Half or Full Day

I AM a full day kindergarten teacher, and there are many benefits in it. It's not just "filler" activities that go on throughout the day. You are WAY less rushed to fit everything in with full-day, and the extended day allows the teacher and students to stay on a topics if the little ones aren't really getting it. The teacher and students can get WAY more in depth with different topics than you can in half day. this supplies the little learners with different ways to learn and solidify their knowledge.

As for the melt downs, some kids have those at first (not as many as you would think), but I can count on one hand the amount of times a student had one after October. Plus, the kids who are in full-day kindergarten are way more ready for the first grade schedule than those in half-day. A good teacher knows that they can only keep little minds on-task for so long, and the activity gets switched up fairly often.

HTH!

Hi! Boy would I like to talk about this issue. I prefer the half days for the little people. I work as a substitute so of course a full day would pay me more. But here is what I think after I have worked those full days with those beautiful little people. In my opinion it really doesn't work that well.The children are needy at that age and they do get tired and they miss their moms and dads and brothers and sisters. So they cry or feel bad and then teacher will try to make them feel better. I am not so sure the structured learning process survives those full days. The classes I have had show that there is a meltdown after a couple of hours among many children. I have found myself trying to comfort children during a large portion of the class and the other children needed me,too. So my opinion, goes against all the very important people, I say mom hug and hold your little person the other half of the day if you can. They grow way too quickly. If they want they can take extra classes in college to make up that lost half day in kindergarten.

Hi,
I teach a full day kindergarten program and I obviously think that it is extremely beneficial to children, however, nobody knows your child like you do and you should trust your instincts as a mom. The children in my program do very well, however, most of their parents are working and so they would be in another daycare arrangement, so obviously a full day kindergarten is preferable. If you are able to be home with your child in the PM and give him quality time then that is irreplaceable. This is the last year he will be able to do that. Good luck, My daughter is going to kindergarten this year too, and even though I teach kindergarten I am a nervous wreck too! This is a very big transition year and I am sure he will do great, having a caring parent is a huge indicator of success in kindergarten and it is clear he has that :)!

At the school my daughter will be attending for kindergarten in the fall, the students that need extra help getting ready for first grade are the ones that go to full day kindergarten. Everyone else goes to half days. My daughter is where she should be, so she's going half days. I don't think that they can teach new things to the full day kids because then the half day kids WOULD be behind. I think you know your son the best and if you think half days are right for him - go with that.

I wish I had a choice! I'm stuck with half day because they (the school) doesn't have space for the kids all day. If I had a choice, full day all the way! It would allow me more one-on-one time with my one-year old and the 5 year old is already in camp from 9-2, so the time adjustment is no biggie. My mom is a substitute grade school teacher and she feels the full day kids are more "relaxed". Since the day isn't so short, the teachers aren't rushing to squeeze in all the activities of the day. She said it seems that the kids barely get their coats off to begin their day and rush right through til it's time to go home. I think full day gives them more time to concentrate on things and it's fun to eat lunch with their friends. That s when they really get to know each other and form bonds. My son had a "lunch-bunch" with a few of the kids in preschool and now they are all best of friends. It is your call, but I would go full day if given the option.
J.

My nephew went to full day and really they don't learn much more, they just have more play time and other enrichment activities, and also rest time and lunch. You can waste a lot of time with that sort of stuff. The only thing that might be different is that 1st grade is quite an adjustment for some kids because it is their first full-day experience. And the kids who had full-day kindergarten won't have that adjustment to make. My nieces did half-day kindergarten (his sisters who are older) and they are both right where they should be in school. (My daughters did half day -- we didn't have a choice at our school.) Anyhow, I don't think you should stress about it. You know your son, and if he gets tired, he probably needs an extra year of adjusting with half days. Learning and school should be fun and if he feels like it is a long day and gets tired, it might make him dislike school.

when my son was in nursery school - he started half day, and about half way through the year, he was ready to switch. you might ask if that is an option - my son wasn't ready in the beginning, but was later on...

that being said, if you have to choose between the two, pick full day. kids tend to rise to the occasion, and most kindergarten programs that i am familiar with are full day with no option for half day.

Hi there! First off, in my opinion, it doesn't matter what the other kids are doing - do what YOU think is right - you are the MOM!!!! And whatever you pick is the best! My daughter went to 3-year old preschool 3 days a week (but it was full day, and then the next year for 4-year preschool, my husband wanted her to go all 5 days for the full day. (He said almost all the kids were doing it!) Now I work 3 days a week, so I was able to stay at home with her the other 2 days, so I figured she was going full days the rest of her life later, so I decided to put her in the 3 full days again, and I am glad that I did. Now she will be going into Kindergarten this year, and they only offer the full day, so the decision is taken away from me! ha! But I know she is ready this year, but she is also older cuz' her bday is November! I was always told that the 1st half of the day is more schooling and the 2nd half is more "play". Maybe you could talk to the TEACHER and see what she thinks, and then maybe you could decide better. Either way I think he will be fine, but it is up to YOU, the MOM!!! Best of luck to you!!! Also, the reason why most people send their kids full day 5 days is because they work and it is more convenient for them too (or they have no choice) - so do what is best for you!!! Good luck!

I know some moms that send their kids to full day kindergarten, and from what they have told me, the second half of class isn't much of learning new things. They can't really teach only the full day students things that the half day students aren't there for. I was glad my school only had half day because I don't feel like my daughter would have been ready for full day at that time.