Kindergarten... full or half day??

[drivencrazy]

I know that there have been threads on this issue before, did a search and didn't come up with anything... so here is the deal...

My 5 year old boy is going into kindergarten next year and it is now time to sign him up. Here's the thing... full day or half day? I have 2 older girls and they both went to half day (full wasn't offered) and they both do great in school (honor roll, honors classes...) so what makes one better than the other?

Is there anyone out there that has done both full day and half day so they could share the differences that they seen?

I just am at a loss for what to do. The full day does cost $280 a month, which I know we could cover so not looking at that as a pro or con, just want what is best for our little man!

Like I said, he is 5 (1-1-03) and he does go to pre-school 4 days a week now. His teachers there want him tested to go to the gifted school (whole nother thread) but I think we have decided not to go that way at this time... He has over 40 site words that he knows and can read (sound out and figure out long words) almost anything we have him try to read... Counts to 100+, by 2's and 5's...

Any imput would be great! Thanks!

 

[lovesdumbo]

We too have a choice between full and half day for Kindergarten. Half days are free and full day is $2,400 for the year.

When my oldest went there was only half days. She was a May (5/22/99) baby so I think we may have chosen half days for her.

My son (1/10/01) did attend full days. He really seemed ready for it and of his class of about 150 students only about 12 attended the half day program. My DS (now in 1st grade) is a very good reader. Much better than DD was at the same time but I also think it might be his personality rather than the full day Kindergarten. He really loves school and we didn't have any negative issues with him going full days.

My youngest (1/21/03) will go to the full day program next year.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[TinaLala]

I think this decision depends on the child. My oldest daughter would have done so much better with full day because she was in full day daycare. However my youngest daughter is doing wonderfully with half day kindergarten because she wasn't really in daycare.

 

[Minnie_me]

I've taught full day Kindergarten for twenty years! I absolutely love it. I had previously subbed in half-day classrooms, and I'm telling you -- they don't have time to PLAY! or PAINT! or do anything KINDERGARTENY!

With NCLB and all of the state standards, Kindergarten is more demanding than ever. A full day program is able to meet those standards while still being able to meet the developmental needs of the young child: giving them rest time (we call it "Brain Rest" - -it's NECESSARY!!!), outdoor recess and free play time. They learn SO MUCH during play time; it's criminal that so many programs are being forced to abandon it. We're going to end up with a society of young adults who are great at taking tests, but can't relate to one another!

I digress.

So you can tell that I support full day Kindergarten, especially given your son's birth date.

 

[Camno's Mama]

I really think it depends on your family. I, personally, would choose the half day. I think my kids need the downtime at home in the afternoon. I take care of my friend's daughters during the day, and the oldest is in K. She comes home very hungry, and takes a nap still. At the beginning of the year, she was exhausted.

I'm sure that they have fun in all day K, too. Although, my cousin's son goes to all day, and he wishes he didn't have to be there all day. His older sister didn't go all day every day, and he wishes he could have done it like her.

Not to mention, it's free for half day and you have to pay for full day. Kind of has a day care feel to it. (Not that there is anything wrong with that...just not what I'm looking for from public schools). Would rather have them home if they're not required to be there.

Good luck with this decision...I know a lot of people are struggling to figure that kind of stuff out! I'm sure you'll get lots of opinions!

 

[Omma]

My oldest did half day...my middle does full day this year...and my youngest starts kindergarten in the fall. IMHO I prefer the full day...

Half day kindergarten here is only 2hrs & 45min. If your school offers any "specials" like music, art, or PE that takes 45 min of the time they are there. Two hours a day (minus recess, etc.) doesn't leave a lot of instructional time. For children who have not been in a preschool setting at all the half day program might be a great time to learn to line up with the class, share, etc. But for any child who has already gone to preschool it just seemed like it wasn't enough.

My DS is in full day kindergarten this year. He loves it. He was tired the first couple of months of school (but so was my DD when she started all day in 1st grade) but adjusted to the new schedule quickly.

And with my youngest DD - well she isn't giving us a choice! If I told her she couldn't go to school all day with her ds & db she would have a fit. She can't WAIT to take her lunchbox.

You know your child best and if you have already done preschool and how those hours compare to your half day program offered at your school. I fully believe mommies know best - go with your heart.

 

[SmallWorld71]

I've taught full day Kindergarten for twenty years! I absolutely love it. I had previously subbed in half-day classrooms, and I'm telling you -- they don't have time to PLAY! or PAINT! or do anything KINDERGARTENY!

With NCLB and all of the state standards, Kindergarten is more demanding than ever. A full day program is able to meet those standards while still being able to meet the developmental needs of the young child: giving them rest time (we call it "Brain Rest" - -it's NECESSARY!!!), outdoor recess and free play time. They learn SO MUCH during play time; it's criminal that so many programs are being forced to abandon it. We're going to end up with a society of young adults who are great at taking tests, but can't relate to one another!

I digress.

So you can tell that I support full day Kindergarten, especially given your son's birth date.

I agree completely with this!
However, I do think your family structure/ daily routine can be a big deciding factor. If you are able to be home with your child half the day, taking him to playgroups, activities etc... then the half day is probably enough. If this is not the case, then the full day program can provide these enrichment activites. My 3rd grader went to full day kindergarten (it is all our district offers) and I was thrilled with it. I am a full time teacher so it fit our schedule very well and I felt that it was a much better situation for us than having to do some time in day care as well. My son had a great year and my daughter will be going to full time K next year. In the long run, I don't think it makes a big difference. I teach 1st grade and although the kids from full day programs have the edge in the beginning, it evens out as the year goes on. Good luck with your decision.

 

[drivencrazy]

Thanks for the info...... I just am not sure at this point. Most of it is because his pre-school teachers are really pushing us to "get him tested" and if not that then the "he really needs full day since he knows so much already..." So they have me thinking that if I don't put him in full day that I would be doing him wrong...... don't get me wrong, I LOVE his teachers and I feel that they are looking out for his good... but I just don't know what to do.

As for the testing, if we did that he would be going to a different school than our girls and he doesn't like the thought of that at all. And I don't want to burn him out before he's in middle school!

I am a stay at home mom and he has a little sister as well (3)... we do crafts and such as painting and playdough at home, I know that it's different at school, but we do stuff at home as well.

If I don't put him into full day am I taking away from him and his learning? I have talked to a couple of people about our full day program here and I have heard good things... I was worried that it was like daycare for part of the day and I have been told that it is not... they have stuff to do all day.

As for our 5 year old, he hasn't taken naps for quite sometime and he does his preschool in the afternoons (1230-3) and is pretty much on the same times as the school aged girls so getting up and ready wouldn't be an issue.

And of corse the $$ comes into play... I know that we can afford it... but will probably have to watch the $$ in other areas........ $2,520 for the year for full day or free for half day......... but I don't want that to be the deciding factor.

Our older girls (November and December birthdays) are both doing so well in school and went to half day so I know it can't be that bad! But at the same time I also know that by the time our 3 year old goes to school, if we are still here, she will HAVE to be in full day, they are changing it over so it will be that way, maybe as soon as next year! Why couldn't they have gotten that taken care of this year so I wouldn't have to deal with this issue!

Thanks again!

 

[mnasmom3]

I have 2 that went to 1/2 day K and my third is in K now in a full day program. In our district, 1/2 day is no longer a choice. I was leary at first, but I've since come to love full day K. Our 1/2 day K experience was good. Kids learned what they needed too and are both currently honor students in the grades they are currently in. The reason I love all day K though is because my dd is so much more social and is better adjusted than my older 2 were. In full day, they have time to learn and to play and socialize. It's the same cirriculum but it's not as stressful for them trying to jam it into a few short hours. They also get more "specials". Before they only had gym. Now they have library time, art, music, etc. (Obviously, I can't speak for all district, but that's how it is here.) I help in the K class one morning a week and the teacher says she loves all day K too because the she AND the kids are much less stressed. She's got more one on one time to help anyone with any struggles they have and she's gotten to know these kids way better than any other class she's taught. She's been a K teacher for 15 years. If I had to make a choice, I'd choose all day.

 

[mandysbus]

at our school most of the kids go half day...there is one full day class for kids that they feel need the xtra help (I kind of wish DS would have been in the full day class, but he was not recommended for it last year). DS knew everything required for K last year but is having trouble with his reading this year in First. They used the full day class for kids that still could not write their names, alphabet, counting....

He is getting xtra reading help at school this year and I sit down with him as much as I can but I got moved back to working 2nd shift a few months ago and dont see as much of him

 

[Minnie_me]

I agree completely with this!
However, I do think your family structure/ daily routine can be a big deciding factor. If you are able to be home with your child half the day, taking him to playgroups, activities etc... then the half day is probably enough. If this is not the case, then the full day program can provide these enrichment activites.

I totally agree! Around here, there is never a choice. Some districts offer half day only, others are full day only. If I were a SAHM, I would probably have put both of my DDs in half-day Kindie. Where I live, most families are "working class", with two parents working and not thriving. Many of the kids don't get a lot of intellectual or social stimulation at home. So full day Kindergarten is an answer to their prayers!

 

[Aliceacc]

We don't have a choice; our district is full day.

When my son entered Kindergarten, we had just switched. I asked the teacher what she thought of it. Her response was that it was wonderful!! She explained that will all the new state standards, half day Kindergarten would be nothing but work. But with full day, they could accomplish all they needed to, and still have time for the kids to be kids.

 

[tinkandpan]

We don't have a choice but our district has the best of both worlds. We have half and half. All the children go full days on wed. On monday and tues half the class goes home and the other half stays for full day and then n Thurs and friday it reverses. While this might be a logistical nightmare for working parents, most children in our district have SAHM's. The towns neighboring us have half day and many of the parents have opted to find a private K for them as the half day is actually shorter than what they had been doing in preschool. While it was great for K- when it came time for First Grade they had a super hard time adjusting to both a full day schedule and one so academically packed - as 1st grade offers very little downtime. With eveything thses kids are expected to know nowadays for state testing- i love the full day aspect so it doesn't all have to be crammed in.

 

[kcromley]

my eldest went half-day, and then on to a school where most had attended full-day k. as a result, first grade was a real adjustment for her, but not for the others in her class. as a result of that experience, I sent my youngest to full-day k. just something to think about-will you child be in a class where most have attended full day k in the future?

 

[LisaNJ25]

My town only offers full day. My toddlers are going to half day pre-school in the fall so hopefully all day wont be a shock for them.

 

[OU1247]

With all that is put on teachers to teach these days with NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND...your crazy not to do full day. They will lose so much! Kindergarten is not what it use to be!

 

[Thats_for_Shore]

In our district, we can choose half or full day pre-k, but all day kindergarten is mandatory.

In pre-k, they do all the learning in the morning, then they have lunch, playtime, naptime, and then a craft time. So they aren't really learning anything in the afternoon.

I think it depends on the individual child, and the parents. It depends on what works for you, and what feels right.

 

[SmallWorld71]

We don't have a choice but our district has the best of both worlds. We have half and half. All the children go full days on wed. On monday and tues half the class goes home and the other half stays for full day and then n Thurs and friday it reverses. While this might be a logistical nightmare for working parents, most children in our district have SAHM's. The towns neighboring us have half day and many of the parents have opted to find a private K for them as the half day is actually shorter than what they had been doing in preschool. While it was great for K- when it came time for First Grade they had a super hard time adjusting to both a full day schedule and one so academically packed - as 1st grade offers very little downtime. With eveything thses kids are expected to know nowadays for state testing- i love the full day aspect so it doesn't all have to be crammed in.

My town only offers full day. My toddlers are going to half day pre-school in the fall so hopefully all day wont be a shock for them.

You both bring up a good point. The transition to full day has to be made at some time. The district where I previously worked had 1/2 day K. The 1st graders spent the 1st 6 weeks in a sort to exhausted state of culture shock. In my current district, K is full day only and the 1st graders transitioned much easier those first 6 weeks. However, the K kids are exhausted in the beginning. Many are coming from pre-schools which are 1/2 days several times a week. I know my own DS went to bed very early those 1st weeks of K. So, either way, the change will happen. Just thought it might be something else for the OP to consider.

 

[drivencrazy]

At the school that he will go to... there will be 2 full day classes and 2 half day classes (as of right now that is what it is looking like) so his 1st grade class will most likely have about 1/2 and 1/2 from full day and half day... well probably somewhat more half dayers since kids from out of district can come for the full day program.

I am not worried about him being sleepy in class, as I said before he doesn't take napes anymore and goes to bed around the sametime as the school aged girls and is up when they go to school.

I think he will do fine... great! In what ever we do decide... but just trying to make sure that we are making the right choice for him... Cause we all know that we only want the best for our kids! I am not to worried that he won't learn enough in half day... he writes really well already, read to me tonight and only needed help with a couple words, gets along great with others................

I guess I have a hard time... he's my only boy (not like it was easy letting any of them go to school..........) but now with the choices of sending him off all day or just half day. What is going to be best for him?? Just the thought of him being gone ALL day from me, having to eat lunch away from me.......... yeah that is a bit hard to think about. Will he do good, yeah, I think so, but the thought is just killing me... and like I said, I don't want the $$ to be a factor, but it's easy to say that is a lot of money and run away from that idea.

I know that no one knows him better than us, but it doesn't make the choice any easier!

Pros and cons for both, so hard to decide what to do!

Thanks for all the input and thoughts, I am going to go up to the school tomorrow and take a look at the full day and see who the teachers will be and see if I can't set up a meeting with them and see who is teaching the half day as well and see if we can meet her as well............. I think that might help some.

It's always something!

 

[jodifla]

I like all day K. As many have pointed out, half day K is only about 2 and a half hours. It's not nearly enough time. With a whole day K, DS gets recess every day, lunch time, rest time, reading time, and more specials like PE and music.

If he only went half day, it would just be work work work work. Cause that's what kindy is these days.