Don't Let The Thought Of Kindergarten Scare You: Rely On Our Kindergarten Readiness Checklist!

It's that time of year when we must make a decision regarding school placement for next fall!  We have to decide, is he ready for Kindergarten or should I place him in a T-K program?  This is a big decision and it can be tough!  My advice is to first, trust your instinct.  Next, listen to your current teacher.  Ask her opinion during parent-teacher conferences.  Thirdly, run it by your pediatrician.  If you still have doubts, come to us for a free screening.

In the meantime, take a glance at our Kindergarten Readiness Checklist.  I just shared it with a preschool teacher this morning for her to use in her parent-teacher conferences.  Perhaps it will help you feel confident in your decision.  As well, do not hesitate to call one of our therapists, who are specialists in child development, with any additional questions that you may have. We're here to ensure that your child is successful in school!

Kindergarten Readiness Checklist

A Guide to Developmental Milestones to Ensure Kindergarten Success!

Visual-Motor/Fine Motor

¨     Copies:  vertical and horizontal lines, a circle, square and plus sign

¨     Writes first name

¨     Cuts out a square

¨     Shows well established hand dominance

Gross Motor

¨     Plays on playground without the need to rest

¨     Kicks a moving ball

¨     Carries an object up and down the stairs

¨     Rides bicycle with training wheels

¨     Pumps swing

¨     Hops on one foot five times

Communication

¨     Counts objects aloud to 10

¨     Pays attention to a short story and answers questions about it

¨     Carries out a series of directions

¨     Engages in conversation and initiates questions

Cognition/Pre-Academic

¨     Matches a numeral to a group with that number of objects

¨     Identifies three shapes

¨     Recognizes own name in print

¨     Names 10 alphabet letters

¨     Utilizes drawings and letters to express ideas

Self-Care Skills

¨     Washes hands and face independently

¨     Opens packages, containers, bottles at lunch

¨     Packs and unloads book bag and hangs on hook

¨     Dresses and undresses independently including clothing fasteners

¨     Tells personal information like name, age, city and phone number

Play/Organizational Skills

¨     Follows classroom routine and rules

¨     Makes things and takes pride in work

¨     Creates games and communicates rules to friends

¨     Shares and takes turns with others

Michelle Yoder, OTR/L