A kindergarten readiness checklist is a list of everyday skills many children are building by about age 5, like following simple routines, taking turns, answering questions about a story, counting objects and using a crayon. It is not a test to pass. Children develop at different speeds, and social skills matter as much as academics.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says readiness isn't just about academics: a child's social, emotional and behavior skills are equally critical to school success. It also calls the idea that some children are "ready" at 4 or 5 and others are not controversial. Just as children walk and talk at different ages, they build school skills at different ages too. The AAP supports schools that are equipped to meet kindergartners at every level of readiness.
The AAP notes that in most parts of the US, the age requirement is 5 for kindergarten and 6 for first grade, with rules that differ by state.
The checklist below draws on the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF), which describes what many children can do by 60 months, along with AAP milestones and a US Department of Education parent booklet. The ELOF itself says it is not a checklist or assessment and must never be used to conclude that a child is not ready for kindergarten. Use this list to spot what to practice through play, not to grade your child.
Social and emotional skills
Interacts with trusted adults, like a teacher, and asks adults for help when needed. Try: short visits with a relative or sitter.
Uses words to describe their own feelings and other people's. Try: name the feelings of characters in picture books.
Can follow rules or take turns when playing games with other children (an AAP milestone by 5). Try: simple board and card games.
Handles big feelings with an adult's help, using words or deep breaths.
Learning habits and self-control
Follows most daily routines, sometimes with reminders. Try: a picture chart for the morning routine.
Stays focused on an activity for a stretch, such as 15 minutes or more. Try: puzzles, blocks or drawing.
Keeps trying when a task is hard, or asks someone for help.
Follows directions with several steps, sometimes with reminders. Try: "Get your shoes, put them by the door, then wash your hands."
Language and early reading
Answers simple questions about a story after hearing it, like "What happened to the friend?" (an AAP milestone by 5).
Retells a familiar story with events in order.
Says a word that rhymes with another word, and names the first sound in a word, like "Dog begins with /d/."
Recognizes many letters and knows the sounds of several. The ELOF lists naming 18 uppercase and 15 lowercase letters by 60 months as one indicator.
Understands that print is read left to right and top to bottom.
Writes their first name, or something close to it.
Early math
Counts out loud to at least 20.
Counts about 10 objects to answer "How many?" and knows the last number said is the total.
Recognizes small groups, up to 5, without counting.
Tells whether one group has more, less or the same as another, for at least 5 objects.
Adds and takes away small amounts, up to 5, using fingers or objects.
Recognizes some numerals up to 10 and, with help, writes some of them.
Physical skills and self-care
Holds a crayon or pencil with a pincer grip, cuts along a line and manages buttons.
Washes hands with soap and water before eating and after using the bathroom.
Runs, climbs and balances, for example on one leg.
Uses the toilet. The AAP lists toilet training among the questions to consider when deciding when your child should start.
Read and talk. Read together daily, ask what might happen next, and let your child retell the story.
Count real things. Count stairs, set the table, and ask "Who has more?" at snack time.
Play games. Board and card games practice turn-taking, rules and numbers at the same time. Our sister site has a guide to math practice at home for kids.
Build independence. Let your child handle jackets, shoes, handwashing and putting toys away.
Use their hands. Drawing, play dough, child-safe scissors and puzzles all build fine motor skills.
Talk about the day. The AAP encourages parents to put down the phone, talk with children about their day and plan activities together.
The AAP also advises that educational apps and shows should not take the place of face-to-face interaction and real-life experiences.
Some schools run their own screenings. The AAP says these tests are far from perfect and that some children who do poorly on them do just fine in school. It believes screening should guide teaching and support, not act as a gatekeeper. If a screening shows an area where your child is behind, use it to plan support with the school.
On "redshirting," or waiting a year, the AAP says labeling children as "not ready" and delaying school can keep them from the best learning environment. It notes that academic problems linked to being among the youngest in a class mostly seem to disappear by 3rd or 4th grade, and that other research suggests children who are old for their grade face a greater risk of behavior problems as teens.
This is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.
The AAP's advice is to act early by talking to your pediatrician about concerns, and to trust your instincts. It suggests using the CDC's milestone checklists and bringing them to your child's next well-child visit. If you or your pediatrician have concerns about your child's development, ask for a referral to a medical, school or developmental specialist. The AAP recommends developmental screening at routine checkups at 9, 18 and 30 months, and screening can also be done any time a parent has a concern. Your child's preschool teacher or child care provider can also share useful observations.
Think broad, not just ABCs. Getting along with others, following routines, managing feelings with help, listening to stories, counting small groups and using a crayon all matter. The AAP puts social and emotional skills on equal footing with academics.
Not usually. The US Department of Education booklet describes most 5-year-olds as recognizing letters and letter-sound matches and beginning to match spoken words with written ones, not reading on their own.
The Head Start framework lists naming 18 uppercase and 15 lowercase letters by 60 months as an indicator, along with knowing the sounds of several letters. Treat it as a guide, not a cutoff.
It's a family decision, but the AAP cautions that delaying isn't necessarily an advantage. Talk it over with your pediatrician and your child's preschool teacher.
Brainy Bucks: Math & Reading is an iPhone and iPad app with a short daily quest that mixes math, reading and phonics questions in 5, 10 or 15-minute options. Its content spans Pre-K to Grade 8 and is strongest from Kindergarten to Grade 4, and Child Mode shows no prices or purchase buttons, with purchases and settings behind a parent PIN. In line with the AAP's advice, keep any app time short and let the everyday activities above do most of the work; the app also suggests screen-free parent-and-child activities to help with that.
Get Brainy Bucks free on the App Store
Is Your Preschooler Ready for Kindergarten? (HealthyChildren.org, American Academy of Pediatrics)
Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five (Office of Head Start)
Helping Your Child Become a Reader (US Department of Education, via ERIC)