How to Assess Kindergarten Readiness at Home

Part 4 in our Kindergarten Readiness Series: What parents can notice—and do—before the first day of school

The Everyday Question: Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten?

As kindergarten enrollment season approaches, many parents find themselves watching their child just a little more closely.
“Are they really ready?”
“Should we wait?”
“Does this behavior mean something?”

The good news? You don’t need a formal test or expert tools to start thinking about kindergarten readiness.
You just need to observe your child in everyday situations—and know what kinds of behaviors suggest growing readiness.

In Part 4 of our five-part series on kindergarten readiness, we walk through how to observe your child at home using the same four developmental areas used in a major 13-year study by the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD).

A Quick Recap: The Four Domains of Readiness

In Part 2, we explored the four areas used in the SFUSD study to measure school readiness:

1. Self-Care and Motor Skills
2. Self-Regulation
3. Social Expression
4. Kindergarten Academics

These areas were assessed by kindergarten teachers using the Kindergarten Observation Form (KOF) and informed by parent reports. They represent the core skills that help children participate, learn, and adapt in a classroom—not just on day one, but across their school years.

The study found that children who were “Fully Ready” in all four areas were significantly more likely to succeed academically and socially throughout elementary and high school.

What You Can Notice at Home

Below is a parent-friendly guide to observing signs of readiness in daily routines, conversations, and play. These aren’t tests—and your child doesn’t need to master all of them—but they provide insight into how prepared your child may be to thrive in kindergarten.

1. Self-Care and Motor Skills

These are the everyday physical skills that help children function independently at school.

You might see your child:

• Put on a jacket or zip a backpack without help
• Use crayons, scissors, or eating utensils with control
• Wash hands and use the bathroom on their own
• Follow multi-step instructions like “get your shoes and put them by the door”

Tip: Encourage independence with simple daily routines. These moments build both confidence and classroom readiness.

2. Self-Regulation

This includes your child’s ability to manage impulses, emotions, and transitions.

Signs to look for:

• Can switch from one activity to another without a meltdown
• Waits a turn in games or conversations
• Focuses on a task (like a puzzle or drawing) for 5–10 minutes
• Calms down with words, deep breaths, or a hug

Tip: Practice mindfulness through books or songs that talk about feelings. Labeling emotions is the first step to regulating them.

3. Social Expression

This refers to how your child communicates with others and participates socially.

You might hear or see your child:

• Ask for help clearly or explain what they need
• Greet peers or adults and show interest in play
• Understand how their actions affect others
• Join a group activity or share during pretend play

Tip: Narrate social situations and talk through how characters in books solve problems together.

4. Kindergarten Academics

These are the early learning skills that help children engage with instruction—not formal academics, but curiosity and awareness.

Look for:

• Recognizing a few letters, numbers, or shapes
• Enjoying books and understanding how stories work
• Noticing patterns, similarities, and differences
• Asking lots of questions—especially “why” and “how”

Tip: Follow your child’s interests—like dinosaurs, animals, or trucks—to build vocabulary and curiosity naturally.

Still Not Sure?

If you’re getting mixed signals—or your child is strong in one area but still developing in another—that’s okay. The SFUSD study found that only 45% of children were “Fully Ready” at the start of kindergarten. Nearly as many (44%) were “Partially Ready” and still did well, especially with support.

Readiness isn’t a score—it’s a snapshot of your child’s development. And it’s never too early—or too late—to support it.

Also worth noting: the study found that excessive screen time (e.g., more than 3 hours daily) was associated with lower scores in kindergarten academic readiness​. That’s a powerful reminder that real-world interaction matters most.

Who Can Help You Decide?

You don’t have to figure this out alone. Here are some partners you can turn to:

• Preschool or daycare teachers – They see your child with peers and in learning routines
• Pediatricians – Can assess developmental milestones and refer for early intervention
• Early childhood educators or district screening teams – Offer assessments and recommendations
• You – Your observations and relationship with your child provide context no checklist can replace

What to Do If Your Child Isn’t Quite Ready

Readiness can grow—and often does—with a little time and support. Consider:

• Creating consistent routines (meals, bedtime, transitions)
• Give attention to your child’s readiness behaviors with labeled praise
• Playing board games or group games that teach turn-taking and patience
• Practicing fine motor skills with playdough, stickers, or building toys
• Enrolling in preschool or transitional kindergarten (TK) if available
• Asking about developmental screenings through your school district or pediatrician

A year is a long time in a child’s development. The skills they practice now can pay off well beyond kindergarten.

Final Thought: You Know More Than You Think

You don’t need to be a teacher to support kindergarten readiness. You just need to be present, observant, and engaged with your child.

“Is my child ready?” is a great question. And the answers are often hiding in the little things—conversations over breakfast, time spent building with blocks, or that moment when they zip up their own coat.

Stay tuned for Part 5: What to Do If Your Child Isn’t Ready Yet, where we’ll offer more strategies, encouragement, and resources for families and children who need a little more time—or a different path forward.

Related articles and discussions on mamapedia.com:

What a 13-Year Long Study Found About Kindergarten Readiness Part 1

What is Kindergarten Readiness Really

Why Kindergarten Readiness Matters More than Age

Study Cited

Clarity Social Research Group. (2023). Examining the K–12 journey through San Francisco Unified School District: A longitudinal study of student outcomes. San Francisco Department of Early Childhood.