What Should Kids Know Before Kindergarten?

Skills Your Child Needs for Kindergarten

There’s an entire matrix of skills your child needs to have before Kindergarten. But it’s not just about what they know. A big part of growing up is mastering control of their bodies, including gross and fine motor skills. Kids will also gradually improve their social skills during the school year. However, before your child enters the classroom, they ideally have a foundational set of skills and capabilities that will allow them to thrive in Kindergarten. We review these capabilities in the following section.

Remember: It’s normal for kids to have strengths and weaknesses in some skill areas. Learning new skills takes time and practice. Setbacks are normal. It’s all about progress, not perfection.

Self-Care

 
Your child’s understanding of basic self-care helps them thrive in the classroom and beyond. Before your child enters Kindergarten, they should be able to do the following things:

• Say their first and last name and age
• Get dressed independently, with occasional help with buttons, tying shoes, etc.
• Use the bathroom on their own, including wiping
• Wash their hands before and after eating, after using the bathroom, etc

 
In almost all cases, teachers cannot assist with toileting, so it’s important that your child can do these things by themselves.

Relevant Language Skills

 
Kindergarteners need to have a solid understanding of language skills for Kindergarten. Those skills include the following behaviors:

• Start and join conversations
• Retell simple stories
• Recognize rhyming words
• Speak clearly in simple sentences
• Use words to communicate needs and wants
• Recognize and point out common words or signs, including logos and traffic signs
• Follow two-step directions
• Make comparisons between objects and their relationships

 
While some students may have difficulty with sounds like “r” or “s,” most children should be able to articulate their thoughts clearly. You can help your child with this development by exposing them to various words through stories and conversations. These skills can be developed in any language your child speaks at home; they don’t have to be in the language they will use at school in Kindergarten.

Reading Readiness

 
Being able to read stems from reading readiness. It’s a critical part of child development; Kindergarten is where much of that explosive growth happens. The following milestones are a big part of preparing to learn to read:

• Reciting the alphabet
• Recognizing their own name in print
• Being comfortable holding books and paging through them correctly – i.e., with the book right side up and starting at the beginning
• An interest in reading and listening to stories
• Maintaining interest in short stories
• Recognizing uppercase and lowercase letters
• Identifying simple rhyming words

 

Math

 
Much like reading, math is a core skill. While they may not need to add and subtract just yet, you can help them get ready for it by practicing the following concepts:

• Counting from one to 10 (or more)
• Identifying common shapes, including triangles, circles, and squares
• Matching a group of five or fewer items to a number
• Being familiar with the concepts of “adding” or “taking from” 
• Developing comfort with the concepts of less and more than
• Arranging three items in order, like smallest to biggest

 

Gross Motor Skills

 
Kindergarten involves a lot of running and playing, which makes physical development a large part of school. These skills help them as they navigate the school, including during P.E. and recess:

• Running
• Hopping on one foot
• Jumping with their feet together
• Bouncing and catching balls
• Throwing and kicking balls
• Climbing stairs
• Riding a tricycle

 
Play strengthens large muscles that help develop coordination and balance. Physically active kids are healthy kids!

Fine Motor Skills

 
Fine motor skills involve the smallest muscles in the hands and fingers. Using them to cut, draw, and manipulate objects is important. Your child should have exposure to the following skills:

• Using scissors to cut paper
• Putting together simple puzzles
• Correctly gripping pens, pencils, markers, or crayons
• Copying shapes like circles, triangles, or straight lines
• Building towers with blocks
• Attempting to do buckles, buttons, zippers, or shoelaces

 

Social and Emotional Skills

 
Children grow a lot in Kindergarten, and that includes socially and emotionally. The following skills will help them develop their character and become more confident:

• Peacefully separating from their “grownups,” such as parents or guardians
• Paying attention for at least five minutes without interruption
• Comfort using phrases like “please,” “excuse me,” and “thank you”
• Starting and completing simple activities
• Comfort asking for help
• Showing respect to peers, including taking turns and sharing
• Offering to help others
• Respecting adults
• Following routines
• Cleaning up after playtime
• Responsibility for belongings
• Trying new activities

 
Many behaviors help kids thrive in the Kindergarten classroom and beyond. However, developing these skills will help them become well-rounded adults.

Holistic Skills Development in Kindergarten

Because Kindergarten provides the foundation for lifelong learning and development, Success Academy has crafted a curriculum prioritizing holistic skills development. We understand the profound importance of these years and educate your child accordingly.

Children who attend Kindergarten at a Success Academy school aren’t just introduced to basic academic concepts. They’re immersed in activities to foster their social, emotional, and physical growth. Interactive lessons help your student develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Our programs cultivate a lifelong love for learning. In addition to the academic pieces of the puzzle, we heavily promote creativity and expression through extracurricular activities that focus on whole child development: physical education and fine arts programs.

Finding the Right Kindergarten Program for Your Child

Preparing your child for Kindergarten is important. However, selecting a Kindergarten classroom that will allow them to thrive is equally vital to their development. Success Academy’s Kindergarten charter school programs provide your child with a learning environment to support their passions and growth.

With more than 50 charter school locations throughout New York City, Success Academy’s K-12 education program supports your child throughout their entire elementary, middle, and high school journey. To learn more about the difference Success Academy can make to your child’s learning, schedule a virtual tour or visit during one of our open houses. If you already know Success Academy is the right choice for you, you can apply now for next school year.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I help my child develop early literacy and math skills?

 
One of the most important things you can do with your child before Kindergarten is to read every day for at least 20 minutes! In addition, let them see you engaged in the act of reading. To encourage early math skills, you can focus on activities that focus on basic concepts like counting household items, building projects like blocks, and familiarizing them with shapes.

2. When should I start getting my child ready for Kindergarten?

 
New York’s education laws dictate that all children between ages six and 16 attend school. Kids who reach age five by December 31 must attend Kindergarten in the state. You should start preparing your child for Kindergarten about a year in advance. Focus on social, emotional, and academic readiness through play and structured activities.

3. How can I tell if my child is ready for the academic expectations of Kindergarten?

 
Many things are helpful for a child to know before they step foot in a Kindergarten classroom. Aside from more practical concerns (such as bathroom hygiene), your student should have a well-defined set of language, reading readiness, and math skills. Every child grows and learns at different rates, so it’s normal for your child to be better at some skills than others. The goal is progress — not perfection.

4. Are there any free or low-cost resources to help prepare my child for Kindergarten?

 
There are countless resources for parents to help prepare a child for Kindergarten, including online and throughout the city. The New York Public Library offers several early literacy guides and programs. The Long Island Children’s Museum hosts a Together to Kindergarten readiness program for families who may not be native English speakers. Seek out other programs that offer books, learning activities, and parental guidance. Success Academy’s charter schools are dedicated to helping children get the best education possible, and provide everything a student needs for the semester, from uniforms to books. 

5. What should I do if my child seems anxious or hesitant about starting Kindergarten?

 
If your child seems anxious or hesitant about Kindergarten, they’re not alone! It’s a new event in their life. Address their concerns openly about Kindergarten, including what they’ll learn and experience. Introduce similar routines and environments to help them build their confidence. You may also want to visit the school together and meet teachers, administrators, and other support staff your child will encounter daily.