Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten?
Article courtesy of ChildFun.com

Children grow and mature at different rates. Not all children are ready for school at the same time.

This is a checklist of developmental skill levels based upon evidence of school readiness in children. It has been prepared with the hope that Parents will evaluate in a general way their child's overall pattern of development and readiness.

READINESS CHECKLIST

1. Will your child be 5 years when he/she enters kindergarten?
2. Is your child at or better than the following norms or averages in weights and heights?
   BOYS : Weight 40lbs. Height 43"
   GIRLS: Weight 37lbs. Height 42"
3. Can others easily understand your child when he/she speaks to them?
4. Does your child pay attention to a short story when it is read and answer simple questions about it?
5. Is your child able to draw and color a picture, beyond a scribble?
6. Is your child able to zip or button up his sweater or jacket?
7. Can your child tie a knot?
8. Is your child able to walk backwards for 5 or 6 feet?
9. Is your child able to stand on one foot for 5 or 10 seconds?
10. Is your child able to walk in a straight line?
11. Is your child able to fasten buttons he/she can see?
12. Is your child able to tell the left hand from the right?
13. Is your child able to take care of his/her toilet needs?
14. Is your child able to travel alone to and from school or to a friend's house, about 2 blocks away?
15. Is your child able to be away from his/her parents for about two or three hours without being upset?
16. Is your child able to cross a street safely?
17. Is your child able to repeat a series of 4 numbers without practice, such as "Say after me 7-2-6-3 ?
18. Can your child tell you the meaning of simple words like bicycle or tricycle, apple, gun, shoes, hammer, water, shirt and horse?
19. Is your child able to repeat 8 and 10 word sentences if you say them once-- "The girl ran all the way to the store for her mother?
20. 20. Is your child able to follow about 2 or 3 directions after being told once, such as "Bring me a book; skip around the room; shut the door?
21. Is your child able to give the last word to all of the following:
    A fire is hot; ice is ____
    A jet goes fast; but a turtle goes _____
    Daddy is a man; Mother is a ______
22. Is your child able to count 4 objects?
23. Is your child able to put together a simple puzzle?
24. Can your child tell what is missing if you draw a stick picture of a man and leave out eyes, or a leg, or an arm?
25. Is your child able to draw or copy a square?
26. Can your child name a triangle, a square and a circle when he/she sees it?
27. Can your child name about 3 or 4 colors to which you point?
28. Can your child fell you what his/her eyes, ears and mouth are used for?
29. Is your child able to tell you in what way a sweater, shoe and hat are the same?
30. Does your child take an interest in the books and magazines that are around the house?
31. Have you attempted to create in your child the idea of looking forward to school experiences rather than fear of school?

RESULTS:

Count the number of items you were able to answer with a "YES" response. Consult the table below for information relative to state of readiness for school.

Number of items answered "Yes" should be 28 to 30 (readiness assured)
Number of items answered "Yes" should be 24 to 27 (readiness probable)
Number of items answered "Yes" should be 20 to 23 (readiness questionable)
Number of items answered "Yes" should be ?6 to 19 (Readiness doubtful)
Number of items answered "Yes" should be 15 or below (readiness Unlikely)

~Please keep in mind these are simply guidelines. If you have any concerns about your child's well being or readiness for school, contact your school, pediatrician or other qualified professional.