The following questions are indicators of children's readiness for school. The questions are aimed at four and five-year-olds and cover all areas of development. If the answers are mostly ‘yes' then the child should cope well with the transition to formal schooling.
Try to look at your child's readiness in all areas of development. Look for 70% success rate. Remember that children develop at different rates and that your child's ‘stage' is more important than his or her age.
Listening
- Can your child listen to a story and then answer questions about the content?
- Can your child remember a set of three directions?
- Can your child distinguish between sounds which are nearly the same?
Language
- Does your child usually speak in full sentences, using a range of words?
- Can your child greet people appropriately, use "please" and "thank you", and speak confidently with adults?
- Can your child maintain a simple conversation?
- Can your child describe something just seen or experienced?
- Can your child make up a story when looking at pictures?
- Does your child pronounce words clearly enough to be understood by someone who doesn't know them very well?
Emotional, social, self help
- Does your child finish what they start?
- Can your child work alongside other children without distraction? Concentrate on a task?
- Does your child play co-operatively with other children?
- Does your child separate easily from you?
- Can your child follow the rules in a group game led by an adult?
- Can your child share most toys and take turns when requested?
- Can your child accept instructions and some frustration without becoming upset?
- Is your child starting to be responsible for his or her own belongings?
- Can your child go to the toilet independently?
- Does your child know his or her full name and age?
- Can your child put on shoes and socks independently, do up buttons, wash and dry hands?
Cognitive
- Can your child recognise their first name, when in print?
- Can your child name colours?
- Can your child count small numbers of items correctly?
- Can your child name shapes?
- Can your child select a pattern which is different of three?
- Does your child enjoy looking at books?
- Does your child show an interest in the printed word?
- Can your child draw a recognisable human figure?
- Does your child understand concepts such as same, different, middle?
Fine motor skills
- Can your child use scissors?
- Can your child hold a pencil and create a drawing?
Gross motor skills
- Can your child run well?
- Can your child hop?
- Can your child climb confidently on outdoor equipment?
- Can your child catch a large ball and throw a ball with direction?
- Can your child run on tip-toe?
- Can your child walk downstairs safely?