Kindergarten Readiness: Is Your Child Ready for Their First Year of School?
Your child's first year of kindergarten is a big step for the whole family! This new chapter is filled with exciting challenges, but as a parent, you might be wondering: Is my child ready? It’s important to remember that kindergarten readiness is not about perfection but about effort and growth. Teachers are there to support kids at any stage, but helping your child develop a few key skills before school starts can make the transition smoother and more enjoyable.
Are you new here? Welcome! I’m Miss Beth the founder of Big City Readers - a different kind of early childhood development. Children need flexibility and fun to dig in and grow as readers. I believe not all children learn from sitting at a desk most don’t! My job as an educator is to find the best solution for every child. I use the 5 building blocks of early literacy: read, write, sing, talk, and play in addition to the Orton Gillingham method which is a science of reading-backed approach that utilizes the three brain pathways through which children learn—visual, auditory, and kinesthetic.
If you’re looking for more support in preparing your child for kindergarten, I also offer an online classroom course specifically designed for kindergarteners. It covers everything from letter sounds to blending and reading words, plus introduces awareness to sight words—perfect for giving your child a head start in literacy!
So… let’s get your child (and the entire family) prepared to enter the first year of school with confidence and a desire to learn each and every day!
What is Kindergarten Readiness?
Kindergarten readiness refers to your child’s ability to navigate the school environment with confidence—both academically and emotionally. And trust me, they absolutely can! While we often think of academics like counting or reading, readiness goes beyond that. It’s about fostering independence, emotional regulation, and the ability to interact with others.
As a teacher, I believe that academic skills, while important, are not the core of what it means to be ready for kindergarten. Real readiness is about having a set of life skills that allow your child to navigate the school environment with confidence.
So, I want to shift the focus from academics to these broader skills as a way to develop your child's whole self. I promise they will learn all the essential learning benchmarks during their first year and be more than prepared academically.
The Big Picture: Your Kindergartener Is Ready!
Before we begin the specifics, I want to say first that more likely than not, your child is, or can be, ready for kindergarten!
It’s not about ticking off boxes of what they can and cannot do yet, but about supporting your child’s growth in a way that makes them feel confident and capable. Instead of stressing over every little detail, focus on providing a nurturing environment in your home that fosters their development.
Remember, the goal is to ease them into their school experience with a sense of security and readiness. They will learn all the small details over time.
The Kindergarten Readiness “Checklist”:
Follows multi-step directions (come into class, wash your hands, and then have a seat!)
Recognizes letters, rhyming, and the major shapes
Understands the basics of counting
Can use their hands to hold and use tools (such as scissors or a pencil)
Uses the bathroom from start to finish with confidence
Starts to recognize and express feelings like happiness and sadness
Plays and shares with other children
Can run, walk, sit, and play
Speaks in complete sentences
Interacts with books
Feels confident in themselves and their abilities (at least most of the time!)
“Miss Beth, I’m Worried About How My Kindergartner is Doing Academically”
First off, let’s take a deep breath. It's completely normal to feel concerned, especially as the school year starts and conferences are on the horizon. While I can’t assess your child’s progress without knowing them individually, I want to applaud you for being proactive and involved in their education. Your advocacy makes a huge difference!
To help you feel more confident in supporting your child’s reading, writing, and comprehension skills, I have two great resources that might be just what you need.
Raising Readers – A Parent Workshop
This workshop is perfect for parents who want to better understand how to teach their kids to read with confidence. Whether you're new to the science of reading or looking for proven methods, this workshop will equip you with everything you need to make teaching reading fun and effective. You’ll learn how to:
Use science-backed reading methods.
Feel confident in supporting your child’s reading journey.
Advocate for your child’s education with the right tools and knowledge.
What’s included:
A 75-minute crash course on the science of reading, simplified for parents and teachers. It’s available on-demand, so you can learn at your own pace.
Reading and Writing for Kindergartners Course
This course is specifically designed for parents who want to make sure their kindergartener is building a strong foundation in reading and writing. Whether your child is just beginning to recognize letters or already starting to read simple words, this course will guide you step-by-step through the essential skills they need to succeed.
What You’ll Learn:
Master Letter Sounds and Formation: Ensure your child is learning the proper sounds for each letter, as well as how to form letters correctly. We’ll cover both uppercase and lowercase letters!
Phonological Awareness Activities: Phonological awareness is crucial for early readers - it’s part of my secret sauce method to reading with confidence!
Blending and Reading Words: Your child will learn to blend sounds together to read simple words, starting with CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words like "cat" and "dog." This important skill will give them the confidence to begin reading independently.
Writing Activities: Alongside reading, writing is equally important. Your child will practice writing letters and simple words, reinforcing the connection between reading and writing as they grow in both areas.
Easy Ways To Practice Kindergarten Readiness At Home
Kindergarten plays a crucial role in establishing a learning foundation that will support your child's success well into grade school.
While there's a lot of learning happening in the classroom, it can be challenging to gauge exactly how much your child is absorbing - and that can be very worrisome! That's why I like to tell parents that rather than stressing about how much their child is learning in the classroom, to also focus on what you can control— dedicating 5-15 minutes each day to connect with your child at home and practice these skills with a proven method you as the parent are confident in.
By setting aside this time, you can help them master essential skills in a supportive, one-on-one setting. Here are a few simple strategies to make the most of these daily learning moments.
ABC Recognition and Rhyming:
Can your child recognize letters?: It’s great for children to recognize and name letters, but don’t worry if they can’t write them perfectly. They should understand that each letter has its own sound and identity. You can help by playing fun letter games and reading alphabet books together.
Can your child rhyme?: Did you know that rhyming is a crucial step to reading with success? It’s true (and fun to teach!) Start by introducing rhyming games and books with rhyming patterns. For example, when reading a book like “Little Blue Truck,” pause before the rhyming word and let your child fill it in. This simple activity helps them notice and enjoy the rhythm of language.
Math and Cognitive Skills:
Does your child know the major shapes? A great introduction to math is discussing shapes with your child. Use everyday opportunities to identify shapes around the house to reinforce these concepts.
How high can your child count? Another excellent math introduction is counting with your child. Just like seeing shapes in everyday life, take simple opportunities to introduce counting with your child. Snack time is an occurrence of counting, and I always recommend it to parents.
How are their fine motor skills? Look for abilities like holding a pencil, using scissors, and tracing shapes. While they don’t need to write full sentences, being able to write their name and handle basic drawing tools is a great start. Engage them in activities like drawing and simple puzzles to build these skills.
What Role Do Social And Emotional Skills Play In Kindergarten?
Kindergarten is the foundation for everything your child will learn and experience in school and beyond. To help them begin this journey, here are some tips I recommend to begin independence and create social skills to help them succeed:
Self-Care and Independence:
Can your child handle simple self-care tasks? Make sure your little one has the basics down, like using the bathroom, dressing themselves, and opening their lunchbox. While there’s always help nearby, it’s great for them to know they can handle these things on their own. Practice these skills together—it’s a fun way to boost their confidence and independence!
How do they handle hard emotions? The school day will bring on emotional ups and downs, so at home it can be great to help your child manage their feelings. If they get upset about losing a game, model how to handle disappointment by saying, “I’m sad I didn’t win, but I had fun playing.” Encourage them to express their emotions appropriately, and teach them strategies like taking deep breaths or using a "cool down" corner to calm down.
Social Skills:
How does your child interact with others? Watch how your child interacts during playdates or family game nights. Do they take turns and share toys? Can they work through disagreements? These casual play sessions are perfect for practicing social skills without too much pressure. And remember, mastering sharing and cooperation is a gradual process, so it’s okay if they’re not always perfect at sharing every toy.
Are they confident to begin kindergarten? Confidence is an amazing skill to develop at home so your child is ready to begin kindergarten with their best foot forward. Boost your child’s confidence by celebrating their efforts rather than just their achievements. A confident child is more likely to engage positively with their new environment and peers.
Are There Any Physical Skills To Work Through?
I can vouch that my job (as will be your child’s teacher) is to help my classroom have all the skills they need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond. This means not just reading and writing, but using their body to help learn to the best of their ability. Here are a few specific physical instances I teach at the beginning of each year that you can work through at home for an early start:
Physical Skills:
Can your child speak in complete sentences? Try asking your child specific questions to get them talking more. Instead of asking how their day was, you could ask, "What games did you play during recess?" or "What was the funniest part of the story?" This helps them practice speaking in complete sentences and really dive into describing their experiences.
How does your child move their body? Kindergarten is also a fantastic time for kids to explore their own body autonomy. It’s about figuring out when to sit, stand, wait, run, or just play around. Helping them understand these cues makes everyday activities and interactions a whole lot smoother and more fun!
How does your child interact with books? Teaching your child the basics of book handling, such as holding the book the right way and understanding that print moves from left to right, is a great foundation to begin kindergarten with. After reading a book together, ask them to retell the story in their own words. You can make it fun by pretending you forgot the story and asking them to fill in the details.
When in Doubt: Trust Your Instincts
Every child develops at their own pace, and it’s important to trust your instincts as a parent. Focus on providing support and encouragement in all areas of development. The goal is to ensure they feel prepared socially, emotionally, and physically for kindergarten. Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach—every child is unique, and your support will help them thrive.
If you have any further questions on how to get your child ready for kindergarten, please let me know in the comments! And to keep up with all the latest learning tips for families, check out my recent posts:
