Clear Lists
Get the app →
Preschool Readiness Checklist
The everyday skills to notice before the first day, and what to ask the school.
A real, editable checklist below — tick, tap a line to rewrite, drag to reorder.
Tick the circles, tap any line to change it, drag the dots to reorder.
Saved in this browser. Send it to Clear to keep it on your phone.
Small daily skills are easy to overlook when you're checking readiness: washing hands, pulling up pants, sitting through a short group activity, settling after drop-off. Basal Therapies puts that activity at five to ten minutes. LeapFrog notes that many preschool teachers say readiness depends more on a child's temperament than on academic ability. This list covers social, self-care, language, motor and early learning skills for children around ages three to five. It leaves out program-specific rules, like potty training requirements, which vary, so ask the school. Treat it as a conversation guide, not a test.
Why these items are on the list
- Separates from you for hours. LeapFrog's examples are an afternoon at a friend's house or a sleepover at Grandma's. Some drop-off tears are normal.
- Follows a simple routine. Snack time, circle time and cleanup are typical. Knowing what comes next, like nap after lunch, helps.
- Follows one- or two-step directions. Something like "Put your shoes by the door" is the level to look for.
- Says what they need. Words or gestures for hungry, thirsty, bathroom and help are enough at this stage.
- Speaks so others understand. Adults outside the family should follow them at least some of the time.
- Washes and dries hands. Minimal help is the goal, not doing it perfectly alone.
- Tries dressing themselves. Attempting shoes or pulling up pants counts. Doing it perfectly isn't the point.
- Works toward potty training. Requirements vary by program, so ask the school what it expects before the first day.
- Eats a snack independently. Unwrapping a snack and drinking from a cup are the small skills to try.
- Sits for a short activity. Five to ten minutes of group time with some engagement is a good sign.
- Takes turns, even with reminders. Reminders are fine. Beginning to understand turn-taking is enough.
- Plays near other children. Watching or playing alongside counts. A shy child can still be ready.
- Recovers from mild upsets. Calming down with comfort from a trusted adult is what to look for.
- Holds a crayon or marker. Scribbling counts. Hand preference starts showing now, and Irvine Therapy Services expects a consistent dominant hand by age five.
- Stacks blocks, does puzzles. Blocks and puzzles build hand-eye coordination. Motor skills in general lay the groundwork for writing later.
- Walks, runs and climbs steadily. Stairs with a railing or a held hand are fine.
- Matches or sorts by one trait. Color or shape, one at a time, is plenty.
- Enjoys books and songs. Turning pages and being read to count. Several sources list books, and Spark's list adds songs.
- Joins in pretend play. Feeding a doll, talking on a toy phone or playing house all count.
- Visit the classroom together. A school visit helps you picture your child there and talk through a gentle start.
- Raise concerns with your pediatrician. If speech, social engagement or movement worries you, talk to them rather than relying on a checklist.
Tick things off on your phone as you notice them in daily life, and leave the rest unticked without worry. Share the screen with your partner so you're both working from the same picture.
When to use it
Useful in the months before a first preschool visit or enrollment, whenever you start wondering if your child is ready.