Social skills learned in kindergarten
Kindergarten is an exciting time in any child's life and it gives them a chance to hone new skills. While age is certainly a factor, other things such as physical development, motor and social skills all must be assessed when determining whether or not a child is ready for kindergarten. Each child grows differently and the same can be said for their basic development during kindergarten.
Gross Motor Skills
Kids should have a sufficient set of gross motor skills by the time they enter kindergarten. The website Get Ready For School explains that gross motor skills strengthen muscle development and can help children master such skills as balancing, jumping, skipping and simple kicking games. The muscles develop quickly and extensively from birth until the kindergarten age. During kindergarten a child's gross motor skill development will help them later in life in things such as riding a two-wheeled bike.
Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills are related to eye and hand movement. In kindergarten, a child should have some sense of utilize these skills. According to the online magazine Education, some fine motor skills that develop throughout kindergarten include catching and throwing a ball. Teaching children to tie their shoes is a great way to develop their fine motor skills. This along with basic writing improves eye hand coordination and continues to help develop the fine motor skills throughout kindergarten.
Physical Development
Each child is unique in their physical development by the time they enter kindergarten. Most often children are full of energy at this age and need plenty of physical activity. Whether it be from a rhythm and dance class or simply running around, physical activity helps the kindergartner grow and gain muscle development. While each child is different, physical development in kindergarten grows out of the ability to expend energy
Brain Development
A kindergartner's brain development grows when children are allowed to experiment and explore rather than just listen. This can come from a number of different activities, ranging from simply having an extensive conversation with the child to teaching them to read aloud. According to the Multnomah County Library, children who come from conversational homes have a better grasp on language than children who have quieter homes. An exploratory classroom where students are able to discuss what they are studying helps students learn to make cognitive connections within the brain.
Differences Between Boys and Girls
Boys and girls grow at different rates and each learns in a different way. According to the research by the National Association for Single Sex Public Education, this difference is most significant in younger classrooms. Female students of all ages, including kindergartners, tend to outperform their male counterparts. While all classrooms teach all kindergartners the same things, girls tend to develop and master the skills faster than boys.
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