• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Preschool.org

Preschool.org

The one-stop resource for preschool parents, teachers, directors, and owners!

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • TikTok
  • Play & Learn
    • Curriculum & Lesson Plans
    • By Activity
    • By Alphabet
    • By Bible Story
    • By Book
    • By Celebration
    • By Holiday
    • By Month
    • By Season
    • By Skill
    • By Theme
  • Milestones
    • 2 Year Old
    • 3 Year Old
    • 4 Year Old
    • 5 Year Old
    • Developmental Delays
    • Growth & Development
    • Special Needs Children
  • Parent
    • Behavior Guidance
    • Everyday Life
    • Family Life Events
    • Going to Kindergarten
    • Going to Preschool
    • Homeschool Preschool
  • Teacher
    • Classroom Management
    • Classroom Setup & Layout
    • Daily Schedule
    • Field Trips & Events
    • How to Teach
    • Learning Centers
    • Parent Communication
    • Requirements to Teach
    • Teacher’s Lounge
  • Director/Owner
    • Administration
    • Enrollment
    • Funding
    • Management
    • Marketing
    • Parent Communication
    • Programs
    • Sell a Preschool
    • Staffing
  • Online Preschool
    • Start an Online Preschool
    • Teach Online Preschool
  • Start A Preschool
    • Do I Need to Be Licensed?
    • How Do I Sign Up Students?
    • How Do I Start a Preschool?
    • What are the Requirements?
    • What is a Preschool?
    • Who Can Start a Preschool?

7 Signs Your Preschooler is Ready for Kindergarten

July 8, 2021 by Danielle Whitefield

20

SHARES
Share This!
Save This!

Your child had their first year of preschool, and now you have to decide if they would benefit from a second year of preschool, or if they’re ready to go to kindergarten. We understand that choice can be difficult, unless you understand the signs that your preschooler is ready for kindergarten.

Happy little boy creating little houses with colorful blocks

1. HANDLES SEPARATION

If your preschooler is handling separating from you for their preschool classes well, then they can likely handle a day of kindergarten. If your preschooler is having a harder time with goodbyes, here are some tips to make drop offs go a little more smoothly.

  • Let your child bring a favorite item from home to school with them. A stuffed animal, blanket, or anything that brings them comfort.
  • Encourage your child to socialize with a classmate. Maybe they could show them their favorite item they brought from home, and ask what their classmates favorite item at home is.
  • Tell your child before you leave. Sneaking out of the room may scare your child and make the situation worse.
  • Create a goodbye routine. We suggest squeezing in as many hugs as possible.

2. TAKES TURNS/SHARES

Being able to take turns and share are important skills in being able to interact peacefully with classmates. Whether your preschooler likes to play alone, or they’re a social butterfly, to be successful in kindergarten they have to treat others with kindness and respect.

To keep sharing fresh on your child’s mind, check out Scholastics list of books to encourage sharing, there’s one for every day of the week!

3. COMMUNICATES NEEDS

It’s important that a kindergartener is able to communicate their needs to adults other than you. If your child was homeschooled for preschool, it may be harder to know if they communicate well with others, so it’s important to encourage them to socialize with any adults in their life.

A great way to help your preschooler learn to communicate their needs to other adults is by encouraging them to ask another family member or friend to help them with something rather than doing it yourself. Trust us…Your mother in law doesn’t mind getting that cup of juice at all, and asking her for it is a huge step in your preschooler mastering communication.

4. EXPRESSES EMOTIONS IN A HEALTHY MANNER

Even adults slip up on this one now and then…so we expect no better from a preschooler. That being said, your preschooler needs to be able to express themselves without violence at all times.

Children need to be able to understand their feelings in order to express them…Head over to Kiddie Matters for some great ways to teach your preschooler about their feelings, then be sure to check out Pre-k Pages for a list of great books to keep the learning going.

5. CAN COMPLETE A TASK

It’s important that your preschooler is able to complete an entire art project, sit through an entire story, and focus on a lesson. Teachers understand that a kindergartener’s attention span is typically no longer than 20 minutes, so if your preschooler can focus on a task for 10-20 minutes they are headed in the right direction!

Check out these tips from Oxford Learning to help with your preschooler‘s focus at home and in the classroom.

6. HAS INDEPENDENT BATHROOM SKILLS

By kindergarten children will be expected to be able to go to the bathroom on their own. This means being able to re-dress themselves, and wash up as well. If your preschooler still has a tendency to come wandering out of the restroom, pants around ankles, asking for help…then check out these great tips for teaching your child to dress themselves.

Then head over to 123 Homeschool 4 Me for fun songs and activities to remind your preschooler about the importance of washing their hands.

7. UNDERSTANDS SOME BASIC ACADEMICS

If you asked your child what preschool was all about they might say it was about having fun and playing, and they’d be completely correct! Though it all seems like fun and games, there’s also a ton of learning being snuck in there. If your preschooler can do these things before kindergarten, things will go more smoothly for everyone.

  • Groups like objects
  • Speaks in full sentences
  • Recognizes rhyming words
  • Knows primary colors
  • Knows numbers 1-10
  • Uses comparison words
  • Recognizes most letter and their sounds
  • Attempts to write name
  • Asks questions
  • Knows common animal facts
  • Knows several shapes and can draw them
  • Can read some 2-3 letter words

If your preschooler doesn’t do all of these things before kindergarten it doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t ready. Every child learns at a different pace, but these are important skills to work on in order to be able to advance academically.

20

SHARES
Share This!
Save This!
Category: Going to Kindergarten
Previous Post:Social and Emotional Milestones for 4-Year-Olds
Next Post:Does My Preschooler Have Autism?

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sidebar

Popular Posts

Start A Preschool: The Complete 50-Step Guide for Local and Online Preschool

preschool license

Preschool License: Complete Guide for All 50 States

YOURS FREE! 4 Weeks of Preschool Curriculum!

So easy to follow… anyone can teach preschool with just 5 minutes of prep time! YES, even you!

PRESCHOOL.ORG supports those serving preschoolers by putting every resource they need in one place so they can save time and money. We are the one-stop resource for preschool parents, teachers, directors, and owners with 700+ articles on parenting tips, teacher strategies, business info, and (our fav) the “50 best” preschool activities for every preschool theme! We aim to simplify preschool so everyone can understand and implement best practices. So, whether you’re raising a preschooler, teaching preschoolers, running a program that serves preschoolers, or wanting to start a preschool… PRESCHOOL.ORG is here to serve you!

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • TikTok

Copyright © 2021 Preschool.org · All Rights Reserved · About Us · Terms & Conditions · Privacy Policy

  • Play & Learn
    ▼
    • Curriculum & Lesson Plans
    • By Activity
    • By Alphabet
    • By Bible Story
    • By Book
    • By Celebration
    • By Holiday
    • By Month
    • By Season
    • By Skill
    • By Theme
  • Milestones
    ▼
    • 2 Year Old
    • 3 Year Old
    • 4 Year Old
    • 5 Year Old
    • Developmental Delays
    • Growth & Development
    • Special Needs Children
  • Parent
    ▼
    • Behavior Guidance
    • Everyday Life
    • Family Life Events
    • Going to Kindergarten
    • Going to Preschool
    • Homeschool Preschool
  • Teacher
    ▼
    • Classroom Management
    • Classroom Setup & Layout
    • Daily Schedule
    • Field Trips & Events
    • How to Teach
    • Learning Centers
    • Parent Communication
    • Requirements to Teach
    • Teacher’s Lounge
  • Director/Owner
    ▼
    • Administration
    • Enrollment
    • Funding
    • Management
    • Marketing
    • Parent Communication
    • Programs
    • Sell a Preschool
    • Staffing
  • Online Preschool
    ▼
    • Start an Online Preschool
    • Teach Online Preschool
  • Start A Preschool
    ▼
    • Do I Need to Be Licensed?
    • How Do I Sign Up Students?
    • How Do I Start a Preschool?
    • What are the Requirements?
    • What is a Preschool?
    • Who Can Start a Preschool?