Pros and Cons of Full Day Kindergarten please

[Family Fun Mom]

I'm at a private Catholic school and we have full Kindergarten but there is the option to do only a half day. The morning is all the "educational" stuff (reading, writing, math, etc) and the afternoon has more of the art projects, library, gym, etc.

For my daughter I chose half day (there were only three of us that did half with the other 45 in full) and they (the teachers and administration) kept telling us our kids would want full day with two weeks. Well, they never did and it was one of the best years being able to do things with my daughter when class was out. And letting her still have play dates and go to the park. The full day kindergarteners were all falling asleep in the cars when being picked up. She and the other girl are both 4.0 students that have just completed their Freshman year in High School, so it didn't hurt her any.

Two years later our school took away the half day option -- just in time for my second daughter. I put her in the public school because it still had the half day option. And you know what, I wasn't the only one. They brought back the half day option after realizing that they lost the tuition of 10 of us that year.

Like you, I did lots of research and wrote a letter to our school board. To be honest it was hard finding good info. Most articles tended to be opinion rather than fact. My approach was why did it have to be one or the other, our school had the perfect opportunity to provide a quality product to two different types of kids/families.

I work in our school now and often feel sorry for the Kindergarteners. They are so tired at the end of the day and have a hard time paying attention. I think 3.5 hours of QUALITY time is better than 7 hours of time. (our school goes from 8:00 - 3:00)

I get why there is a need for full day K. I just wish they could see the benefits of half day as well and offer both.

Wonderfully said! Thank you for sharing your story. I agree completely. For some kids, for some families, full day is best. For others, half day is what works. It should be an option, not required. I know a LOT of parents who felt the same way I did when my son was in Kindergarten.

 

[tiggspring]

Wonderfully said! Thank you for sharing your story. I agree completely. For some kids, for some families, full day is best. For others, half day is what works. It should be an option, not required. I know a LOT of parents who felt the same way I did when my son was in Kindergarten.

We had to fight to get our kids in a few weeks early. Many of you have to fight to keep them home one more year or find half day K. What the schools are forgetting is each child comes in with different needs the first three years.

My kids didnt nap after 2 1/2yrs so being tired was not an issue. They were reading a few words an doing basic math and were just eager to get out on their own by the time they were about to turn 5. Yet the school acted as if their brains shut off on Sept 1st and were not ready for K until they were 5 the next year. They wanted to skip them up to 1st if they were reading by then. We said NO WAY were they jumping to 1st because the school was too ridgid to take them 34 and 37 days early.

Our kids walk and talk at a wide range of ages but the system can not get it through their heads that until 3rd grade kids vary widely. They treat parents like they know nothing about how their child learns...even those of us with degrees in child development cannot escape this unless we work directy in the school 20 yrs of studies show that with appropriate support most students catch up with their peers by grade three if they have any (normal range) social or educational shortfalls. For this reason children should not feel pushed or held back. A child like mine who is encorraged to be bored is just as likely to quit trying their best as those pushed too hard. Its a balance that needs to be considered on a child by child basis. Something our school systems are not good at doing.

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

I see no negatives to it other than how it might affect your own schedule. I was so happy my kids went to all day kindergarten! I am sure they learned more than they would have in a half day session.

 

[LuLuO]

it depends.

Our state regulates what must be in a kindergarten class. A full "kitchen" is one of those regulations, and yet, due to the other things that must be taught- kids only get to "see" the fridge, stove, and items, never do they get to actually "play" with them.

In daycare - wel, yes, playing can be a "center" - social skills are taught in daycare - not in kindergarten.

In our district when the Kindergarten teacher announced she cannot teach "how to tie shoes, phone numbers, or addresses" one must pause and think... when did it get to this point?

You have to have a Kitchen but the kids cannot "touch it"

Lack of play time definitely sounds like a problem in that district. Maybe the parents need to petition the school board to make a change to the curriculum.

As for learning how to tie shoes and learning phone numbers and addresses, I think that responsibility lies with parents. I'm currently working with DD3 on our phone number and address. Just in terms of safety, I wouldn't wait for a K teacher to do that for me.

We have full day K around here and I don't think my kids are going to have a problem with it. But, it would be nice to have a choice of half day or full, but then wouldn't the kids be at different levels in terms of academics when they entered first grade?

 

[golfgal]

it depends.

Our state regulates what must be in a kindergarten class. A full "kitchen" is one of those regulations, and yet, due to the other things that must be taught- kids only get to "see" the fridge, stove, and items, never do they get to actually "play" with them.

In daycare - wel, yes, playing can be a "center" - social skills are taught in daycare - not in kindergarten.

In our district when the Kindergarten teacher announced she cannot teach "how to tie shoes, phone numbers, or addresses" one must pause and think... when did it get to this point?

You have to have a Kitchen but the kids cannot "touch it"

LONG before I was in kindergarten, we were expected to learn those things at HOME, before we started kindergarten, that hasn't changed.

Yep. I don't say it to offend, sorry if it comes off that way. Someone else here said it, too. Paraphrasing "the real ones who benefit are the first gade teachers because the little ones are already used to a full day routine." I'm sure that's true. It makes sense. It still doesn't convince me it's necessary or even beneficial. I saw nothing in my younger son's experience compared to his older siblings (older by only a few years, same teacher and everything) to convince me all day was better than half.

You are quoting me and I NEVER said that it was easier on the TEACHERS, it is easier on the KIDS. They were used to being in school all day so THAT adjustment for the KIDS was easier and they were able to move along in 1st grade easier. It isn't about the teachers, it actually created MORE work for the teachers because they had to revamp their curriculum because the kids were farther along.

 

[quasar4legs]

I guess you have already gathered that people are qually divided on this issue based on what they did with their children, as parents we all want to feel that the decisions we made were correct.

You will have to decide what is right for your child and family, there is no right or wrong.

Good luck with the decision

 

[aprilgail2]

For me that was the PRO of starting Kindergarten. At my sitters house they took naps and it was 10 or 11 PM. In Kindergarten they start at 8 and finish at 3:30 with no nap. In the beginning of the year they do throw the cots down for 15 minutes but by Christmas naptime is gone. Love that he now goes to bed at a decent hour.

I remeber when I went to half day kindergarten back in the dark ages we had cots and had to lay down for 20 minutes--we were only in school for three hours LOL!!!! They don't do any nap time in the schools anymore, even in full day kindergaten here!

And letting her still have play dates and go to the park. The full day kindergarteners were all falling asleep in the cars when being picked up. .

I don't know any of my daughters friends that went to full day kindergarten that were falling asleep in cars on the way home! In fact they all had after school activities to do-play gym class, karate class, tball etc. We even had a group that went to the library story hour at night after school in kindergarten, no one was falling asleep. Even after going to kindergarten a full day my 4 year old still didn't go to sleep until 10pm most nights so full day kindergarten isn't a life sucking event for kids-they coud still go to full day kindergarten and have play dates after school.

 

[golfgal]

I remeber when I went to half day kindergarten back in the dark ages we had cots and had to lay down for 20 minutes--we were only in school for three hours LOL!!!! They don't do any nap time in the schools anymore, even in full day kindergaten here!



I don't know any of my daughters friends that went to full day kindergarten that were falling asleep in cars on the way home! In fact they all had after school activities to do-play gym class, karate class, tball etc. We even had a group that went to the library story hour at night after school in kindergarten, no one was falling asleep. Even after going to kindergarten a full day my 4 year old still didn't go to sleep until 10pm most nights so full day kindergarten isn't a life sucking event for kids-they coud still go to full day kindergarten and have play dates after school.

Our kids had "rest time" right after lunch in kindergarten. Most of the kids just read books, a few would fall asleep during the first few weeks but by Christmas none of the kids were napping and they did away with rest time (they had "circle time" where the teacher read to them). I agree, NONE of our kids or their friends were that tired after school. If kids were falling asleep in the car home I would say that was more to do with their parents keeping them up too late then it was with being in school.

Again, having kids in both 1/2 and and full day kindergarten, the full day wins hands down.

 

[anniemae]

WE are struggling with this decision as well. Our district is 1/2 day with a full day option. The majority of kids in dd's pre-K class are doing full day next year. It is wildly popular. So popular they had to add an extra class to accommodate everyone who opted for full day.

Honestly, like many things in life, there are pro's and con's to both. I really think it depends on the child. Some are not ready for full day, and others are.

 

[Ceila]

One of the issues I have with the arguments in favor of full-day K is that it is necessary in order for the students to be prepared for 1st grade. Sorry, but logic that is backward. If the school sets the curriculum (based on state requirements), then they can adjust the 1st grade curriculum to account for half-day K. Likewise, if it's the state that is making full-day K necessary because of their 1st grade requirements, then adjust the 1st grade reqs.

I think the ideal arrangement for K is to offer a half-day program, with an extension available for full-day for students who may need extra help (but with plenty of time for exploring built in). Personally, my kids both did very well with half-day. Both are strong readers, both do well in all subject areas (straight A's for both this year). Not having full day didn't hurt them, although I know some students would benefit. That's why I like the option idea.

I honestly think that everything is being pushed to lower and lower grades unnecessarily. Kids aren't learning basic math because they have to learn algebra and geometry in 2nd grade. They aren't learning to think for themselves because they don't have enough time to figure things out on their own. And this isn't just academics...sports around here are a joke. There were signs posted around town for soccer skills for 18-month-olds. Seriously???

 

[Poohforyou]

My DD went to full day private kindergarten because our public school only offered 1/2 day and I work a few days a week. We didn't want to have to drop her at daycare, have her get bussed to school, bussed back to daycare and then picked up by one of us. It was less chaotic to keep her in full day kindergarten in a setting she was familiar with.

We lucked out in that she only had 5 kids in her class. They followed our public school program so learning took place for the morning and after lunch/rest there was more time for free play, arts & crafts etc.

To wrap up my ramblings, I don't think there is one right or wrong way. If given an option I think parents need to make the best choice for their child. If there isn't a choice parents need to make the best of a less than ideal situation.

 

[huey duey & luey]

I think it should be somewhere in the middle.
A half day is too short. They really get very little time to accomplish much. Add in specials and snack time its crazy.

My kids had half day K, and when they went to first grade it was a HUGE adjustment for them. They would come home exhausted and crabby and then add hw on top of it. I think a more gradual change would have been better. l think K should around 5 hours or so.

 

[NAB]

Well then you really wouldn't like to have them go to school here because we have a Junior kindergarden and some kids are only 3 when they start turning, 4 by Dec.

They they look so tiny coming out of school at the end of the day but they still have the energy to run and get out of line etc. Heck there back packs are bigger then they are.

Everyone is talking about the reading , math etc. But they learn the fine motor skills of with cutting etc too. Learn rules. Learn to pick up after them selves after eatting etc.

You lose a lot of teaching time , exspecially in the winter time. Get coats of f and on, etc . Recess time do it again, snack time. It is not as if they kids are learning the whole time they are there. And they do get play and quiet time.

My kids had all day Kindergarden , but every other day , they wanted to go every day.

 

[tlbwriter]

Con: 5 year old away from mother for 8 hours straight

What are the hours in your school? Is this a 4-day week or something? I've never heard of an 8 hour school day for kids of any age, let alone kindergarteners.

The full day kindergarteners were all falling asleep in the cars when being picked up.

Interesting. That wasn't my experience. Our kindergarten had afternoon "quiet time" (nap or reading) during the first half of the year, and then it was phased out in December. DD never fell asleep on the way home, and none of the other parents I knew complained about kids being extra tired either. Not saying your experience didn't happen, just that all of our kids were able to adjust just fine, and maybe there's something the school or parents need to do. For example, if my kid fell asleep on the way home every day, I'd put her to bed earlier.

I don't think there is a right or a wrong. Half day works best for some families. Full day is best for others.

 

[Kath2003]

Here, children start full-time school when they turn 5.

Before that, all children are entitled to 3 hours a day of pre-Kindergarten during ages 3 and 4. Almost all go to pre-Kindergarten.

I don't know what to tell you other than it we've got generations who went through that system and there are no more problems with them than there are any other generation

(We also finish school earlier too; traditional "school-based" education is only compulsory to the end of 10th grade. They are now introducing a new scheme which states that young people in 11th and 12th grades must be involved in some form of education, whether this be school-based, work-based or vocational college courses, until they are 18 years old).

 

[mjkacmom]

Ours just went full day this year. I was really hoping my kids would have it, since they do the same curriculum in full day, but it's spread out. My oldest (who is now still taking the highest courses offered, honored and advanced) didn't love kindergarten, because there was no free time, which she was used to in preschool. I think school should be fun, especially in the early years. All of my kids (so far) tested into the GT program (top 4%, so not a true GT program). However, I think all kids need more fun time in school, especially at that age.

 

[agnes!]

My DD was one of the last years in our county to go to half-day K. She also was never in a mixed-grade classroom, even though her school went to mixed-grade classrooms in the early grades (before 3rd Grade when the state testing really started). There was only one class (out of 4 in her grade) at the school that was single-grade.

She is graduating HS with Honors and with a 4.3 average. She was accepted at the 5 colleges she applied to (including a Public Ivy), getting scholarships to 4 of them. So I think she did ok.

YMMV and that's cool too.
agnes!

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Of course first grade teachers and working parents like it, it's free daycare and makes the teachers jobs easier. That doesn't make it an utter necessity. Half way through first grade they are all doing about the same either way. I thought offering it as an option was a great idea and was ticked off when they took away the option part and I had no choice but to send my youngest all day.

We pump more money into schools than ever before, we start kids younger, and keep them there longer. We are even talking about taking away summer vacation and making them go all year long. Yet somehow, none of it is making things "better." We always hear about how our system is "failing" our children. Maybe it's because what they need to learn cannot come from a classroom. Letting kids be home, unscheduled, running around the neighborhood, interacting without constant adult supervision, making friends, solving their own problems, hanging with mom and dad or grandma and grandpa while learning from them, free time, free thinking... that's what kids don't get anymore.

I'm as guilty of this as anyone. My kids are so scheduled, it's crazy! Not everything about "the good old days" is better than what our kids have, but this part is. No amount of money or hours in the classroom can duplicate it.

I might agree with you if what you're describing is what my students would have if we had 1/2 day programming. However, I don't have a single parent whose kids would be "running around the neighborhood unsupervised" or solving problems on their own. Some of my kids might have those experiences when their older sibling are home, but none of them have then when they are on their own,

More likely my K kids would be at home watching TV, or watching adults play video games, or at work with parents, or in a poor quality childcare setting.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Yep. I don't say it to offend, sorry if it comes off that way. Someone else here said it, too. Paraphrasing "the real ones who benefit are the first gade teachers because the little ones are already used to a full day routine." I'm sure that's true. It makes sense. It still doesn't convince me it's necessary or even beneficial. I saw nothing in my younger son's experience compared to his older siblings (older by only a few years, same teacher and everything) to convince me all day was better than half.

I guess I am confused by this logic. You could do away with every grade using this logic. "The real ones who benefit from high school are college professors because the students know how to read and write papers". It's ignoring the fact that students who enter college, or first grade or whatever, more prepared tend to leave more prepared, which benefits the students, and benefits the society they'll be living in and working in.

 

[Pigeon]

Our district only has half days. They are the only good district in the area that doesn't offer full days.

Half days were a complete waste of time. My kids were reading before they started, knew their numbers, etc. They were entirely ready for a full day and they are both nearly the youngest kids in their class.

In half days, by the time the kids get off the bus, take off their coats and boots, put their stuff away and have morning meeting, it's time to start packing up again.

But the district is very academic. So, they'd assign a ton of homework to kindergarteners to make sure they were accomplishing what they would have done had they been there for any length of time. Other than the social aspect, it would have made way more sense to homeschool my kids for K, and personally, I'm not a big fan of homeschooling.