stairs

􀂉 March

􀂉 Stand on one foot 5-10

seconds

􀂉 Walk backward for 5 feet

􀂉 Throw a ball

􀂉 Paste pictures on paper

􀂉 Clap hands

􀂉 Button clothes

􀂉 Build with blocks

􀂉 Complete simple puzzles (5

pcs or less)

􀂉 Draw and color beyond

scribbling

􀂉 Zip clothes

􀂉 Control pencil and crayon well

􀂉 Handle scissors

􀂉 Cut and draw simple shapes

Knows:

􀂉 Own first name

􀂉 Own last name

􀂉 Parents’ names

􀂉 Home address

􀂉 Home phone number

􀂉 When to use a Kleenex

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL

DEVELOPMENT

􀂉 Expresses self verbally

􀂉 Identifies other children by

name

􀂉 Can by away from parents for

7 hours

􀂉 Looks forward to going to

school

􀂉 Can take care of toilet needs

independently

􀂉 Cares for own belongings

􀂉 Dresses self

􀂉 Brushes teeth

􀂉 Joins in family conversations

􀂉 Carries a p late of food

􀂉 Maintains self-control

􀂉 Gets along with other children

􀂉 Recognizes authority

􀂉 Shares with others

􀂉 Talks easily

􀂉 Meets visitors without

shyness

􀂉 Puts away toys

􀂉 Helps with family chores

􀂉 Works Independently