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The revised Kindergarten curriculum will be implemented starting in September 2026. It’s part of Ontario’s plan to update curriculum, giving our youngest learners a strong start in all areas of learning, with an emphasis on foundations for:
Reading
Writing
Math
Scientific investigation, engineering and design
The program is designed to help your child build the knowledge and skills needed for a successful transition to Grade 1 through developmentally appropriate, research-informed teaching practices. Teachers and Early Childhood Educators work together to support children’s learning and well-being. Through a balance of explicit instruction, play-based learning, and inquiry, children develop strong foundations in literacy, mathematics, communication, problem-solving, and self-regulation.
THE FOUR Strands
THE FOUR Strands
Strand A: Foundations of Language and Mathematics
Strand A: Foundations of Language and Mathematics
Strand B: Problem Solving and Innovating
Strand B: Problem Solving and Innovating
Strand C: Self-Regulation and Well-Being
Strand C: Self-Regulation and Well-Being
Strand D: Belonging and Contributing
Strand D: Belonging and Contributing
A. Foundations of Language and Mathematics
A. Foundations of Language and Mathematics
A strong foundation in reading, writing and math sets your child up for success. Language and math skills help your child to:
process information for various reasons, including decision-making
understand ideas and information to make sense of the world
reason and think critically
communicate their ideas and thoughts
solve problems
Your child will learn:
listening and speaking skills and how to use facial expressions, gestures and body language
about the relationship between sounds and letters to read, understand and create simple texts by learning to use what they know about:
words
sentence structure
grammar
punctuation
how to count, estimate, add, subtract and share equally using numbers
how to identify shapes, objects and patterns
how to answer questions by collecting data and organizing it into graphs
how to use a variety of tools and strategies to solve math problems
B. Problem Solving and Innovating
B. Problem Solving and Innovating
Learning to think creatively and critically is important in all aspects of life. Your child learns about the world around them and thinks in new ways to solve problems.
Your child will learn to:
explore the world through natural curiosity, in ways that engage their mind, senses and body
ask questions
try things out
design or make something new or different
C. Self-Regulation and Well-Being
C. Self-Regulation and Well-Being
Your child will learn about emotions and feelings, and how to adapt to new situations. This gives them a strong foundation for life. The goal is for your child to:
develop an understanding of how they focus and learn best
respect themselves and others
start to learn about physical and mental health and well-being in themselves and others
Your child will develop the ability to:
manage their own feelings and emotions
realize that others may have different thoughts and feelings, and to respect those differences
deal with distractions
advocate for themselves
understand consequences of actions
be aware of their physical and mental health and wellness
participate actively and regularly in physical activities and develop movement skills
D. Belonging and Contributing
D. Belonging and Contributing
Your child will develop a sense of self. Educators will encourage and support them to reach their full potential. They will develop social skills, self-confidence and a love for learning that they will take with them through school and life.
Your child will develop:
a positive understanding of themselves as a person and their unique strengths
a sense of connectedness to others, to their community and to the natural world
ways to consider different perspectives and life experiences as well as areas of connection
understanding of relationships and community and how people contribute to the world around them
problem-solving skills in social situations
Play Based Learning
Play Based Learning
Play-based learning allows students to learn while at play. The continuum of play-based learning varies based on the learning goals, ranging from student-directed play, to guided play, to educator-directed play.
Inquiry
Inquiry
The inquiry process helps learners to discover new information, to confirm or question their surroundings, to solve problems, and to design and create.
The components of the inquiry process are:
initial engagement and exploration: Students notice, wonder, imagine, explore, observe, question, and state problems.
investigation: Students plan, select tools and materials, compare, predict, observe, question, sort, classify, order, interpret, design, build, test, improve, notice patterns, analyze, record, and reflect.
communication: Students draw conclusions, discuss ideas, and share findings.
Learning OUtdoors
Learning OUtdoors
The learning environment extends to the outdoors. A growing body of research suggests that connecting to the natural world contributes to children’s mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health and well-being (Louv, 2005). Children’s natural curiosity and sense of wonder can be fostered by providing them with many opportunities to learn outdoors. The learning that takes place in classroom experiences can be explored in the “extended classroom” that nature provides. Similarly, the natural environment can be reflected in the indoor learning environment.
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