Kindergarten is a sturdy bridge for children and families as they transition from early childhood to the K–12 system. Unfortunately, over time, kindergarten has become increasingly academic in nature, leaving little time for developmentally appropriate experiences necessary for young children to thrive.  

Young children need developmentally appropriate environments and experiences to reach their full potential. This observation guide is designed to help state leaders, district administrators and teachers become more familiar with developmentally appropriate practice in kindergarten classrooms and identify strengths in local programs and resources needed to support developmentally appropriate practice. 

The guide provides the following sections to use when observing for and identifying evidence of developmentally appropriate practice:

  • Safe and Supportive Environments 
  • Responsive Developmental Relationships 
  • Family Engagement 
  • Curriculum and Instruction 
  • Motor Development 
  • Literacy and Language Development