Is Kindergarten Still Good For Your Child?

The Kindergarten Program is an important part of the developmental education of children starting at age three. The Kindergarten Program is an opportunity for families to start working together early on learning skills essential for a successful academic future. As opposed to the more rigid preschool programs of past years, the Kindergarten Program allows for more individualized instruction. The Kindergarten Program incorporates family time in a fun and engaging environment.

The Kindergarten Program, designed for younger children ages five to six, is a vital transition into the elementary curriculum and an exciting extension of the primary classroom. In keeping with the Montessori educational model, Kindergarteners in the Kindergarten Program and/or the Early Stage Classroom share single classroom space, an approach that provides the Kindergarteners a chance to hone their basic academic knowledge through the social interaction they get from the group. Many parents are surprised to learn that the Kindergarten Program exists in all states in the US! This is because the Kindergarten Program is recognized as a necessary part of public education in most states. (In some states, the Kindergarten Program is recognized for later grades, beyond the age of three.)

The National Kindergarten Research Study has found that students attending kindergarten who have a good balance of both academic and social experiences have higher test scores and do better in school. The kindergarten curriculum changes from state to state, but the common core state standards remain the same. Every state now has a Common Core Math Kit, which all Kindergarten students must complete and present to their parents before they can take the final Common Core Test. The purpose of the Common Core Standards is to create a set of common, federal standards for mathematics that will be used in all K-12 public school instruction. These standards cover Algebra, Geometry, and Science; and are aligned with the U.S. Department of Education's National Standards for K-12 Education Program.

There are many reasons why the typical kindergarten class size is not large enough to support the needs of children to fulfill their academic and emotional needs. One is the very beginning of the school year, which is usually a slow time for both teachers and parents. Most teachers' first months on the job are spent waiting for their students to settle into their new classes. At this time students typically have just begun to explore and practice the concepts and skills they learned in their elementary school education. When classrooms are large, it is easy for "class room " syndrome to develop. Long waiting periods in a classroom can cause frustration for both students and teachers.

Another issue that keeps schools from fully integrating Kindergarten into the school year is the large amount of time that must be devoted to Kindergarten. A typical kindergarten class is only 20 minutes per session, making time for both reading and response activities incredibly limited. If your child enters kindergarten feeling academically lost, it can be difficult to introduce him or her to the wide variety of topics that are required for his or her advanced K-12 education. Your small child may not even feel that he or she is receiving adequate academic stimulation, and this can lead to a lack of motivation during the rest of the year.

Many families are also concerned about the negative effects that overcrowded classrooms can have on children. Children who attend a Kindergarten class where there are too many children do not get enough socialization with other kindergarteners. They may start to feel "loud and rowdy", and be unable to focus on anything else besides their own needs. Social interaction is very important in Kindergarten, and having a large class can make this not possible. Your child can still receive all of the basic social interaction that he or she needs, however, if he or she only spends a portion of his or her time in a Kindergarten class with a large group.

Another concern parents have regarding Kindergarten is that the curriculum is simply too rigid. Your child cannot learn any new skills during the first few months at school, and can become bored with classes that are too structured and boring. The only way to provide your child with an environment that is interesting is through a creative, free-form curriculum. Mixing things up from week to week can help your child develop and adapt to school much faster than if they were strictly attending classes on a fixed schedule. It can also help keep them physically fit, as they will encounter new physical activities every day, including recess, after school.

Kindergarten is a wonderful time to begin teaching your child. The program introduces him or her to the academic world, provides an opportunity to learn how to behave around peers, and introduces him or her to many different social skills. But even with all of these positive benefits, it is important to remember that Kindergarten is only one part of growing up. As your child matures and begins to enter kindergarten, it is important for you and other parents to consider whether Kindergarten is helping your child grow properly and if you should introduce other subjects sooner.

Chatswood Early Learning Centre is Learning Centre for Toodles 0-5 ages. Our Childhood and Primary School Teachers hold 4-year trained university degrees with specialisations.