1. Development of a Kindergartener
By: Sarah Armstrong

2. What Will I See?
• Developmental highlights of 5-7 year olds
• Signs of delay
• Applications to the classroom

3. Cognitive Highlights
• Begins to recognize, understand and create
patterns
• Calendar, math, stories
• Connecting symbols to representations
• Connecting counting or numbers to real objects
• Learns through language and logic (abstract
thinking and reasoning skills) as opposed to
observation
Age 6, 7 Cognitive Milestones Video

4. Social Highlights
• Play longer with other children
• 15-20 minutes is ideal
• Having best friends
• This changes frequently
• Understands right and wrong
• Can follow rules in games and when working in
groups
Age 6, 7 Language Milestones Video

5. Emotional Highlights
• Can express their feelings with words to other children
and adults
• You can discuss how to handle feelings appropriately
• Is learning to understand other peoples’ feelings
• You can teach how to respond to a friend being upset or
sad
• Confidence emerges (high and low)
• Positive feedback and encouragement is necessary
• Hurt by criticism
Age 6, 7 Emotional Milestones Video

6. Physical Highlights
• Large motor skills are being refined
• Run, hop, skip, catch and throw
• This is the time to get them started in sports
• Fine motor skills are being used and continue
to be developed
• Painting, drawing, cutting and writing
Age 6, 7 Motor Development Video

7. Age 6 and 7 Delay Signs
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•
•
•
Unable to hold a pencil
Cannot follow directions
You cannot understand them
Unable to keep up physically with
peers
• Withdrawn or not social with peers
or family members
• Lose skills they’ve already mastered

8. In the Classroom
• Allow them to be involved in physical activities
and activities requiring problem solving and
social time with others
• Teach them how to make and keep friends
• They have a ‘’can do’’ attitude and a large
capacity for learning and vocabulary. Teach them
new, big words and what they mean.
• They have a desire to be verbal and to be leaders.
Activities like singing, telling stories and drama
are great!

9. Resources
• HowCast Child Development Stages playlist:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLALQuK
1NDrjbMxEhMd41O9M-QqMG96v2
• Education.com
http://www.education.com/topic/childadolescent-development/
• KidsGrowth
http://www.kidsgrowth.com/resources/articledet
ail.cfm?id=326