What happened to kindergarten?

In this episode of Early Childhood Chapters, host Emily Garman sits down with education policy expert, former teacher, and author Laura Bornfreund to explore how kindergarten has changed over the past several decades and why many classrooms have drifted away from what young children need most.

Drawing from research, classroom observations, and her new book, Rediscovering Kindergarten: Embracing Play and Joy in Learning, Laura explains how accountability systems, academic pressure, and misconceptions about play have transformed the kindergarten experience. She shares why play and academic rigor are not opposites, how relationships drive learning, and what school leaders can do to create environments where young children thrive.

The conversation also explores behavior challenges, the science behind play-based learning, family engagement, and Laura's vision for an ideal kindergarten classroom.

In This Episode

How kindergarten became the "new first grade"
The impact of standards, testing, and accountability on early learning
Why parents often feel pressure to push academics earlier
The difference between compliance and genuine engagement
How guided play supports academic learning
What classroom observations reveal about thriving kindergarten programs
Practical strategies for teachers who want to incorporate more play
The science of learning, development, movement, and exploration
Common misconceptions school leaders have about young children
Why some behavior challenges are actually developmental mismatches
Laura's vision for a joyful, developmentally appropriate kindergarten

Featured Book

Rediscovering Kindergarten: Embracing Play and Joy in Learning by Laura Bornfreund

About the Guest

Laura Bornfreund is an education policy expert, former elementary teacher, and nationally recognized advocate for developmentally appropriate early learning. Her work focuses on strengthening the transition from pre-K through the early elementary years and ensuring that kindergarten remains a place where young children can learn through play, relationships, exploration, and joy.