There is no single list of things your child should be able to do before entering kindergarten. And as long as your child meets the age and residency requirements, American public schools must accept your enrollment. Most children will not have already mastered every item in this quiz before starting, but these skills will give you an idea of whether your child’s skills are close to what school is probably hoping he can already do before he starts kindergarten.
Two important notes: First, this quiz is not appropriate for children under age four. Second, remember that you don’t need to drill your child on these skills. Lots of free play, along with reading out loud often and talking with your child about the world around you, are the most important gifts you can give your preschool-aged child.
Rate your child’s current abilities in each area on a scale of 1 to 3.
1: Not yet
2: Making progress
3: Consistently able