Research has highlighted the importance of early education as a proven foundation for children’s future success in school.  When thinking about Kindergarten, we need to remember the man who coined the term and had the vision. Friedrich Froebel recognized the importance of play, and was inspired by the idea of a garden, where children were free to “grow” and create their own play, which is valued within the play-based environment. As they “play”, teachers observe, record, participate, question and children learn to negotiate, problem solve, take turns, self-regulate, share and experiment. These skills are learned early in life, and will ensure children's success in the primary grades and beyond. In First grade, children develop skills they have learned in Kindergarten and Preschool, such as controlling impulses, expanding their understanding of the world around them as they are encouraged to become more independent. In Second and Third grade, they work more independently.  Their attention span increases and are beginning to apply what they have learned in school to the real world. It is thus imperative that educators collaborate and design a framework to ensure that learning experiences build upon a strong foundation from one year to the next.