Half Day or Full day Kindergarten?

Question

I know someone asked this question but I need advice.

My son is 5 and has been in preschool/daycare since the age of 3. The first preschool was allday because I was working. Then last year I lost my job and put him in private preschool 3 days a week from 12:15-2:45. Now I have a choice of 1/2 day K or pay $75.00 a week for full day. I have keep going back and forth. I was told that it is worth it but I was also told it wasn't.

I know he would do good either way, he is very excited. I don't want him to be overwhelmed and hate it. Is the program worth the cost? some say yes some say no

Answer 1

Full day, only if it's every second day.

Otherwise, half days every day.

Answer 2

i think the main question is what would your son be doing with the other half of the day.  if it's something stimulating, exciting, educational in a low-key (and low-stress) way, and fun, then it's probably at least as good as (if not better than) full-day k.  if not, then he might be better off with the kindergarten.

Answer 3

this answer lies all within is it best for that child...and only you know that.  in my opinion, without knowing the child, i would say he would benefit most from being in k half day and the other half the day w/ you.  a half day of kindergarten is really enough for him.

Answer 4

If you can afford the 75, I would send him all day.  Kindergarten isn't just for drawing and coloring anymore.  The teachers have full day lesson plans and they actually learn all day.

Answer 5

My daughter went to full day kindergarten and she learned so much.  She could read by the time she was done and I don't mean a little here or there I mean people were astounded by the words she could read.  I know other kids that she went to pre-school with that only went to 1/2 day kindergarten and they said that it went by so fast that by the time they got there and take out snack time etc they only had time to color a couple of worksheets or whatever.  Not even reading ready (which is what they call it when they recognise some words and know they letters sounds etc.)  I would definitely recommend the full day.

Answer 6

I would go with full day because when he eventually has to take full day he might get tired from being used to half day

Answer 7

Well, i definitely think you should go for the half day!

At a young age, you dont want to overwelhm him

with being at school and away from home for so many

hours,

Plus if he doesnt like it, he wont have to be there all day long.

Answer 8

your son needs his education he will thank you when he is older so i would say a full day

Answer 9

Where I live, Kindergarten is mandatory and full day.  My daughter did perfectly fine with it, as did I, my brothers, and my brother's children.  BUT, we don't have to pay for it.  Our public school system provides it.  They also do full day preschool.

I think it's entirely up to you and what you can afford and feel comfortable with.

Answer 10

I prefer 1/2 day for my kids.  As your son has been in day care he may not need the adjustment period but I think that it's very overwhelming for a 5 yr old to deal with a full academic day.  In kindergarten he will have homework and will be challenged.  My son was very advanced but he still had some social skills and organization skills to learn.  It's been a nice stepping stone for him and next year he will be in school for a longer portion of the day.

Answer 11

I would go for the full day program.  Kindergarten is a wonderful learning opportunity!

Answer 12

All day kidergarden is a great thing for kids. I can't give you an answer that is best for you because I do not know where your son stands educationally or about your finances.

If he likes school and you have the money for full day K, then it is worth it...educationally and socially.  If he needs the extra work to be ready for 1st grade (which is tougher than when we were kids from what I see with my 1st grader) then it will only benefit your son.

I have 3 boys, 1 in 1st grade, 1 in all day K and my 3 yr old.

The elementary school my boys goes to does testing in sept for all kidergardeners (they begin with 1/2 days).  If they could use the additional schooling, they send home papers for the extended day program which puts the child in full day K at no cost to us (it is a public school).  Both my boys have been in this program.  They tested again in Jan and have kept all kids in the full day K for the rest of the year. Having the days for me (I work or am in class from when they go to school until noon) and the mid afternoon/nights and weekends with them works well for me.  I do enjoy my time to clean, shop, study or relax when they are in school until 2:45

If the money is not an issue, it is worth it.  You can also look into public schools to see if they have the extended day programs if you want him in the classes but can't afford it.

Private school is great but at such a young age, I haven't noticed much difference between public and private schools with parents I know using private school.

Answer 13

5 years old? definetly full day. he will be a better person when he grows up. no lie.

Answer 14

I don't know your financial situation, but I am sure that comes into play in this question almost as much as whether it will be worth it for him.  Both of my children were in 1/2 day preschool for 2 years before kindergarten.  We chose all day kindergarten for them both because we felt that 1/2 day was an awful lot like preschool (albeit a little more difficult).  We also felt that since the afternoons of all day kindergarten were the "fun" parts here, that they'd be missing out on the good stuff and only stuck with the "boring" school parts.  Plus, adjusting to all day when the afternoon is fun is easier than adjusting when the work parts of school are split up all day like in 1st grade.  Both of my children did very well with all day kindergarten.  Do you have the option of switching him if you feel you should pull it back to 1/2 day (or move it up to full day) during the year?  Perhaps choose one and see how he's doing, and if you can switch him if it's too much/not enough for him.  In my opinion, go for the full day.

Answer 15

at that age a half day is best. full days are stressful. they need time to play, be with parents, and relax and regenerate from their stressful kindergarten days.

Answer 16

My mom taught kindergarten for 22 years, and was sooo against it when her district went to all-day kindergarten.  She said that kids that age are too tired to learn anything more in the afternoon, and all that was added was  nap time and another recess and such, at a HUGE expense to the taxpayer.

Answer 17

You need to remember why full day kindergarten has become so popular. It is because so many mothers started working full time. It is wonderful for those families. For families where the mother is at home during the day it is not as necessary. Kids at that age can only sit still and pay attention for so long. Full day kindergarten adds in more snack, play, quiet time, and sometimes nap time. If you are at home during the day he could be doing all of these things with you at home. It is all up to you. If you feel you need more of a break then all day would help. If what you are hoping for is that your child would learn more in full day, that is not usually the case.

If you are you are worried that he will be missing out and not learning as much you can teach him a lot yourself at home. I have a list of educational links for kids.

http://www.yourfunfamily.com/links.html

Answer 18

What is the curriculum like in the second half of the day?

If it is optional,  I would try the full day.  If you see it's not working you can always just drop down to the half.

Mine went full day and I loved it, but it was full academic program with music, french, and science in addition to traditional curriculum.

Answer 19

kindergarten should be full day because it is what they will have to get used to all the way up to 12th grade I would go ahead and let him stay full day he will have to sooner or later anyways, and at least you have the option if it gets to much but next year there will be no option.and at least he wont be in shock in real kindergarten that is what pre school is for to prepare for kindergarten. and around here its either $100 a week or if your lucky to find a lottery founded school that is free except for lunch.         good luck

Answer 20

full day, absolutely!