As kindergarten teachers across the nation struggle to strike the balance between learning standards and accountability expectations and developmentally appropriate and effective practices for supporting development and learning in young children, it is important to bring the needs of children to the forefront of the their decision making. Understanding the typical patterns of growth and development in young children is essential to planning effective, appropriate and engaging learning environments and experiences for all young children. The information found within this professional development module serves as foundational knowledge for all those working with or on behalf of kindergarten age children.