Preschool Readiness Checklist: Is Your Child Ready?

The short answer: Preschool readiness is less about letters and numbers and more about everyday skills: letting an adult know what they need, saying goodbye at drop-off, joining a short group activity, moving from one activity to the next and starting to take care of basic needs. No 3-year-old has all of these down. Use the checklist below to see what your child is ready for and what to practice, not as a test.

If you're reading this and wondering whether your child will be the one who struggles, you're not alone. Preschool is a big change for every child. Knowing where your child is now helps you, and their teachers, plan for a good start.

How to use this checklist

As you read each skill, sort it into one of three groups: Ready (your child does it most days), Building (sometimes, or with help) or Working on it (not yet). Most children have some of each. The "Building" and "Working on it" skills are your practice list for the next few months.

The preschool readiness checklist

Communicating

• Lets an adult know what they want or need, with words, signs, pictures or a device.
• Responds when a familiar adult says their name.
• Follows a simple one-step direction, like "Put your cup on the table."
• Shows or points to share something interesting with an adult.
• Lets an adult know when they're hurt or upset, in their own way.

Being part of a group

• Sits for a short story or song with other children, even for a few minutes.
• Waits a short time for a turn, with help.
• Follows along with a simple routine, like cleanup time or washing hands before snack.

Playing with other kids

• Plays near other children without becoming very upset.
• Shows interest in what other children are doing.
• Starts to share space and toys, even if it's still hard.

Handling changes and big feelings

• Separates from a parent at drop-off with a goodbye routine, even if there are some tears.
• Moves from one activity to the next with a warning, a song or a visual cue.
• Calms down with help from a familiar adult or a comfort item.
• Tolerates new places and people for short stretches.

Taking care of myself

• Is working on toilet training, or lets an adult know when they need a diaper change.
• Washes hands with help.
• Eats a snack at a table with others.
• Drinks from an open or straw cup.
• Helps take off a coat and shoes.

Playing and learning

• Plays with toys in the way they're meant to be used, like stacking blocks or pushing a car.
• Starts to pretend, like feeding a doll or talking on a toy phone.
• Does simple puzzles or shape sorters.
• Scribbles with a crayon.
• Shows interest in books and pictures.

Early learning skills like colors and counting come last on purpose. Preschool teachers teach those. What helps children enjoy preschool is being able to take part in the day.

What about toilet training?

Policies vary. Some preschools require children to be toilet trained, and many don't, especially for 3-year-olds. Public preschool programs for children with disabilities generally can't turn a child away because they aren't toilet trained yet. If toileting is still a work in progress, ask each program directly how they handle it, and talk with your child's team about a plan.

How to practice at home

• Practice goodbyes. Short separations with a familiar sitter or relative, with the same goodbye routine every time, make drop-off feel predictable.
• Make a picture schedule. Photos of your morning routine help your child know what comes next.
• Play "circle time." Sing a song, read a short book and pass a toy around the family.
• Use transition warnings. A two-minute warning, a timer or a cleanup song helps your child move between activities.
• Find small group play. Library story times and short playdates are a gentle way to practice being around other kids.
• Visit the preschool. See the room, meet the teacher and play on the playground before the first day.

If your child needs more support

Some children need more time or more help with these skills, especially children who are autistic or have speech, sensory or developmental differences. That's not a reason to worry. It's a reason to plan.

• Ask your school district about an evaluation at age 3. Children who qualify can get free Early Childhood Special Education through the public schools. If your child is in Early Intervention, your team will help plan this step. Read more in our guides to Early Intervention in Illinois and ECI in Texas.
• Bring your child's team in. Speech, OT and ABA goals can focus on the skills preschool asks for, like following group directions, handling transitions and communicating needs.
• Consider a bridge program. Our half-day prep school program looks like a preschool but works like therapy. Children practice circle time, centers, transitions and play with other kids, with one-on-one support built in.

Questions to ask when you visit a preschool

• How many children are in a class, and how many adults?
• How do teachers help children who have a hard time at drop-off?
• How do you handle transitions and big feelings?
• Do you work with outside therapists, and can they visit or share goals?
• What's your toilet-training policy?
• How will you tell me how my child's day went?

Common questions

What should my child know before preschool?

The most helpful skills are everyday ones: letting an adult know what they need, separating from a parent, joining a short group activity, moving between activities and starting to take care of basic needs. Colors, shapes and letters help, but preschool teachers expect to teach those.

What age do children start preschool?

Most children start preschool between ages 3 and 4. Children with disabilities who qualify can start Early Childhood Special Education through their school district at age 3.

Does my child need to be potty trained for preschool?

It depends on the program. Many preschools don't require it for 3-year-olds, and public programs for children with disabilities generally can't turn a child away for it. Ask each program about its policy.

Is my autistic child ready for preschool?

Many autistic children do well in preschool with the right support. Use the checklist to see which skills are ready and which need practice, and talk with your child's team about what kind of setting would help most. Some families start with a smaller, therapy-supported program before moving to a traditional classroom.

What comes after preschool?

Kindergarten. When your child is closer to 5, our kindergarten readiness checklist covers the next set of skills.

Checklist skills reflect common early-childhood readiness areas: communication, social skills, emotional regulation, self-care, play and early learning.