With national studies showing academic success of children in later years depends heavily upon their readiness for kindergarten, a Tyler group has developed a kindergarten readiness checklist to help parents prepare children for kindergarten.

It is important that a child entering kindergarten is ready to learn because readiness for kindergarten is highly correlated to success in elementary school, high school and beyond, Christi Khalaf, spokesperson for Tyler Area Partnership 4 Education, said.

The partnership formed a kindergarten readiness network of experts in the early childhood field that in turn put together the kindergarten readiness checklist.

“If a parent wants to ensure that their child walks into kindergarten on the first day ready to be successful, they should be able to check off everything on this checklist, Ms. Khalaf said.

There was a widespread belief among network members that parents don’t know what it means to say a child is ready for kindergarten. The checklist will help parents and early childhood centers know in a concrete way what a child should know and be able to do to be prepared for entering kindergarten, she said.

Fundamental things that are required are on the checklist.

“It’s been proven that if a child enters kindergarten behind, then the child will stay behind. It’s hard for them to catch up if they don’t have social, emotional and intellectual development that they need to have when they go into the classroom,” Ms. Khalaf said.

A lot of research show much investment in early childhood education pays off in the future for society and for the individual and for the whole community, she said.

National studies show that children who receive high quality early childhood education are 40 percent less likely to need special education or to be held back a grade. The studies also show they are 70 percent less likely to commit a violent crime by age 18.

Twitter: @Betty_TMT

 

KINDERGARTEN READINESS CHECKLIST

Children are prepared to enter kindergarten when they have mastered most of these expected behaviors for 4 and 5 year olds in the following skill domains.

 

Social and Emotional Development

Use restroom and wash hands

Leave parent easily

Follow 2 to 3 step directions

Solve problems

Ask for help when needed

Listen to teacher

Share toys with others

 

Intellectual Development

State first and last name when asked

Write first name

Know most upper and lower case letters

Know the front and back of book, which page comes first, track words left to right

Retell simple stories

Count numbers 1 to 10

Know basic shapes (triangle, circle, rectangle and square)

Sort objects by color, shape or size

Begin to rhyme words

 

Physical Development

Use pencil and scissors

Use scissors to cut a straight line

Put an 8 to 10 piece puzzle together

Bounce, kick, throw and catch a ball

Clap to a beat

Try to tie shoes

Hop on one foot

Turn pages of a book

Sit quietly for a 10-minute story

 

 

Source: Tyler Area Partnership 4 Education, Endorsed by Smith County Independent School Districts