Pencil Pocket

PreK milestones (age 3 to 4)

Almost all of PreK is play. What looks like messing about with blocks is early maths, and what looks like babbling over a picture book is early reading.

Most children do most of these by the end of the year. Being behind on a few is common and usually resolves. Nothing here is an assessment.

Written by Chaitanya Somavajhala — parent of two, and the person who writes everything here.

Reviewed by a qualified teacher: not yet. We would rather tell you that than imply otherwise. If you teach this year group, we would like your name on this page.

Reading

  • Recognises their own name in print
  • Joins in with rhymes and repeated lines in familiar books
  • Knows a book has a front and a back and turns pages the right way
  • Enjoys being read to and asks for the same book again

Maths

  • Counts aloud to ten, even if not always in order
  • Matches a number of objects to the numbers 1 to 5
  • Sorts things by one attribute — colour, size or shape
  • Uses words like more, less, bigger and smaller

Writing

  • Holds a crayon with fingers rather than a whole fist
  • Draws a closed circle and a straight line on purpose
  • Attempts the first letter of their name
  • Makes marks and says what they mean

When it's worth asking someone. Worth mentioning to a teacher or doctor if a stranger cannot understand most of their speech, or if there is no interest in books at all.

Kindergarten →

Practice

Worksheets for PreK

Free to make and print, as many as you like.