孩子的環境是一個可以幫助教師和家長了解孩子的特點、社交技能及學習技能的重要因素。環境如學校、家庭和社區，都會影響孩子的發展。透過觀察孩子每天所處的生活環境，可以提供教師和家長很多有關孩子的信息。學校是一個提供空間讓孩子們學習的重要環境之一，在教師和家長的協助之下，孩子的基本知識和社交能力，皆能迅速地增加。為了幫助孩子順利的從幼兒園過渡到小學一年級，我們需要知道幼兒園和小學的差異及和相似之處。本文探討的主題包含語言發展、記憶的發展、數學和科學思考的發展、分類和推理的發展、學校的課程、活動、同儕，以及教室的情境佈置及規劃。

A child’s environment is a factor that can help teachers and parents understand a child’s characteristics, social skills, and learning skills. Environments such as school, home, and communities all influence children’s development. By observing a child’s everyday surroundings teachers and parents can gain a wealth of information about the child. School is one of the most important environments providing space for children to learn. This child development is supported by teachers and parents to rapidly improve children’s basic knowledge and social competence. In order to help children transit from kindergarten to first grade smoothly, we need to know differences and similarities in kindergarten and elementary school environment. The development of language, memory, logical thinking and reasoning as well as experience with curriculum, activities, peers, and classroom decoration are discussed.