It is not necessary that a teacher know all the exact whys and wherefores of their behaviors, but only the generalities that will prepare him or her for what to expect. The way the students play together at PE, their level of mental curiosity, their spiritual responsiveness-none of these should be a surprise to their classroom teacher. Physical Characteristics Kindergarten children are extremely active, much so that they need frequent rest periods whether they realize it or not. Their fine motor control is not yet developed, so they are likely to have difficulty tying shoes, buttoning jackets, and such. Their eyes do not focus well on small objects, therefore eye-hand coordination is often lacking.
Boys are bigger, but girls are ahead in most other areas of development.
Handedness is established in kindergarten, with 90 percent of students being right handed. In lower elementary, students are expected to sit longer than in kindergarten. Consequently, students may develop nervous habits. To avoid this problem, the wise teacher incorporates lots of movement into his or her teaching style. Like kindergartners, lower elementary students need lots of rest.