Geometry at the kindergarten level reinforces the basic skill of naming and recognizing essential shapes, even when presented in an unusual orientation. Included in this understanding can be a kindergartner's comprehension of the symmetry of shapes and how those shapes can be halved, which can help a child understand the concept of sharing.
Exposure to geometry at the kindergarten level is also crucial in a kindergartner's developing spatial awareness and her ability to interpret her environment. A kindergartner should start to recognize shapes in the environment, such as a rug on the floor being the shape of a square or the top of a table being round like a circle. Being able to identify the relationship between two shapes or objects, such as a square being below a triangle or a circle being behind a rectangle, as well as beginning to observe that a shape is two-dimensional versus three-dimensional, are important steps toward a kindergartner's understanding of how objects relate in the world around her.
A kindergartner's work with geometry will also help with identifying important mathematical patterning. These patterns can include using component shapes to construct a larger, different shape, such as using a series of triangles to create a larger rectangle. Geometrical patterns can also reinforce the concept of position, such as first, middle and last, which can assist in his later understanding of ordinal numbers.
The study of geometry at the kindergarten level also affords the opportunity to integrate different subjects into a kindergartner's curriculum. Projects including art, science and technology can all be incorporated into geometry lessons. For example, a geometry lesson involving repeated shape patterns could be paired with an art lesson on mosaics or tessellations, while a lesson on dimensions or proportions of shapes could be joined with an exercise using a computer drawing software.