Signs Your Little One Is Ready for Kindergarten

Parents that have never sent a child to Kindergarten before often wonder if their child is truly ready. Here are some simple ways to judge their preparedness. But don’t worry if your child lags behind in one or two skills. They should catch up quickly in this very formative first year of school.

Social Skills

• Have you observed your child working in peer groups?

• Can your child successfully follow directions?

These are both foundational skills for kindergarten success. They’ll be working in groups frequently and using social skills to interact and to complete activities. From the very first day, they will need to listen and follow directions just to understand the room rules and routines.

If you’re worried your child needs development in any of these skills it’s not too late to make progress before school. Tell your child what appropriate behavior is when working in groups. Have your child focus on following directions and try a reward system for successfully following directions.

Motor Skills

• Does your child have developed motor skills (i.e. can they cut with scissors, can they hold pencil correctly)?

Some children are late bloomers when it comes to motor skills. Every child this age colors outside of the lines sometimes, but if your child cannot stay in the lines that could be a sign of late development. Your child should be able to write basic letters and numbers. If your child cannot complete this task, their motor skills may require attention. Resolving these issues may just take some extra practice at home, however if you think your child has a more serious issue consult your kindergarten teacher, that’s what they are there for.

Independent Thinking

• Is your child comfortable with independence?

Some children shy away from speaking for themselves or acting on their own. If this is your child, don’t worry. You can work on this skill by giving your child the opportunity to speak and act independently. Allow them to begin to make some simple decisions on their own for example, what to eat for lunch, and what to wear etc. They will begin to understand that decisions and working independently is needed in life.


Not all children are the same. Success in kindergarten will look different for everyone.