Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten? NJ Readiness Checklist

What NJ Kindergarten Teachers Expect

New Jersey uses the Kindergarten Entry Assessment (KEA) to evaluate each child's readiness across five domains. Here's what your child should be able to do.

Academic Skills

Recognize most uppercase and lowercase letters

Know the sounds of at least 10 letters

Write their first name

Count to 20 with one-to-one correspondence

Recognize numbers 0-10

Identify basic shapes (circle, square, triangle, rectangle)

Understand concepts of "more," "less," and "equal"

Social-Emotional Skills

Follow 2-3 step directions

Take turns and share with peers

Express needs and feelings verbally

Sit and listen during group activities for 10-15 minutes

Recover from frustration with minimal adult help

Work cooperatively in small groups

Self-Care Skills

Use the bathroom independently

Wash hands without reminders

Put on and take off their own coat

Open lunch containers and eat independently

Manage a backpack

Physical Skills

Hold a pencil correctly

Cut with scissors along a line

Run, hop, and balance on one foot

Climb stairs alternating feet

How Preschool Prepares Your Child

Quality preschool programs — like those using the Creative Curriculum — systematically build all of these skills over the Pre-K year. Children who attend structured preschool consistently arrive at kindergarten more prepared than those who don't.

At Little Einstein's Academy, the Pre-K program is specifically designed to meet NJ Kindergarten Entry Assessment standards. Their graduates feed into Edison Township, Roselle, and surrounding district kindergarten programs.

Not Sure If Your Child Is Ready?

Schedule a free tour at Little Einstein's Academy and ask about their kindergarten readiness assessment. They'll evaluate where your child stands and what they need before September.