This is an in-depth guide to the kindergarten readiness indicators. It helps you know what to look for when you observe a child and gives you a place to write down your observations. The guide also includes some ideas for skill-building activities for each skill that can be done with a child who needs some help.

The information that you write in this guide can be very helpful to you, the child’s parents, and the child’s new kindergarten teacher. It is set up to be one tool that you can use to monitor a child’s progress and have something to pass on to parents and kindergarten teacher. The developmental areas covered in this guide are:

• Language Development
• Learning and Thinking
• Beginning Reading
• Beginning Writing
• Numbers and Counting
• Physical Development
• Social and Emotional Development

In this guide, each page has three columns:

Column 1 lists the Kindergarten Readiness Indicators. Each indicator is followed by a few examples of what to look for when you observe a child.

Column 2 is where you should note your own observations of a child with specific examples of what you observed, or concerns that you may have.

Column 3 lists a few activities for each indicator that you can do with the children to help strengthen particular skills.

Remember: This guide is not a test and no child is expected to have mastered all of these skills before entering kindergarten. This is a guide to help you see all of the things that a 4-year-old can do, and to become an active partner in assuring success in school for every child.

Download the Observation and Activity Guide