What students should know before Kindergarten: A teacher’s Guide for Parents

If you’re a kindergarten teacher, then you’ve definitely been asked, “What should my child know before starting kindergarten?” It’s one of the most common questions we hear as teachers, and for good reason! Starting kindergarten is a huge milestone, and parents want to be sure their child is ready for a successful first year in school.

As teachers, we know that children do NOT need to come to school knowing how to read, write full sentences, or count to 100! But we also know there are many other social, emotional, and self-care skills that truly set future kindergarteners up for success.

Here are some of the important skills I share with parents of incoming kindergarteners. Families can work on these skills before the start of the school year (read to the end for an easy way to share these skills along with at-home practice ideas with families)!

Social & Emotional Skills

• Separate from a parent without extreme distress.
• Try new activities even if a little nervous.
• Share and take turns.
• Follow simple multi-step directions.
• Wait briefly without immediate attention or interrupting.
• Identify and talk about basic feelings.
• Use words to solve simple problems.
• Accept “no” or redirection without major meltdown.

Communication & Language Skills

• Speak clearly enough to be understood.
• Ask and answer simple questions.
• Understand basic concepts (in/out, up/down).
• Understand and give simple two-step directions.
• Use words and full sentences to express needs, wants, or ideas.

Reading & Math Readiness

• Enjoy being read to regularly.
• Hold a book correctly and turn pages.
• Recognize the title and where to start reading.
• Point to words in the text.
• Pretend to read using pictures.
• Recognize some or all letters of the alphabet.
• Know and/or spell their first name. These editable name tracing sheets are a great place to start!
• Draw a picture to express an idea.
• Count to 10 without skipping numbers.
• Match a number to a group of five or fewer items. Subitizing flash cards are a fun way to practice this skill.
• Understand “more” and “less.”
• Sort by color, shape, or size.
• Recognize basic shapes like circle, square, triangle, rectangle.
• Recognize and extend simple patterns.
• Name or point to basic colors. My students love these color activities!

Fine & Gross Motor Skills

• Use crayons or pencils with control. (Encourage children to stay in the lines when coloring.)
• Draw simple pictures (person with arms, legs).
• Trace lines and basic shapes.
• Manipulate play dough and explore different sensory items.
• Cut along lines with scissors.
• Use glue and manipulate small objects like beads or puzzle pieces.
• Buckle and unbuckle a seatbelt.
• Run, jump, and climb safely.
• Jump with feet together.
• Climb stairs.
• Bounce a ball and try to catch it.
• Balance on one foot.

My Fine Motor Mats are a great way to give students practice with pushing, pulling, pinching, grabbing, and more! Use them as a center, during morning work, or as an early finisher station.

Self-care & Independence Skills

• Use the bathroom and wash hands independently.
• Open lunch/snack containers and water bottles.
• Zip and unzip a jacket.
• Put on shoes (Velcro preferred if they can’t tie laces).
• Clean up after themselves.
• Carry their backpack and belongings.
• Ask for help when needed.

Daily ROutines

• Stay focused on a task for 5–10 minutes.
• Transition between activities with minimal frustration.
• Begin and finish simple tasks.
• Wait their turn to speak.
• Clean up when asked.
• Understand class routines like raising a hand or lining up.

If you need an easy way to share these skills with families, I’ve put together a free Kindergarten Readiness Checklist! This 9-page guide contains all of the information above PLUS actionable steps parents can take at home to ready their child for kindergarten. Just drop your information below and keep an eye on your inbox!