Kindergarten is right around the corner for many of our students. One thing parents ask a lot is what exactly does their child need to know before stepping foot into that kindergarten classroom.

Here at Raising Arizona Preschool we do our best to prepare your child for Kindergarten. This comes through our emergent curriculum, play based learning and teachers who know what they are doing. However, we also believe education begins at home and parents can and should know where their child is at academically.

Here are 35 things your child needs to know before Kindergarten:

1. Bounces, kicks, throws and catches a ball
2. Understands concepts of in/out, under/over, on/off, front/back, etc.
3. Knows by heart and recites some common nursery rhymes and songs
4. Pretends creates and makes up songs or stories
5. Describes characters’ actions and feelings in a story
6.  Understands concepts of none, some and all and more than and less than
7. Shows interest and asks questions about objects and events observed in their environment
8. Draws recognizable shapes and simple objects
9. Explores with common musical instruments
10.  Understands that people live in different parts of the worlds and have different customs and traditions
11. Puts events of a story in order
12. Enjoys improvising or copying musical patterns
13. Recognizes basic traditions such as birthdays
14.  Able to recognize and name numbers 1-10, even when they are out of order
15. count to 20
16. count 10 objects, pointing to each one as she counts
17. hold a book and turn pages
18. write her first name
19. identify some letter sounds
20. Interacts appropriately with adults and peers
21. Puts puzzles together
22.  Tries to tie own shoes
23. Relates stories to personal experiences
24. Uses comparison words, like “bigger,”smaller,”heavier,” etc.
25.  Rides a tricycle
26. Recognize her first name
27. Recognize the letters (uppercase and lowercase) of the alphabet
28. Identify colors in an 8-ct crayon pack
29. Works cooperatively (listens to others, shares and takes turns)
30.  Sort items by size, color, or shape
31.  Tell if two words rhyme
32. Respects the rights, property and feelings of others
33.  Know parents full names and at least one parent’s phone numbers.
34. Recognize and name basic shapes: square, circle, triangle, and rectangle
35. Say or sing the alphabet

These are just some of the basic things a child should know before entering Kindergarten. The best way to prepare your child for Kindergarten is to read, read, read. Talk while they are playing, work on sorting blocks while building, count cars while “driving”.  Children learn best while moving and interacting with others. And their first and best teacher are always YOU!