Skills Required at the Beginning of Kindergarten

You may want to review this list and see if there is anything else you would like to teach your child before those first days of school.

• Identify some letters of the alphabet
• Grip a pencil, crayon, or marker correctly (with the thumb and forefinger supporting the tip)
• Use scissors, glue, paint, and other art materials with relative ease
• Write his first name using upper- and lowercase letters, if possible
• Count to 10
• Bounce a ball
• Classify objects according to their size, shape, and quantity
• Speak using complete sentences
• Recognize some common sight words, like “stop”
• Identify rhyming words
• Repeat his full name, address, phone number, and birthday
• Play independently or focus on one activity with a friend for up to ten minutes
• Manage bathroom needs
• Dress himself
• Follow directions
• Clean up after himself
• Listen to a story without interrupting
• Separate from parents easily

Don’t panic if your child hasn’t nailed everything on the list — she’ll learn a lot in kindergarten. What’s more important is to wean her from relying on you to do things she could do herself, such as zipping her jacket or tying her shoes. Give her the chance to show you what she can do for herself — you might be in for a few surprises