Pre-K Readiness Checklist
A friendly snapshot of where your child is right now, in five everyday areas. Tap how each one is going, add notes for the teacher and print it if you’d like. There are no scores and no pass or fail.
About 10 minutes · Revisit any time
How to use this checklist
Pick the answer that fits most days right now — “Trying it,” “With help” or “More comfortable.” If you aren’t sure, skip it. You can change your answers whenever you like, and they save only on this device.
Most children starting Pre-K are still learning many of these things. Preschool is where a lot of this learning happens, with teachers who expect a wide mix. Use your answers to spot one or two things to play with at home, and to tell the teacher what helps your child.
Your child’s snapshot
Communicating can look like talking, signing, pointing, using pictures or a speech device — all of them count everywhere on this list.
My child’s Pre-K snapshot
- Trying it: Just starting to explore this
- With help: Does it with some support
- More comfortable: Does it with little help on most days
Communication
Every way of communicating counts — words, signs, pictures, gestures or a device.
Lets a trusted adult know what they need, in their own way
Lets an adult know when they need the bathroom or feel unwell
Responds when their name is called (turning, pausing, answering or coming closer)
Shares something that happened in their day — by telling, showing or acting it out
Enjoys songs, rhymes or stories and joins in with some parts
Ideas to explore: Social & emotional readiness · Listening games
Everyday independence
Small self-care jobs that make the school day smoother.
Washes and dries hands, with reminders
Uses the toilet or lets an adult know they need a change
Puts on or takes off shoes, a coat or a jacket
Opens some lunch or snack containers, or asks for help
Puts belongings in a bag or cubby
Ideas to explore: Independent dressing · Lunch & snack practice
Social skills
Playing alongside others counts just as much as playing together.
Plays near or with other children
Takes turns in a short game with an adult or another child
Notices when someone is sad or hurt
Asks to join play, or accepts an invitation to play
Separates from a parent or caregiver with support
Ideas to explore: Social & emotional readiness · Getting ready for the first day
Routines
Knowing what comes next helps children feel safe.
Follows a simple daily routine with picture or spoken reminders
Moves from one activity to the next with a warning or a timer
Sits with a group for a short story or song (wiggling and fidgeting are fine)
Helps tidy up toys
Settles for rest or quiet time
Ideas to explore: Morning routine chart · Bedtime routine chart
Early learning
Curiosity matters more than knowing facts before school starts.
Recognizes their own name or its first letter
Counts a few objects, even if some numbers get mixed up
Names or matches some colors and shapes
Holds a crayon or marker and makes marks, scribbles or shapes
Asks questions and gets curious about how things work
Ideas to explore: Letters and sounds · Numbers and counting · Fine motor activities
How your child communicates, what comforts them, what they love, and anything that helps them feel safe.
There are no scores here, and no “ready” or “not ready.” Every child has a mix of all three answers. This is a snapshot for planning and sharing — not an assessment.
Your choices save on this device only. Nothing is sent to us.
Turning your answers into next steps
Choose one or two
Pick one or two “Trying it” items that your child seems curious about, and play with them a few minutes a day. More than that can feel like pressure for both of you.
Celebrate the “With help”
Doing something with help is real progress. Hand over one small step at a time — for example, you start the zipper and they pull it up.
Share what works
Teachers love knowing what calms your child, how they communicate, their favorite things and any words they use for the bathroom or for comfort items.
Check in with a professional if you want to
If something worries you, you can talk with your pediatrician, family doctor or local early intervention team at any time. Asking early is always okay.
Sources we checked
We used these public resources to check safety, nutrition and development guidance on this page. Linking to them does not mean these organizations endorse Boogie & Bean World.