Expressing Needs & Ideas
You may hear your child:
- Tell you what they need
- Explain what they want
- Describe something that happened
- Share an idea
- Tell you when they need help
Communication Field Guide · For Families · Ages 3–5
Language Skills for Kindergarten: What Your Child Should Be Able to Communicate
Kindergarten readiness isn’t just knowing words. It’s being able to use language to understand, express, explain, ask, respond, and connect with others.
Listen for These 6 Communication Skills
Instead of organizing everything as academic skills, we organize this resource around what parents can actually hear their child doing.
Answering & Asking Questions
Kindergarten involves constant questions.
Children benefit from being able to:
- Answer simple questions
- Ask questions when they don’t understand
- Respond to who, what, where, when, and why questions
- Ask for clarification
- Participate in back-and-forth conversations
Retelling & Storytelling
A child doesn’t have to retell a story perfectly.
They may be able to:
- Tell what happened
- Describe characters
- Explain an event
- Retell part of a familiar story
- Put events in a logical order
Listening & Following Directions
This connects language directly to classroom readiness.
A child needs opportunities to practice:
- One-step directions
- Two-step directions
- Directions involving multiple pieces of information, over time
Understanding & Using Vocabulary
Instead of counting words, focus on functional vocabulary.
Children encounter words describing:
- People
- Places
- Objects
- Actions
- Feelings
- Size
- Position
- Time
- Relationships
Conversation & Social Communication
Children are learning to:
- Take turns speaking
- Listen to others
- Stay on a topic
- Respond to what someone says
- Make eye contact when appropriate
- Ask questions
- Join conversations
- Communicate with adults and peers
“Tell me about what you did today.”
Rather than correcting every grammatical mistake, encourage your child to keep communicating.
Answering & Asking Questions
Kindergarten involves constant questions. Children benefit from being able to answer simple questions, ask questions when they don’t understand, respond to who, what, where, when, and why questions, ask for clarification, and participate in back-and-forth conversations.
Try this
Instead of asking your child a series of test-like questions, use everyday moments.
At the grocery store
“What do you think we need to buy?”
At the park
“Why do you think the slide is wet?”
During a book
“What do you think will happen next?”
Questions during reading also support comprehension. See Early Literacy.
Retelling & Storytelling
A child doesn’t have to retell a story perfectly. Look for an increasing ability to:
BeginningMiddleEnd
They may be able to:
- Tell what happened
- Describe characters
- Explain an event
- Retell part of a familiar story
- Put events in a logical order
Story Challenge
After reading a familiar book:
“Tell me the story in your own words.”
Then give the child time to think. Don’t immediately fill in the answer.
Listening & Following Directions
This connects language directly to classroom readiness. A child needs opportunities to practice:
One-step direction
“Put your shoes by the door.”
Two-step direction
“Put your shoes by the door and bring me your backpack.”
Eventually, children can work toward directions involving multiple pieces of information.
Following directions isn’t simply about obedience. It’s also a language and memory skill.
Attention and memory support this too — see Social-Emotional & Executive Function.
Understanding & Using Vocabulary
Instead of saying, “Your child should know X number of words,” focus on functional vocabulary. Children encounter words describing:
PeoplePlacesObjectsActionsFeelingsSizePositionTimeRelationships
Then expand vocabulary naturally.
“The dog is big.”
“Yes! The dog is enormous. He’s much larger than our dog.”
We’re modeling language rather than turning vocabulary into a memorization exercise.
Conversation & Social Communication
Children are learning to:
- Take turns speaking
- Listen to others
- Stay on a topic
- Respond to what someone says
- Make eye contact when appropriate
- Ask questions
- Join conversations
- Communicate with adults and peers
Conversation Challenge
During dinner, ask:
“What was something interesting that happened today?”
Then actually listen. Follow up with:
- “What happened next?”
- “How did that make you feel?”
- “What did you do?”
That creates a natural conversation.
The “What Would You Say?” Game
Give your child everyday situations and ask what they would say. This isn’t a quiz and there is no score — we’re teaching children to use language as a tool.
Scenario 1
You can’t open your lunch container.
What could you say?
Possible response
“Can you help me open this?”
Scenario 2
Someone takes the toy you’re using.
What could you say?
Possible response
“I was playing with that. Can I have a turn when you’re finished?”
Scenario 3
You don’t understand the teacher.
What could you say?
Possible response
“Can you say that again?”
Scenario 4
You need help.
What could you say?
Possible response
“I need help, please.”
Growing Communication
Around Age 3
“I can tell you what I need.”
Developing communication may include:
- Expressing wants and needs
- Answering simple questions
- Using increasingly complex sentences
- Participating in short conversations
- Following simple directions
Around Age 4
“I can tell you about it.”
Developing communication may include:
- Describing experiences
- Answering more complex questions
- Retelling familiar events or stories
- Following two-step directions
- Participating in longer conversations
Around Age 5
“I can explain it.”
Developing communication may include:
- Explaining ideas
- Retelling stories with greater detail
- Answering and asking questions
- Following classroom directions
- Participating in conversations with increasing independence
These are developmental patterns, not deadlines. Children develop communication skills at different rates.
Five-Minute Conversation Challenge
1 minute · 1
Ask: “What happened today?”
1 minute · 2
Expand: “Tell me more.”
1 minute · 3
Wonder: “Why do you think that happened?”
1 minute · 4
Connect: “Has something like that happened to you?”
1 minute · 5
Reflect: “What was your favorite part?”
An easy activity parents can use anywhere.
No materials. No worksheet. No preparation.
When Should Parents Pay Attention?
Rather than expecting a child to meet every communication skill, parents may want to discuss persistent concerns with a teacher, pediatrician, or qualified professional if they notice ongoing difficulty with things such as:
- Expressing basic needs
- Understanding everyday language
- Following familiar directions
- Participating in back-and-forth communication
- Being understood by familiar adults
- Retelling or describing simple experiences
- Communicating with peers
One communication challenge doesn’t determine kindergarten readiness.
For the wider view of readiness, see Kindergarten Readiness and Developmental Skills.
Language Is How Children Participate in Learning
They use language to:
Ask questions.
Understand directions.
Tell stories.
Solve problems.
Make friends.
Ask for help.
Share ideas.
Show what they know.
That’s why communication is a foundational kindergarten-readiness skill.
Want to build these skills through everyday learning?
KinderPath gives families teacher-created learning experiences for children ages 3–5 that support literacy, language, math, developmental skills, and school readiness.