By the time your child is three, you’ve likely learned one big thing about parenting: it doesn’t come with a handbook. When it comes to determining whether your little one is ready for preschool, it would be helpful to have an easy answer! Starting preschool before they’re ready can be overwhelming for children, but starting them too late might lead to other delays in their development. It helps to have a preschool readiness checklist.
Preschool is a big milestone for your child, and the decision to take this step is one many parents feel a lot of pressure to get right. Here are some things to look for as you consider your child’s preschool readiness.
Is My Child Ready for Preschool?
As a rule, children are ready for preschool between the ages of 3 and 5. Some children may be ready a little earlier, and many preschools accept students as young as 2 ½. It’s important to keep in mind that every child develops at their own pace, and what may have been right for their older siblings or cousins won’t be the best choice for them.
The general consensus among preschool teachers is that your child’s readiness has more to do with your child’s physical, mental and emotional traits than anything else. As you assess your child’s development, use this preschool readiness checklist as a guide.
Preschool Readiness Milestones
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
- Independently dresses self
- Independently feeds self
- Gallops, skips, and hops
- Navigates around obstacles
- Shows left- or right-handedness
Social and Emotional Skills
- Plays and shares with others
- Follows directions and routines
- Can be away from parents
- Able to self-soothe and deal with change
- Uses polite manners (i.e., saying please, thank you, and excuse me)
Language Skills
- Understands spoken language and basic instructions
- Recognizes common words, including their name
- Uses age-appropriate language and communication
- Tells stories
- Pronounces individual sounds in words and sentences
Reasoning Skills
- Matches objects by likeness, shape, and color
- Asks and answers questions
- Takes things apart and puts them back together, i.e., blocks
- Understands that objects still exist when they’re out of sight
- Overcomes obstacles
Reading and Writing Skills
- Holds a writing tool
- Identifies letters
- Draws and scribble-writes
- Holds a book and turns pages
- Enjoys reading with others
Math and Science Skills
- Identifies shapes and basic patterns
- Counts to 10
- Thinks about how things might work
- Solves puzzles
- Curious about nature, animals, and other things in their environment
Get Your Young Learner Ready for Preschool
At Lightbridge Academy, we know exactly how to get your little one ready for preschool. Our early childhood education centers feature an age-appropriate curriculum beginning in infancy. For our smallest learners, we provide the stimulation and care babies need for healthy development. Through our interactions with your infant, we’ll also introduce them to the fundamentals of learning.
As your child enters toddlerhood, Lightbridge Academy’s curriculum meets them where they are. Toddlers never stop moving, and they’re learning about the world around them at lightning speed. We gear our toddler curriculum toward their natural curiosity, which helps encourage their development of fine and gross motor skills, social and emotional skills, reasoning, and the academic skills they’ll continue growing in preschool.
Preschool at Lightbridge Academy
If you’re satisfied you’ve ticked the boxes on your child’s preschool readiness checklist, your local Lightbridge Academy is the right place for them to learn and grow. All of Lightbridge Academy’s programs keep one thing top of mind: an engaged child learns! Our proprietary Seedlings Early Childhood Education Curriculum keeps preschoolers having fun while also developing reading, math, and social skills.
Through our theme-based lessons and enrichment programs, your little one will strengthen their emerging skills in creative arts, STEM, language, and wellness. We help children develop a solid foundation for a lifetime of learning. And we’re proud to say our methods work: According to our 2023-24 Vine Assessment, 95% of Lightbridge Academy preschoolers showed proficiency in kindergarten readiness skills.
Ready to learn more about preschool at Lightbridge Academy? Experience the difference for yourself – schedule a tour today.
