Kindergarten Readiness Checklist

• Talks in sentences
• Speaks loud and clear to express wants and thoughts
• Uses sentences that have two or more ideas
• Knows and can say some common nursery rhymes and songs (Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)
• Pretends, creates, makes up songs and stories in play
• Tells or retells stories and/or everyday experiences
• Asks questions and expresses curiosity
• Describes people, places, things and events with some details
• Uses question words (Who, What, Where, Why, How) to get help or learn more about something (Why does a giraffe have long neck?)

• Uses words to solve problems or conflicts
• Identifies appropriate solutions to a problem
• Uses words like please, thank you and excuse me
• Follows simple one and two-step direction(s) (Example: Please wash your face before bed. Please wash your face, then brush your teeth before bed.)
• Stays with an activity to completion
• Is able to ask for help
• Interacts appropriately with adults and peers
• Listens, shares, and takes turns with other children
• Participates in clean-up activities
• Is able to dress self
• Able to follow a routine/schedule for personal health, eating meals and going to bed
• Follows simple safety rules
• Able to identify emotions in themselves and others (I am upset because you took my turn. You are mad because I made a mess.)

• Looks at books or pictures on their own
• Pretends to read books by using the pictures
• Identifies the front, back and title page of a book
• Able to connect to signs and symbols within their environment (Stop Sign)
• Recognizes rhyming words (cat-hat)
• Begins to sound out words (Hop = H + O + P)
• Recognizes some common words in print
• Recognizes many uppercase and lowercase letters
• Recognizes some letter sounds
• Describes some characters and their actions by using details from a book
• Relates stories to personal experiences
• Puts events of a story in order

• Uses words to solve problems or conflicts
• Asks you to write words or notes to others
• Draws a picture about a story read or heard
• Attempts to write own name and recognizes own name in print
• Adds details to writing and/or picture with help
• Answers questions about their writing/pictures
• Copies shapes of letters when writing
• Attempts to draw series of letters to represent a word

Download English Checklist

Download Swahili Checklist

Download Vietnamese Checklist

• Read daily with your child and ask questions about what you read (In English and/or your home language)
• Give them chores around the house (Cleaning up trash and/or helping with dishes)
• Establish routines for daily events such as bedtime and meals
• Play games as a family to practice taking turns and staying on task
• Have your child practice putting items into groups by size, shapes, and/or color
• Encourage your child to be independent by dressing themselves, brushing teeth, or washing face after meal times
• Connect reading to daily experiences
• Set up play times with friends so your child can practice social skills and problem solving
• Provide opportunities for your child to play
• Have them practice repeating and following specific directions
• Have your child point and count objects to practice number sequence (Count how many apples you put into the cart while at the store)
• Talk about what school might look like

The Wichita Literacy Coalition partners with schools, organizations, and families to help more children start kindergarten ready to learn. Supported by Wichita State University’s Public Policy & Management Center, the coalition focuses on helping families who need it most.

Visit the WLC website to see a full list of partners and helpful resources for your family.

Your role in your child’s learning is powerful—and we’re here to support you! Below are fun, simple activities you can do together at home using the Kindergarten Kit you received during enrollment.

These videos show how to use the kit to build important skills before school starts—and all year long.

🎥 Need another language? Many of these videos are available in other languages. Just look for the language options or subtitles when you watch.

Thank you for being a key part of your child’s education!