Teaching a kindergarten class isn't the same as educating older kids. For a start, the methods used in teaching and the form lessons take are more hands-on, with kids often learning through play and interaction with objects. For example, a set of building blocks might be utilized to teach kids to count, or a set of puppets could be used as part of a lesson which aims to teach problem-solving skills. Kindergarten teaching allows professionals to be especially creative and hands-on in their approach to education, something they can't replicate to the same extent when teaching older kids.
Kindergarten teachers are typically generalists in terms of the subjects they teach. While teachers who educate older kids tend to specialize in one or a few subjects, kindergarten teachers are responsible for delivering lessons on everything from math to spelling. This is useful chiefly in that the teacher gets to work in a variety of subjects, which may appeal to some people, but it also means that the teacher instructs the same class each day. Having one class to work with allows a teacher to develop and sustain bonds with members of that class, which is rewarding over the course of the academic year.
The kindergarten age is a period of substantial development and excitement for kids, as they move from preschool into the school system that they'll be part of for a number of years to come. Kindergarten is where kids learn some important lessons, such as the basics of math and arithmetic. Being there to aid a child as she encounters this first proper stage of her school life is rewarding for many teachers, who are able to take immense satisfaction as the kids they educate develop.
Kindergarten is a crucial time in a child's life, and research suggests that a solid education during the kindergarten year can actually set a person up for success much later in life. Researchers from Harvard University have found a link between a person having an excellent teacher in kindergarten and earning a higher-than-average salary upon reaching his 30s, as described by the Harvard Magazine website in 2010.