Kindergarten

Kindergarten is an early grade level of formal school based education Children who are enrolled in kindergarten are usually between the ages of four and six. Kindergarten is the grade level just before first grade. A child who goes to kindergarten is called a kindergartner.http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861624080/kindergarten.html While kindergarten is offered to families in most states of the United States, attendance is required in only a few states.http://www.cga.ct.gov/2000/rpt/olr/htm/2000-r-0565.htm Kindergarten is offered in different ways in different areas. It is sometimes offered every day or every other day or half days.

In the past, kindergarten was seen mainly as a transitional bridge from home life to school life for the child. Much of a child’s time was spent on arts, crafts, having stories read to them and playing. However in more recent years, the skills taught in kindergarten have risen to a higher level.http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Pre_Kindergarten_Reading_Skills/ While each state has its own academic standards for school, there is a basic curriculum that students will learn at this grade level. Subjects will include science, social studies, arts, reading, writing and math.http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Falling_Love_with_School_What/

Friedrick Froebel became known as the Father of Kindergarten as he developed the first kindergarten in Germany in 1837.http://www.froebelweb.org/web2003.html The first kindergarten was opened to help children of poor families and children with special needs. The kindergarten and nurseries of the time started to use Froebel’s theories about children learning through play. By 1872, kindergartens were recognized by the National Education Association. The first kindergarten in the United States was opened in Watertown, Wisconsin by 1873.http://www.nd.edu/~rbarger/www7/kindergarten.html