Kindergarten In The US: Important Things To Keep In Mind
Kindergarten is generally the name given to the school for toddlers, i.e., children ranging from three to five. A kindergarten is considered the first step on the ladder of formal education for young children. It helps develop basic skills in the young students to prepare them to enter the first grade. These skills include basic social and communication skills like greeting, asking for an excuse, and explaining and expressing their feelings clearly to their elders. This development is done via instilling certain qualities into the children through the medium of games, recreational activities, music, dance, art, craft, etc.
Why is it called kindergarten?
Friedrich Froebel first coined kindergarten as a term. He had set up the first kindergarten in Blankenburg, Prussia, in 1840. Before the establishment of a kindergarten by Froebel, children below the age of six or seven did not attend school. They were deprived of basic skills as they entered the first year of schooling.
The word kindergarten comes from the German language, which can be translated as a garden for children as kinder in German means children, and Garten in German means a garden. Froebel used the term kindergarten for the school he set as he thought of small children as budding and blooming flowers that need care and that they are so varied in their appearances and abilities that they seem vibrant alone. It would be much more glorious and memorable if they were seen and cared for in a community that only comprises them.
Froebel believed the children could be taught well by only guiding them and not pressuring them to grow and flourish in a specific direction. He stated that just like a flower, you can only water and take care of it and see it bloom on its own. A child can also turn out to be exuberant by giving in a bit of guidance and care. To accomplish his objective of equipping small children with essential qualities they would need in the early years of their education and life.
Kindergarten in the US
Preschool programs in the United States are a part of the primary education or elementary school process of the United States that is designed for the first seven to nine years of education of young children. Kindergarten is the first year of formal education in America. It is generally attended by young children of the age of four or five. Some states in the United States, like Florida, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Alabama, etc., have made it mandatory for a child to be enrolled in a pre-kindergarten before entering kindergarten. Pre-kindergarten, also known as Pre K is a step in the primary education process before the child is admitted to a kindergarten. After completing kindergarten, which ranges from two to three years, the child is transferred to the elementary school, which starts from the first grade and lasts up to the sixth grade, after which the student proceeds to middle school, high school, and then eventually college.
The widespread setting of a kindergarten classroom is generic. It has a few students in one classroom to avoid hassle and for the teacher to pay close attention to every student in the class. The school hours are usually less as there is not much of a serious syllabus or curriculum to be completed. The class has different activities grouped under several topics of common interests, such as etiquette, primary language (both written and spoken), and first-hand social and communication skills. A teacher or two is appointed for one class involved in every activity with the students and closely monitors and supervises their progress.
While there are school chains with classes ranging from kindergarten to high school, a different kindergarten or primary school for young students is a good and vibrant option to consider while choosing a kindergarten for your child. A premise solely dedicated to toddlers and young children shapes the best environment for a new one to join as they would not feel alienated amongst children of the same age and attributes. Kindergartens are generally made and designed so that the children are not bored and are easily distracted in times of need. Due to this reason, you may find that all the walls of a kindergarten are brightly colored with various children-friendly graffiti on the walls, a swing or two every 50 meters, and regular fun and recreational activities so that the children enjoy coming to kindergarten.
Activities in a kindergarten
A kindergarten exposes your child to the basics of almost every activity that they might encounter in elementary school. A kindergarten is well equipped with language, dance, music, art, sports, and other co-curricular activities. Teachers provide a fair environment for your child to try their hands on everything they enjoy doing. This helps broaden the child's horizons and develop his neuro skill set. A kindergarten school has activities for the toddlers pre-decided and follows the curriculum for the best possible experience for your child. Many such activities include:
- A reading session where the teacher reads a story or poem to the children to enhance their interpretation abilities.
- Group work in craft to instill a sense of teamwork.
- Even a sports activity.
Apart from these, the students are also taught basic manners and etiquette by using fun and engaging activities, including role-play with stuffed toys and animals, painting, skits, etc.
A kindergarten school uses the Activity Based Learning (ABL) technique, wherein a child is allowed to learn at his own pace and comfort with the use of supervised activities that are proven to enhance the basic motor skills of toddlers. These activities can be beneficial as they monitor the supervisor based on the child's language, communication ability, speech, understanding, empathy, sympathy, etc.
Importance of kindergarten
Kindergarten education provides a holistic and all-rounder development of basic skills and abilities into a mature toddler. These skills and abilities include teamwork, interacting with peers, how to present oneself socially and ethically, basic etiquette and manners, and being independent. Apart from these, students also learn a few numeracy and literacy basics that help them to expand their minds and delve their brains into what they are going to study from the first grade onwards, which helps to build a strong foundation for them so that they face little to no problems in encountering the challenges of elementary school.
Froebel was the first man to understand that the important development of a child before they enter elementary school cannot take place at home. Thus a separate institution where the development of the children can be taken care of is necessary, thus resulting in the creation of kindergartens.
What do children learn in kindergarten?
In kindergarten, a child develops various physical, social, emotional, language and literacy abilities and thinking (cognitive) abilities.
- Physical Development: This includes motor skills such as arms and leg movement. Kindergarten provides these developments in the form of playing activities like running, exercising, games that involve physical movement, etc.
- Social Development: This aids your child in social interaction. By assisting students in cooperating, including one another in activities, making and maintaining friendships, and resolving conflicts, teachers improve students' social skills.
- Emotional Development: Teachers assist students in understanding, discussing, expressing their emotions, and caring for others. They aid children in learning self-regulation, or the capacity to control one's emotions and conduct.
- Language and literacy: This involves introducing children to reading, writing, talking, and speech and improving their listening and speaking abilities.
- Cognitive skills: Teachers assist students in formulating plans, promote discussion and in-depth thought about concepts, and involve students in decision-making.
Conclusion
As discussed extensively, kindergarten is crucial for developing your young child. Thus it makes the admission of a toddler into a kindergarten preschool an utmost necessity. Many states have passed an ordinance to make the kindergarten schooling of every individual mandatory, keeping in mind the benefits it brings to the minds and thinking of a child at such an early stage. As Froebel said, children are like flowers. They will bloom when they are provided the right environment and the proper amount of care and affection. For this, kindergartens are the best place as their environment is designed so the child will never feel terrified. Instead, the environment will always encourage them in their endeavors and instill a sense of security and confidence into your child. For more information in the education and development sector, do not forget to keep track of content on Educationalcraft.com!