Top Tips from a Former Kindergarten Teacher for Stress-Free Kindergarten Readiness
Kindergarten Readiness: What Your Child Actually Needs Before Day One
As parents, it’s natural to wonder: “Is my child ready for kindergarten?” With all the checklists and school expectations buzzing around, it can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve collaborated with former Kindergarten teacher and founder of Joyful Literacy Tutoring in Columbus, Ohio, Ashley Hoskins, to walk us through what kindergarten readiness really means and how you can support your child in getting there.
Learn more about Ashley and Joyful Literacy here!
1. Self-Help Skills: The Secret Sauce to School Confidence
Self-help skills give children the power to manage their basic needs independently throughout the school day. These tasks might seem small, but they play a huge role in helping children feel capable and in control. This is especially crucial in a space that is brand new to our little ones!
Essential self-help skills:
Using the bathroom, washing hands, and dressing independently
Putting on and zipping a coat
Using a tissue to blow their nose
Expressing needs clearly (e.g., “I need to go to the bathroom.”)
Opening snack and lunch containers
Cleaning up after themselves
How to support self-help skills at home:
Let your child do it themselves, even if it’s slower.
Practice lunchtime routines at home using their actual lunchbox and containers→ Can they zip the lunch box open and shut? Can they close those tupperware containers?
Give them regular chores like putting toys away or helping set the table.
Encourage independence in the morning routine → getting dressed, brushing teeth, packing a backpack.
These small habits help children feel more comfortable and less overwhelmed in a classroom full of new expectations.
2. Social-Emotional Skills: The Foundation for Learning + Play
Social-emotional development is at the heart of kindergarten success. When children can regulate their emotions, cooperate with others, and follow routines, they’re ready to participate in learning activities with focus and confidence.
Key social-emotional skills:
Recognizing and managing their own emotions
Solving simple social conflicts with minimal help
Taking turns and sharing with peers
Using manners like “please” and “thank you”
Following rules and routines
Listening and staying engaged for 10–15 minutes
How to support social-emotional skills:
Talk about feelings daily → “You look frustrated. What can we do to help you feel better?”
Model and practice coping tools like deep breathing or taking a break.
Encourage cooperative play through board games, building toys, or pretend play.
Give your child opportunities to solve problems with peers before stepping in.
3. Fine and Gross Motor Skills: Ready to Move and Create
Motor skills help children participate fully in school life → from sitting at a desk to drawing, cutting, and playing on the playground.
Important motor skills for kindergarten:
Holding a pencil with a 3-finger grasp
Drawing basic shapes (circle, vertical and horizontal lines)
Cutting with scissors
Coloring within the lines
Running, jumping, skipping, and balancing
At-home activities to develop motor skills:
Use play dough, tweezers, or lacing beads for fine motor strength.
Practice scissor cutting on thick paper or magazines.
Set up obstacle courses or balance games in your living room or yard.
Encourage drawing, coloring, and writing regularly.
4. Literacy Skills: Building Pre-Reading Joy + Confidence
Kindergarten teachers don’t expect your child to be reading on day one. But early literacy exposure builds curiosity and confidence for when Kindergarten begins.
Literacy readiness includes:
Recognizing the letters in their name
Writing their first name
Identifying rhyming words
Holding a book properly and turning pages
How to support literacy at home:
Read together every day → ask questions, talk about the pictures, and make predictions.
Sing nursery rhymes and play rhyming games.
Point out letters in signs, packages, and books.
Let your child “write” lists, notes, or their name in playful ways.
5. Early Math Skills: Learning Through Play
Young children learn math best through hands-on experiences and playful exploration.
Early math concepts to practice:
Counting to 20 out loud
Counting up to 5 items using one-to-one correspondence
Identifying basic shapes
Ordering objects by size
Ways to build math skills through play:
Count out snacks, toys, or steps together.
Sort objects by color, shape, or size.
Use math language in everyday life → “Which pile has more?” or “Can you find a triangle?”
Play games that involve matching, patterns, or simple counting.
Final Thoughts: Kindergarten Readiness Is a Journey, Not a Race
If your focus has been workbooks and flashcards, I want to encourage you to take a step back. I hope you feel relief in knowing that your child does not need to know how to add or write all the letters in the alphabet yet! While literacy and math are important, the biggest gifts you can give your rising kindergartner are confidence, independence, and emotional readiness.
Help your child practice caring for themselves, expressing their needs, and navigating social situations. These are the skills that help them feel safe, connected, and ready to learn—and everything else will build from there.
Free Kindergarten Readiness Checklist
Want a checklist to help you track your child’s progress in these areas? Download the BFA Kindergarten Readiness Checklist and use it as a guide for celebrating growth and identifying where a little more practice might help.
And remember, kindergarten is just the beginning—let’s help your child thrive every step of the way!