Riverdale Kindergarten Admissions

If Riverdale Country School is your first choice for your child, here are some tips to prepare for Riverdale kindergarten admissions!

• Fine motor skills matter 

  • At a Riverdale interview, children may be asked to color a picture of a falcon, write their name, manipulate a magnetic toy fishing rod, and draw a picture – maybe of a robot! If your child has difficulty holding a pencil or crayon, this is a great time to build writing finger strength. 

• Storytime at the Riverdale Playdate

  • Storytime will be held during the playdate. Make sure your child has the skills to attend and understand stories, listen to comments made by their peers, make connections, answer critical thinking questions, and define vocabulary words. Check out some book recommendations. 

• Riverdale may assess all standard kindergarten interview skills 

  • These skills may include memory, math and number skills, communication/language, early reading, rhyming, sequencing, patterning, and following directions. You can explore a thorough list on the NYC Kindergarten Prep page under Areas of Focus in Kindergarten Prep.

• Riverdale requires the FLI test for kindergarten admissions

  • Follow these links to learn more about the virtually administered First Look Insights/FLI test, which assesses various academic skills:
    • Following Directions: Kindergarten Interviews & FLI Test
    • FLI Test & Kindergarten Interview Patterning
    • FLI Assessment and Kindergarten Interview Prep
    • FLI Assessment
    • What Are Sight Words?
    • Kindergarten Interview Math
    • Tips for Virtual Kindergarten Admissions Testing and Interview Days
    • Getting Ready for NYC Kindergarten Admission Assessments

What’s the good news? All the skills assessed at the Riverdale interview are important for your child to be proficient in because they are foundational skills for thriving in kindergarten. 

Improve your child’s chances of getting into Riverdale by having them strengthen their kindergarten skills with an expert! Stephanie has a long track record of success in helping children with kindergarten admissions. If you have concerns or want to polish your child’s potential performance at Riverdale or other kindergarten admissions interviews, please fill out the form at the bottom of this page. You can also email Stephanie Sigal at sigalstephanie@gmail.com. 

Good luck!