World of wonder: Kindergarten, a child’s first step into the real world

As you step into a kindergarten classroom, you're immediately struck by the kaleidoscope of colours, textures, and sounds that surround you. The walls are adorned with student artwork, alphabet charts, and number lines, creating a visual feast that stimulates curiosity and engagement.

The most joyful years

Kindergarten classrooms are vibrant and dynamic spaces that foster a love of learning in young minds. These specialised environments are designed to promote exploration, creativity and socialisation, setting the stage for a lifetime of academic success. The purpose of an elementary school is to build upon the foundations of reading, writing, numeracy, while letting the child discover social skills and gain confidence.

The classroom is divided into various learning centres, each tailored to meet the unique needs of tiny tots. The blocks corner is a hub of activity, where children build bridges, castles and cities, developing their fine motor skills and problem-solving abilities. Nearby, the art station is a treasure trove of materials, from crayons and paint to glitter and glue, allowing young artists to express themselves with unbridled creativity.

Fostering imagination

The reading nook is a cozy haven, a vast library of picture books that transport children to far-off lands and fantastical worlds. Here, they develop love for storytelling and hone their language skills, laying the foundation for future reading proficiency. In the play area, children become chefs, doctors, and shopkeepers, practicing social skills, empathy and role-playing. The science corner is a hands-on laboratory, where curious minds conduct experiments, make observations and learn about the natural world.

Inculcating values

Kindergarten classrooms are more than just physical spaces — they're communities that nurture the child. Teachers and students work together, share laughter, stories and experiences that build a sense of belonging and trust. These early years lay the groundwork for future academic success, social-emotional growth, and a lifelong love of learning.

In a kindergarten classroom, boundaries of imagination are stretched, and the possibilities are endless. It's a place where wonder, discovery and joy come together in a beautiful dance, shaping the minds of our future leaders, innovators, and citizens.

Making friends

• From the ages of three to five, most children want to play with others their age, and can think about the feelings of others at an initial level. At this age, children learn how to play with others, and might have a ‘best friend’.
• In Kindegarten, children are encouraged to share and play with their peers. Through these interactions they learn to develop important interpersonal qualities such as empathy and cooperation that help them get along with others in preschool and beyond.
• Research shows that children who participate in quality preschool programmes are more likely to arrive at school equipped with the social, cognitive and emotional skills they need to help them to continue learning.
• The benefits extend well beyond primary school. Higher levels of educational success, employment and social skills have all been linked to early childhood education.

- Manpreet Kaur Johal Coordinator, Delhi Public School, Sangrur