This report examines the prevalence of selected accomplishments and difficulties in a national sample of 4,423 children from 3 to 5 years of age who had not yet started kindergarten. The data were collected as part of the 1993 National Household Education Survey (NHES). The report focused on 2,000 children who had turned 4 by the end of 1992 and were about 6 months away from starting kindergarten. It found that more than 9 out of 10 of these 4-year-olds could button their own clothes and hold a pencil properly, and that more than 8 out of 10 could identify the primary colors by name. Only about 6 in 10 could count to 20 or recognize most letters of the alphabet, however. The report also found that more girls than boys demonstrated each of the literacy and small motor skills covered in the survey, and that Hispanic preschoolers were reported to show fewer signs of emerging literacy and to be in less good general health than white and black children. A discussion of survey methodology and data reliability is included. Two appendices provide information on interview items and regression analysis of sociodemographic risks. (Contains 75 references.) (MDM)