Social Studies
He belongs in this world, and so do you!
Your child is traveling through time, on maps and around the world, all from his kindergarten classroom. From learning about people of the past or across the globe, he is understanding that difference is beautiful, people are people and he’s a little person too, growing in community each day.
Your Kindergartener
Your kindergartener is developing an understanding of the world and his place in it. He’s learning about other cultures in faraway places, gaining an appreciation for the uniqueness that makes us human. He also knows that people existed before him. He can tell you about Martin Luther King Jr. Day, for example, and the reason he gets a day off from school. He can tell you if something happened yesterday or will happen tomorrow. He knows what a calendar is and what it’s for and is beginning to get excited about upcoming holidays and birthdays contained within!
Working 9-5 is still a long way off, but your kindergartener is exploring different careers, learning why people choose various jobs and what those jobs do for our community. He is starting to understand the value of money, that buying what you need is earned through hard work, but he may still ask you for that candy bar in the checkout line!
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More Than One Direction
He is learning about maps as representations of the Earth and can tell you that he exists in a certain spot on that globe. He knows what an address is and can tell you where his school is located. He’s curious about the instructions given by your GPS, and he knows what you mean when you say to turn left. He is figuring out what it means to exist and move in this world.
Look for Signs of Learning at Your Child's Care
“Simon says...touch your right hand! Good. Now... move forward!” Does your child care provider help your child follow directions and understand where they are? In these ways, your provider helps your kindergartener navigate the spaces around him.
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Cultural Curiosity
Your kindergartener is curious about different families, neighborhoods, cities, states and countries. He’s asking why a neighbor dresses differently, why a classmate eats different foods for lunch and why a friend celebrates different holidays than him. He is becoming aware of difference, and he wants to learn more about people who are different from him.
Look for Signs of Learning at Your Child's Care
Does your child care provider embrace all families and cultures? Are there books in different languages, written by authors of different backgrounds or about people who look different? Supporting all children in learning about all people is a sign of quality in care.
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School is My Job
“Why does daddy wear a suit to work?” “What do you do when you’re not home every day?” Your kindergartener is learning about the different jobs adults take on that make society function. She knows that school is her job with her own sets of roles and responsibilities, and she wants to learn more about yours!
Look for Signs of Learning at Your Child's Care
Does your child’s provider discuss different careers with the children? “Genesis, what do you want to be when you grow up?” Programs should encourage children to learn in the present while growing toward the future they want.
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Calendar Power
She loves to circle her birthday on the calendar, and she looks forward to days off school, too. Your kindergartener understands how calendars work, and she can’t wait for winter holidays and summer vacations alike. This learning helps her understand and mark the passage of time.
Look for Signs of Learning at Your Child's Care
Are different holidays celebrated in your child’s care? “Santiago, can you bring in something that your family uses for Day of the Dead?” Look for programs that teach about celebrations and special days from all backgrounds.
Ideas to Learn and Play Together!
From playtime to bedtime, your child is always learning. Check out these family activities for building their skills, and your family connections. All children learn and grow at their own pace and in their own way. For more information about the skills and milestones for your child's age, check out our developmental milestones resource page.
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Walk Around the Block
He already loved going for walks. Now, he knows concepts like “forward” and “backward,” “left” and “right.” He even knows that when you use GPS, you are following a map that shows where you are in physical space. As you walk, practice giving directions and showing directions on the map. Even draw a simple map of your walk. Who knows – maybe he’ll be a cartographer one day!
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Travel from Home
Help your child learn about the beauty of all people without needing to leave the Hoosier state. Taste foods from international restaurants or grocery stores. Watch shows that highlight different backgrounds like “Molly of Denali,” “Let’s Go Luna!” and “Mira, Royal Detective.” Read multicultural picture books to help improve literacy and open your child’s mind to different cultures and experiences. Dance in your socks to music in other languages, exploring culture through rhythm and beat. Talk with your child, comparing customs across cultures, to discover similarities and differences. There are so many ways to help your child learn about people, cultures and the world.
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What a Way to Make a Living
While he’s not yet employed, your kindergartener is learning about career options. Help him explore with dress up! What does a doctor look like? What about a construction worker? Dig out the dress up box and play pretend. Ask your child questions. “Now that you look like a chef, tell me: what does a chef do?” The roles we play in our careers contribute to our communities.
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Next Tuesday is a Holiday!
Make holiday celebrations special and explain why. Cross off days on the calendar, building excitement and learning about days, weeks and months at the same time.
