The Butler County Early Care and Education Council provides a checklist for parents of children entering kindergarten.

A child doesn't need mastery of these skills to enter kindergarten, but the skills can help a child succeed. These are some of the skills kindergarten students should learn to do.

• Use pencils and scissors

• Independently do hygiene tasks such as washing hands and using tissues

• Independently dress

• Skip, gallop, run, jump, hop, climb steps, etc.

• Handle a book properly

• Identify some letters by name, symbol and sound

• Retell familiar stories following story sequence

• Identify rhyming words

• Understand directional terms such as up, down, in, out, front, back, top and bottom

• Listen and follow two-step directions

• Speak in complete sentences

• Count from 1 to 10

• Identify basic colors and shapes

• Draw recognizable shapes and illustrations

• Demonstrate patience and maintain self-control

• Respect authority and play well with others

• Listen attentively