The Common Core State Standards, standards in literacy and math for K-12 that have been adopted in more than forty states, are intensifying the academic pressures on young learners. In general, these standards do not reflect how young children learn and are not developmentally appropriate. The author of this essay shows that selected Common Core math standards for Kindergarten-Grade 3 are not grounded in the large body of research on how children learn mathematics. Young children cannot ordinarily grasp mathematical concepts as early as the standards require. To meet the Common Core State Standards, teachers will be forced to teach ideas that sail over children's heads. Children will learn "verbalisms," memorizing statements they do not understand. They will learn to accept answers on the basis of what teachers and books say and will lose confidence in their own ability to think for themselves. Defending the Early Years is calling for removing kindergarten from the Common Core and for the convening of a task force of early childhood educators to recommend developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive guidelines for supporting young children's optimal learning birth to age 3.