The Kindergarten curriculum can be a formal program for which you can enroll online or you can construct your own curriculum. The focus of a Kindergarten curriculum should be on having fun while learning. The child’s natural curiosity should be a guideline for all teaching.
People generally assume that the concentration ability of preschool children is very limited. While that is true it doesn’t mean they can’t learn for a reasonable amount of time. They might get bored with one activity but can be ready to move on to a next one.
Therefore the curriculum should be very interactive. They might be busy learning numbers but then get more interested in the colors of the numbers. You can easily shift from teaching numbers into teaching colors. They learn a lot through play so even their playtime can be learning time. While they paint they can also learn colors and shapes in a very informal way.
There is, however, certain basic skills they should have before entering grade one. In some states these are required and others not. Even if it is not a requirement it will to the child’s benefit to be prepared for grade 1.
Cognitive Skills
This has to do with the child’s ability to process information. Counting and reading are cognitive skills. These skills are not automatic and must be learned.
Language Skills
The first language skills children learn are oral skills. They first learn to listen and understand before they can verbalize words, phrases and sentences themselves.
Movement Skills
Children’s gross motor skills develop first and then they learn fine motor skills. Fine motor skills would include the correct handling of a pen or pencil and children should be able to do this after kindergarten.
Self help skills
Children in Kindergarten need to know how to care for themselves. Basic things like getting dressed, tying shoelaces and packing toys away should be skills children are very comfortable with by the end of Kindergarten.
Social skills
Sharing with other children is a basic skill that should come naturally by now. They should be able to control emotion such as anger and being away from their parents. They must be able to follow basic instructions such as standing in a line, sit in a circle and keeping quiet when someone else talks. Children at this age should be able to speak their minds.
Values
They should show compassion and not deliberately hurt other people and be able to take on some responsibility.
