What's your Kindergartener's schedule like?

[bajanswife]

Kids go to school from 8.30 until 2.30 every day from age 4 here, and it's fine. At my kids' school the reception kids (age 4-5) aren't allowed to do any after school activities through the school, and if their birthday is between April and August (i.e. they are only just 4 when school starts in Sep) they leave at 12.30 during term 1. In reception, the whole day kids have to lie down and sleep/rest on mats after lunch in term 1, and gradually over the course of the year they move to just resting heads on desks. There's an emphasis on keeping the kids well rested, but certainly they can handle whole day. And going every weekday gives the kids a real sense of structure, though I guess it would be the same for kids who went 4 days in a row (or 3) instead of all 5. In many households the parents are both working (or there is only one parent, who is working), so weekdays and weekends are very different. I think in those cases it would be confusing to a child to have some weekdays at school and some at a daycare/caregiver.

I don't know my kids' exact schedules, but their days are similar, as they are only one school year apart (DS is 5 going on 6, and DD is just 4 and therefore half day this term, but will be full day next term like her brother). They start with school assembly at 8.30, and class starts at 9. Mornings are usually when most academic stuff happens, but they do a lot of arts and crafts, music and movement, outdoor stuff (mini field trips around the school to collect stuff to use in class, like seeds etc.) as well. They get first break around 11, and second break at 12.30. At 1.30 when class resumes, the younger classes take it easy and rest or get read to.

They tend to have a loose schedule e.g. in reception (4 - 5 year olds) each week they do a different letter; Mondays they have show and tell and share their weekend activities with the class, draw pictures of what they did etc.; Tuesdays they will bring in objects beginning with their letter of the week etc. I'm not too familiar with DS' schedule yet (he's 5 - 6 age group). I know each week is a different theme for them - recently it's been safari animals, because the school fair is next weekend and the theme is "Safari".

Our school system is not the same as in the U.S., so you can't really compare the two. I really just posted to show that although we start the structured stuff and full day regular school earlier, the kids are happy and cope very well with it. i.e. it's not the terrible thing that some people seem to think it would be!

 

[Rachie0507]

I guess I'm in the minority but I prefer half day kindergarten. I'm relieved that we still have the option in our town. There is one full day class and 5 or 6 half day classes per session. My DD goes mornings from 8:40-11:20. I honestly don't know her schedule. I do know they break into groups and rotate from activity to activity with their group. She is in a class with 17 kids and one teacher, NO aides. Budget cuts hit hard this year. She also has gym once a week, art and music every other week and guidance every other week. She gets home from school exhausted and full of new information! I was nervous about all the things she wouldn't be getting because of budget cuts but I am thrilled with what she is getting from the school. One of her friends from preschool is going to full day kindergarten at a local parochial school and he is so cranky by the time he gets home that his mom doesn't think he benefitting much yet.