Our version of kindergarten is 5 and 6 year olds. I know it’s called different things in other parts of the world. It used to be a version of preschool before 1st grade (6 and 7 year olds) where they would play and sing and do crafts etc. Over the last few decades it has shifted to a point that it is now considered the 1st year of “real school”. Kids sit in desks and do work. They are expected to read and write. They have only 30 minutes of pretend play a day and some places have none and only a 25 minute outside recess.
A lot of other teachers in my country have been slowly convinced that this is normal, but as far as I’m aware most of the rest of the world still treats this age as preschool and focuses on play. I’m interested to see if I’m wrong and other countries have also changed. Are any of you teachers/parents/or know of others who are, who can tell me what 5 year olds are doing in school? Thanks in advance!!!