As a kindergarten teacher, I have the joy (and occasional challenge) of guiding young children through their first structured learning experiences. Every day is an adventure filled with laughter, curiosity, and yes! sometimes tears. But behind every giggle, tantrum, or “Aha!”
moment, there’s a fascinating process of growth happening.
In this blog, I am going to share some insights into child behaviour and development at this age, along with tips for parents and fellow educators on how to support children’s social, emotional, and cognitive growth.
1. What to Expect in Kindergarten (The Big Milestones)Kindergarten is a critical year for development. We teachers usually are working on some
specific basic development methods. Here’s what most 5- and 6-years-old kids are working
on:
• Cognitive Growth: Following multi-step instructions, recognizing letters/numbers, and
problem-solving.
• Social Skills: Learning to share, take turns, and play cooperatively.
• Emotional Regulation: Managing frustration, waiting patiently, and expressing
feelings in words.
• Physical Development: Improving fine motor skills (holding pencils, cutting with
scissors) and gross motor skills (running, jumping, balancing).
I, personally suggest parents that if your child struggles with any of these, don’t worry! Every
child develops at their own pace. Gentle encouragement and practice are key to make your
child feel confident.
2. Understanding Common Behaviours
Ever wonder why a child suddenly refuses to share or has a meltdown over a broken crayon?
Here’s what might be behind those behaviours:
• Big Emotions, Little Words: Young children often act out because they don’t yet have
the vocabulary to express frustration, sadness, or overwhelm.
• Seeking Attention: Sometimes, negative behaviour is just a child’s way of
saying, “Notice me!”
• Testing Boundaries: Saying “No!” or ignoring rules is often a way for kids to see what
they can control.
• Overstimulation: Loud noises, transitions, or tiredness can lead to outbursts.
My trick to tackle this situation is; I try to connect with the kid like, I would say, “I see you’re
upset. Can you tell me what’s wrong?” This helps kids feel heard and also makes valuable
addition to their emotional vocabulary.
3. How Parents Can Help at Home
We all know that kids always learn more by seeing or observing their parents and elders in
comparison of teaching them by telling the things. Here are some basic points every parent
can catch and make part of their kids’ routine.
• Model Patience & Problem-Solving: Kids copy how adults handle frustration.
• Read Books About Feelings: Stories can help kids understand emotions.
• Play Social Skills Games: Practice taking turns with board games or role-play sharing
scenarios.
• Stay Consistent with Rules: If bedtime is 8 PM at home but 10 PM at Grandma’s, kids
get confused. Try to make one rule whatever the scenario is.
Final Thought: Growth Takes Time
Kindergarten is a year of huge growth, not just academically, but emotionally and socially too.
Some days will be smooth, and others… well, let’s just say we all learn from the messy
moments too!
As teachers and parents, our job is not to fix every behaviour but to guide, support, and
celebrate each small step forward. After all, the child who struggles to share today might be
the one comforting a friend tomorrow. And that’s the magic of kindergarten!
