Many parents believe kindergarten is just an introduction to school. Kids enjoy playtime, art, story time, and maybe even learn their colors and alphabet while they are at it. However, today there are many expectations for kindergarteners that are much stricter than when you probably attended kindergarten. In fact, today there is actually a set curriculum in kindergarten that must be followed and all children are expected to keep up. Most states have end of grade testing that tests the students to see if they learned all they were supposed to during their kindergarten year.

What is the Curriculum?
The kindergarten curriculum is fairly strict and as a parent of a new kindergartener you will probably be surprised with all that is expected. Parts of the curriculum include reading readiness, writing, math, science, social studies and more. Generally there are sections that the curriculum is broken into with all of the above topics being discussed within the theme.

For example, during the fall many times the topics of Halloween, Thanksgiving, pumpkins, and the like are intertwined in the kindergarten curriculum. This means stories will be read about Halloween and Thanksgiving and many of the subjects within the curriculum will include these topics. This continues with other holidays like Christmas, Valentines Day, Easter, and the like.

Also, children are taught about manners, classroom rules, the five senses, how to describe others, basic reading and writing skills, and more.

Today kindergarten includes lots of learning and is more like first grade was 15 years ago. That is why you might be surprised when your five year old comes home with homework you feel is advanced for a kindergartener. The homework really isnt over your childs head its just that you had a different experience in kindergarten and are surprised at the new expectations for such young children.

So, before you send your child off to kindergarten make sure you have evaluated the curriculum and know your childs capabilities. Its always nice to know what will be expected of your child at least a year before he/she is to begin kindergarten. That way you can focus on different topics and make sure your child is prepared. Also, you will know if your child isnt prepared for some reason and needs to be held back a year.

Dont let other parents influence you or try to tell you what to do. Instead, take a personalized approach and focus on your child, his/her potential and skills, and then see if he/she is prepared for kindergarten. You will have a happier and more successful child if he/she begins kindergarten when he/she is prepared rather than starting early and getting off to a bad start.

Posted in Kindergarten

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