Hi moms! Right about now I am having butterflies in my stomach. My first child and only son is starting kindergarten this fall. I already have him registered for the exception of whether I will place him in half day or full day kindergarten. He has had no experience going to preschool or head start. He has only been involved in church activities such as dance and Sunday school. I was thinking I should slowly transition him into Kindergarten since has been home with me, but a few ladies said it is better to place him in full day kindergarten because they retain more of what they learn. What is your opinion ladies? This is my first time so share with me your experiences and maybe I could see the bigger picture here. We have been told that are son is above average academically. He knows everything already kindergarten student should know so should he go full day. What is the importance? Or does it even matter? Thanks a lot!
Well to ease my pain I will be trying half day and as I see how he progresses I will choose to place him in full day or keep him in half day. Because it is more than just learning academically I chose to do this. He is a whole person, spirit, mind and body. I am so glad this option is opened up to me. I feel better now about my decision. I think sometimes as moms we know what to do in our hearts, but we like to get great counsel from other mommies. Thanks!
Full day kinder is the way to go! Love it!
It is all about education. they will be full day next year and this will prepare them. I do not even understand why schools still have half day kinder.
I would do full day. My nephew went to half day last year and had to take kingergarten over again this year but this time his mom has him in all day and he is doing great. I also feel that it gets them ready for the 1st grade better.
My son just finished Kindergarten. He went to Paradise for Tots. Before enrolled there, for two weeks I had him at a charter school, which was no choice full day. What bothered me is that every day he came home and said, "I watched this movie today." I thought, why should he be at school watching a movie when he could be at home with me?! At PFT I started him with a half day every day except for Thursdays, when he went full days. The second half of the days were 'enrichment' activities, like Art, music, computers, gym, etc., so I didn't feel so bad about him missing those because I had the opportunity to enrich him myself through activities we do at home. At the beginning of the second semester I started putting him in full day 3 then 4 then 5 days a week, so at the end of the year he was in full day all week, but he had transitioned nicely, I had, too! And he knows what to expect for first grade (assuming he goes - I'm considering homeschooling!).
In the long run, it probably won't make your son more successful academically or in the world if he's in all-day kindergarten, so I would recommend the half-day. They are so young and the more time with you, the better in my opinion. And once they grow up, these years are gone forever so I'd spend as much time with him as possible.
I was advanced academically as a child, but not ready emotionally for all day. I turned 5 right at the cutoff date, and my mom decided to put me in kindergarten (half day) instead of waiting another year to enroll me in school. That was okay, but the next year when it came time for all day for first grade, I cried every day and missed playing with my mom and sister so bad! So after 2 weeks of that, my mom actually held me back and put me back in half-day kindergarten for second year. As it turns out, I actually ended up skipping a grade in high school, and then graduated half a year early on top of that and started college at age 17, so in the end I actually graduated high school before the kids that I had originally started kindergarten with. In other words, being held back that year did not set me back at all in the long run, but rather helped me feel more secure by having more time with my mom, plus I was always advanced in my classes instead of struggling which helped my self-esteem and confidence.
Michelle, I will try to keep this short, but since we are all moms here we know that there are almost no 'black and white' answers on most of these topics!
We all need to start looking at our children as whole people. Not just the academics but also the emotional & physical development as more & more research finds these things are linked. We all feel SO much pressure to fit it, and for our kids to fit in too. The bottom line is, is your son ready for kindergarten emotionally? If you have the resources to stay home with him, why push him? Try the half day and see what happens!! After a few months, if he is handling the transition well then you can always move him up (if the school will allow it). If he is not ready for the full day, it may not manifest itself right away, you will start to notice small behavioral changes in him over time, so you need to take it slowly and communicate with him as much as possible.
And you know what, they grow up so fast, why not just do the half day & enjoy him being at home as long as you can? It will give him more time to keep adjust to his new baby sister, and more importantly, for them to bond! It is a win-win for everybody!!
Good luck with it!
B.
I was alittle nervous about my daughter going full day kindergarten but she LOVES it. I say try one or the other and if it doesnt work change it. I would try with full day first, but thats just me. Good Luck, I really think it is harder on us than it is on them.
all day kindergarten could possibly be too much for him seeing that he never went to preschool. but then again you said he knows lots of such he would have learned in preschool. think about this: he is able to sit still for an hour and stay focused on whatever school would have him do? I am not familiar with full day kindergarten verses 1/2 day-- I just know I would ot let my child repeat kindergarten if the need rose. it really would not hurt to ask your son what he would like as long as you tell him that you are just thinking about it right now and what he says may not be what he does. he very well could be all ready and willing to jump right into learning lots of stuff.
I had the same feelings sending my son, Sam to school. He too had really never had any preschool, with the exception of church and a parks and rec program. He has attended all-day kindergarten this year and LOVES it. His learning has just taken off, and it's been really fun to see him learn all kinds of new things. My daughter was in half-day kindergarten and was no where near Sam at this stage. All-day kindergarten gives the teacher the opportunity to teach the kids all sorts of different things, that they normally wouldn't have time for in a half-day setting. He is learning the states, bones of the body and is reading! I am a big fan of all-day kindergarten. If your son is above average - academically, then this might just be the best thing for him.
I have the same issue with my oldest daughter, we register her in May, the school she will be going too, has what they call a "transition" period....for the first 2 weeks they go from 7:40 to 10 or something close to that, and after those 2 weeks, she will go from 7:40 to 1:30 or so. I think it will be good to go through the transition period, I am not sure where you are enrolling your son, but you may want to look into seeing if the school has that option. Hope it helps.
Hello M.,
It seems so long ago now that my youngest is in 3rd grade, however I must note how impressed I was with the full day kindergarten program.
My oldest child went to Montessori and kindergarten was actually the crowning year of that curriculm. Consequently we didn't experience traditional kindergarten until my youngest.
When my youngest went he also was academically advanced. What was most impressive is the varied learning levels that enter kindergarten. Some are very early readers, if reading at all and some reading at 4th grade level. More importantly there are some that are socialized having been in group programs and some that were group naive. What is remarkable is that at the end of the year- they are all ready for 1st grade. These kindergarten teachers are magicians. It was a great learning and social experience for my son and I would highly recommend it.
As far as academics, if you believe your child is gifted- have him tested. There are federal dollars and mandates that will prompt an individual educational plan (IEP). I can assure you there will be additional services for your child if you as the parent stay on top of it.
I am a full time working mother and I assure you my child gets additional services, not because I make copies and know other mothers, but because I know how children learn, I have his gifted areas documented and I know the law.
Enjoy all the moments, they don't end at kindergarten- they just keep getting better.
I would vote for half day kindergarden unless you really need to put him in full day. My son used to come home for kindergarden exhausted at midday. Even when he started first grade it was a real adjustment for him to be away from home until 3:00. He was very tired for the first few months. I dont think that much learning goes on in the after lunch period of the day. You could probably have the same educational impact by working with him for an extra hour a day on his basics.
