Preschool Adaptive Skills Checklist [2024]

Want to know what skills your preschooler should have? Here's a quick guide to track their progress from ages 3-5.

Age	Key Skills	Examples
3 years	Basic self-care	Using spoons, putting on clothes, washing hands
4 years	Social skills	Sharing toys, playing with others, following rules
5 years	Complex tasks	Writing name, using scissors, helping with chores

What you'll learn:

• Skills your child needs by age
• How to track progress
• When to get extra help
• Simple ways to teach skills

Quick facts:

• Most kids master basic self-care between 2-4 years
• By age 3, kids can use spoons and work big buttons
• Different kids learn at different speeds
• No need to compare - focus on progress

Want to make skill-building fun? The Kidtivity Lab app turns learning into games.

Red flags? Talk to your doctor if your child:

• Can't do basic self-care by age 4
• Struggles with speaking clearly
• Has trouble playing with others
• Shows big delays in multiple areas

Related video from YouTube

Basic Skills Every Preschooler Needs

Here's what your preschooler needs to know - and how you can help them learn it.

Taking Care of Themselves

Skill Area	What Kids Should Learn	Age to Start
Hygiene	Hand washing, teeth brushing, face washing	2-3 years
Dressing	Putting on clothes, working with buttons and zippers	3-4 years
Eating	Using spoons, drinking from cups, cleaning up after meals	2-3 years
Bathroom	Using toilet, wiping, washing hands after	3-4 years
Sleep	Following bedtime routine, staying in bed	3-5 years

Want to teach these skills? Break them down into tiny steps. Take hand washing: "First we turn on the water, then we get our hands wet..." You get the idea.

Getting Along with Others

Your kid needs to learn the basics of playing nice:

• Share stuff
• Use "please" and "thank you"
• Listen when friends talk
• Wait for their turn
• Help others
• Express their feelings

Here's a pro tip: Set up small playdates with 2-3 kids. It's the perfect way for your child to practice these skills without getting overwhelmed.

Everyday Tasks

Task	How to Help
Cleaning up toys	Make it a game with a timer
Putting away clothes	Use low drawers and hooks
Helping with simple chores	Give specific jobs like feeding pets
Finding belongings	Label storage spots with pictures

Speaking and Understanding

By ages 3-5, your kid should be able to:

• Ask when they need help
• Follow simple 2-3 step directions
• Say what they want
• Answer basic questions
• Use words (not actions) to fix problems

Want a quick win? Make eye contact when giving directions and have your kid repeat them back to you.

The Kidtivity Lab app turns all these skills into fun games and activities. But here's the thing: every kid develops at their own pace. If your child struggles with multiple skills for their age, chat with their doctor or teacher about it.

What to Expect at Each Age

Let's break down what kids can do at ages 3-5. Think of these as general guidelines - every child moves at their own pace.

3-Year-Olds: Skills and Growth

At 3, kids are like little explorers testing out their independence.

Skill Area	What They Can Do
Self-Care	- Uses a fork to eat - Puts on loose clothes - Follows basic safety rules (avoiding hot objects)
Social	- Joins other kids in play - Calms down within 10 minutes at drop-offs - Starts simple conversations
Communication	- Asks "who", "what", "where", "why" questions - Says their first name when asked - Most people understand their speech
Motor Skills	- Draws circles after seeing examples - Strings large beads or macaroni - Uses basic art supplies

4-Year-Olds: Skills and Growth

By 4, kids start showing more independence and imagination.

Skill Area	What They Can Do
Self-Care	- Serves food with supervision - Pours drinks - Unbuttons clothes - Uses bathroom with little help
Social	- Makes up pretend games (teacher, superhero) - Asks to play with specific friends - Helps others who are sad or hurt
Communication	- Uses 4+ word sentences - Knows parts of songs and stories - Talks about daily events - Names colors
Motor Skills	- Catches large balls - Holds pencils correctly - Draws people with 3+ body parts

5-Year-Olds: Skills and Growth

At 5, kids are getting ready for bigger adventures like school.

Skill Area	What They Can Do
Self-Care	- Helps with house chores - Starts learning to tie shoes - Uses scissors safely
Knowledge	- Knows home address and phone number - Writes first name - Knows the alphabet
Physical	- Jumps rope - Walks backward - Stands on one foot for 5+ seconds
Drawing	- Makes triangles and diamonds - Draws people with 6+ body parts

Here's what you need to know:

• Each child develops differently - that's normal
• Between ages 4-5, most kids know 1,000-2,000 words
• Baby teeth usually start falling out around age 5
• Focus on progress, not perfect timing

Think of these milestones as rough guides, not strict rules. What matters most? That your child keeps learning and growing.

How to Help Children Learn

Fun Ways to Practice Skills

Kids learn best through play. Here's how to mix learning into everyday activities:

Activity Type	What to Do	Skills Learned
Kitchen Tasks	Let kids pour drinks, measure ingredients, set the table	Pouring, measuring, organization
Getting Dressed	Use clothes with different fasteners (buttons, zippers)	Fine motor skills, independence
Clean-up Games	Make a 5-minute cleanup race with music	Organization, time management
Memory Games	Play card matching games	Focus, memory
Art Projects	Paint with vegetables, build with blocks	Motor skills, creativity

Want a shortcut? The Kidtivity Lab app creates custom activity plans based on your child's age and interests.

Setting Up Learning Spaces

Your home can be a learning playground. Here's how to set it up:

Area	Setup Tips	Purpose
Kitchen	Keep child-safe dishes in low cabinets	Self-feeding skills
Bathroom	Install step stools, keep supplies within reach	Self-care routines
Bedroom	Use labeled bins for toys, low clothing hooks	Organization skills
Play Area	Create stations for different activities	Independent play
Entry Way	Set low hooks for coats, shoe spot markers	Daily routines

"The more possibilities we offer children, the stronger their drive to learn becomes." - Loris Malaguzzi

Make it work:

• Add 5-10 minutes to tasks for independent practice
• Split big tasks into small steps
• Put items where kids can reach them
• Use pictures as guides
• Make cleanup a daily habit

Remember: The goal isn't perfection. It's about giving kids chances to try, fail, and learn on their own.

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Checking Progress

Here's how to track your child's development without making it feel like a test:

Ways to Check Skills

You don't need fancy tools to see how your child is doing. Here's what works:

Method	What to Watch	How Often
Daily Tasks	Getting dressed, eating, cleaning up	Every day
Social Skills	Playing with others, sharing, taking turns	2-3 times per week
Physical Skills	Running, jumping, using scissors	Weekly
Communication	Speaking clearly, following directions	Daily
Problem-solving	Puzzles, sorting objects, basic counting	2-3 times per week

Watch your child during normal play and daily activities. Don't compare them to other kids - focus on their own growth instead.

Keeping Records

Pick the tools that work best for you:

Tool Type	Best For	Features
CDC Milestone App	Daily tracking	Age-based checklists, photo/video storage
Progress Journal	Detailed notes	Written observations, dated entries
Skills Chart	Visual progress	Weekly/monthly skill checkoffs
Photo Timeline	Physical skills	Before/after comparisons
Voice Memos	Language skills	Speech samples over time

"Monitoring your child's progress will help you communicate with your child's teacher about adjusting instructional strategies." - Grace Clark, Special education attorney

Make it simple:

• Pick 2-3 days each week to jot down notes
• Group your notes by skill type
• Snap photos or videos of new skills
• Talk to teachers once a month
• Keep milestone checklists handy

Want a digital option? The Kidtivity Lab app tracks milestones and suggests activities based on your child's level.

Keep in mind:

• Skip formal testing - it adds pressure
• Use simple labels: Present (P), Emerging (E), Not Yet (N)
• Celebrate small wins
• Let your child know when they're doing well

Getting Extra Help

Here's how to spot when your child needs support and where to find it:

Signs and Solutions

Skills	What to Look For	Next Steps
Movement	- Can't run/jump smoothly - Struggles with scissors/pencils - Poor balance	Get a PT/OT evaluation
Speech	- Small word bank for age - Hard-to-understand words - Doesn't follow basic instructions	Call speech therapy: 1-800-322-2588
Self-Care	- Can't dress alone by 4 - Basic care issues - Fights routines	Talk to your pediatrician
Social	- Plays alone too much - Won't share/take turns - Ignores other kids	Look into early intervention

1. Early Help Programs (Birth-3 Years)

These programs pack everything you need:

• No-cost evaluations
• In-home help
• Expert support
• School prep tools

2. School Programs

Your school can help with:

• Special ed support
• Speech work
• OT sessions
• Physical therapy

"Now with all the services that Jay Nolan can offer I can see how families are going to benefit from this." - Luz Chavez, Regional Director of Northern California at Jay Nolan Community Services

Quick Facts:

• 38% of public school kids get special ed help for learning needs
• Most early services cost nothing
• You can start without a doctor's note
• Help comes to you - at home or nearby

What to Do Now:

1. Contact your state's early help program
2. Ask for a free check-up
3. Build a plan with experts
4. Start your child's sessions
5. Keep tabs on progress

"Early evaluation and targeted intervention starts with knowing your school's referral process." - Brittney Newcomer, School Psychologist

Note: Kids need to show a 25% delay or score 1.5 standard deviations below their age group to get services.

Want to track progress? Try the Kidtivity Lab app - it matches activities to your child's level while you work with their support team.

Extra Tools and Information

Here's what you need to track your child's progress:

Key Tools You Can Use

The CDC Milestone Tracker app is your best friend here. It's free, works in English and Spanish, and lets you:

• Take photos of milestones
• Check skills by age
• Send updates to your doctor

Want more options? Here's what works:

Tool	Features	Where to Get It
CDC Tracker	Photos, checklists, doctor updates	App Store & Google Play
Ages & Stages	Quick 15-min tests, expert feedback	www.agesandstagesresearch.com
TEIS Meters	Monthly checks (0-36 months)	Family Centers

Track Progress Like This

Keep it simple. Focus on these areas:

Area	Look For	Check It
Movement	Running, jumping, scissors use	Every 3 months
Speech	Words used, clear speech	Monthly
Self-Care	Getting dressed, bathroom	Weekly
Social	Playing with others	Daily

Must-Know Terms

Skip the fancy words. Here's what matters:

Term	It Means
Gross Motor	Big moves (running, jumping)
Fine Motor	Small moves (drawing, writing)
Social Skills	Playing with others
Self-Care	Basic daily tasks
Development Check	Regular skill testing

Quick Tips

• Save all test results
• Take milestone photos
• List doctor questions
• Use Kidtivity Lab to track

Want more help? The Ages & Stages program offers free tests for kids from 1 month to 7 years. It takes 15 minutes and checks 5 main skills. Plus, experts help you understand the results.

Remember: The best tracking system is the one you'll actually use. Pick ONE tool and stick with it.

FAQs

What are pre K milestones?

Pre K milestones show what most 4-5 year olds can do before kindergarten. Here's what you need to know:

Area	What to Look For
Social	- Hugs and shows care for friends naturally - Shares and waits for turns in games - Helps others when they're upset
Language	- Knows 1,000-2,000 words - Speaks in 4+ word sentences - Asks lots of questions (who/what/where/why)
Physical	- Can hop on one foot - Cuts with scissors - Makes circles, squares, and other shapes
Learning	- Points out different colors - Does what you ask in 2-3 steps - Makes up stories during play

"Parents should track these skills as their child gets ready for school." - Jane Squires, Ph.D., Expert on Early Childhood Development

Here's the thing: Kids develop at different speeds. Some walk early, others talk first. That's normal. If something bugs you, check with your doctor.

Key Points:

• 3-year-olds: Can settle down within 10 minutes when parents leave
• 4-year-olds: Start acting like different people during playtime
• Preemie babies: Might hit these marks a bit later

Want to track your child's growth? Get the CDC Milestone Tracker app - it's free and works in English or Spanish.