Is your child ready for school? Check out our Kindergarten-Ready Checklist

Starting school might still feel a long way away, but the months leading up to Kindergarten are the perfect time to gently build the skills that help children feel confident, capable, and ready for the transition to school.

The good news is that school readiness doesn’t mean your child needs to know everything before day one. Everyday play, routines, and simple activities at home can make a big difference over time.

Check out our Kindergarten-Ready Checklist and some important skills your child can start practicing in the 6+ months before school begins.

School readiness skills help children start school feeling confident, capable, and excited to learn. These skills include:

• basic academic abilities like recognising letters, numbers, and shapes

• strong communication skills to express needs and follow directions

• social-emotional skills such as sharing, managing feelings, working with others

• fine and gross motor skills like using pencils and scissors, sitting on the floor during group time, throwing and catching a ball during sports

• independence in self-care tasks like dressing and using the bathroom

🧠 Cognitive & Academic Skills

☐ Recognises own name in print

☐ Knows some letters (especially in their name)

☐ Counts to 10 or higher☐ Identifies basic shapes and colours

☐ Follows simple 2-step directions

🗣 Language & Communication

☐ Speaks in full sentences

☐ Expresses needs and feelings with words

☐ Listens to a short story and answers questions

☐ Understands basic concepts (big/small, up/down, in/out)

✍️ Fine Motor Skills

☐ Holds a crayon or pencil correctly

☐ Draws simple shapes or a person

☐ Uses scissors (to snip, cut along a straight line)

🏃 Gross Motor Skills

☐ Runs, jumps, and climbs confidently

☐ Throws and catches a ball

☐ Sits still for 5–10 minutes

❤️ Social & Emotional Skills

☐ Separates from caregiver with minimal distress

☐ Takes turns and shares

☐ Follows classroom rules

☐ Manages big feelings with support

☐ Tries new activities

🧼 Self-Help & Independence

☐ Uses the bathroom independently

☐ Washes hands

☐ Eats independently

☐ Cleans up toys

☐ Puts on coat and shoes

☐ Opens containers/packages and manages zippers/buttons

Every child develops at their own pace, and that’s okay 💛 If you have concerns about your child’s readiness for school or would like some extra support building these skills, our team at Kids Inspired is here to help. From OT and speech therapy to school readiness programs, we can support your child to feel confident and prepared for their big transition to Kindergarten.