Pre-Reading Skills Checklist

Track the foundational skills children need before formal reading instruction begins

How to Use This

How to Use This: Work through each section and check off skills your child has mastered. 'Phonological awareness' is the ability to hear and manipulate sounds in spoken words -- it is the strongest predictor of reading success and does not require any letters or print.

Reading readiness isn't about age -- it's about whether these foundational skills are in place. Most children develop these between ages 3-6, but the timeline varies widely.

Print Awareness

Holds a book right-side up— Understands the physical orientation of printed materials.

Knows print goes left-to-right, top-to-bottom— Follows along when you point to words while reading.

Phonological Awareness

Recognizes and produces rhyming words— Can tell you 'cat' and 'hat' rhyme. Generates rhymes during play.

Claps out syllables in words— 'Wa-ter-mel-on' = 4 claps. Start with their own name.

Letter Knowledge

Recognizes and names most uppercase letters— Can point to and name letters when shown out of order.

Recognizes and names most lowercase letters— Lowercase is harder. b/d and p/q confusion is normal until age 7.

Vocabulary & Language

Uses and understands 2,000+ words (age 4-5 typical)— Vocabulary size is the strongest long-term predictor of reading comprehension.

Speaks in complete sentences (5+ words)— Oral language complexity predicts written language understanding.

Narrative Skills

Retells a simple story with beginning, middle, end— Narrative structure understanding predicts reading comprehension.

Makes predictions about what will happen next in a story— Shows active engagement and inference-making.

Most children read-ready

Ages 5-7. There is wide normal variation.

Phonological awareness

The #1 predictor of early reading success.

Reading Readiness

If your child is 5+ and most boxes are unchecked, that's useful information -- not a diagnosis. Talk to their teacher or pediatrician. Early intervention for reading readiness is highly effective.

Next Steps

Next Steps: For unchecked items, incorporate targeted activities into daily play -- rhyming games for phonological awareness, pointing to words during read-alouds for print awareness. Use the Daily Read-Aloud Tracker and the Dyslexia Early Warning Signs Checklist if concerns persist.