Should a kindergartner go to school all day?

Question

My Aunt refuses to let her child go to school for kindergarten all day. She is a stay at home mom who says that the last half of the school day is just for parents who need their children babysat. I haven't been to kindergarten in forever so I wouldn't know. I also think she is missing out on time to socialize with other children. I guess my question is do teachrs teach things needed for children after lunch? And do you think the child will be behind socially if she doesn't go?

Answer 1

For my own child, if there were more education out there, I'd want her to have it.  Period.  

Now as a teacher who's taught full day kindergarten, yes your aunt is really causing her child to miss out.  Nowadays there are actually education standards that a child needs to meet in kindergarten.  They vary from state to state, but in many places a child is at risk of being held back if she does not meet those standards.  By the end of kindergarten, a child in most states should be able to identify all letters of the alphabet plus their sounds, and use those sounds to read consonant-vowel-consonant words (like "cat").  The child should also be able to read around 40 sight words, represent numbers of objects with the number symbols and show the correct number of objects after seeing that symbol (if I show you a 4, you put down 4 blocks).  A child should also be able to generate or finish a pattern, sort objects by many different traits, use vocabulary like "more, less, most, least" and the list goes on and on.  

The kindergarten program that I personally taught was far too rigorous for half a day.  Even if your aunt stays home and teaches the little girl, there IS something to be said about having a teaching degree and experience educating children to do specific things.  Most of us teachers really do know what we're doing.  Not to mention the issue of being able to persevere through a school day full of activity.  Your little cousin would be better off in school all day.

Answer 2

We only sent our kids to half day kindergarten too. They passed the tests with flying colors, were if anything too social, and still needed naps in the afternoon.We felt all day school was too much for them.

You do know don't you that federal law  only requires a child  to be in school starting at age 7.

Answer 3

In my opinion a full day is too long for a 5 year old.   I am a stay at home mom and my 5 year old goes to pre school three days a week before that she was home with me because for the first 2 years of her life she was in day care all the time so I like the progression for three half days a week to 5 half days a week then next year she will go full days and I think she will be ready for it.  My daughter as very social and she does not have any problem making friends

Answer 4

Kindergarten is a full day in my city...it's only 6 hours though.

Answer 5

With my first three kids I was like your aunt and refused to let my children stay the whole day. I wanted to enjoy feeding them lunch and playing with them. I didn't mind, and they didn't either. But my fourth child, changed the rules, and after only the second week of kindergarden she refused to come home with me, and would run around the room cause she was having so much fun playing with the otheer kids. Being a social person, and being used to hearing so much noise with her siblings, I think she is lonely and was not enjoying my company alone. (maybe i am no longer great company after the third child) but either way, i conceided and she stays the full day. But at least when i pick her up, she is happy and ready to go home. Although I am disappointed still, cause i miss staying with her alone before her sisters return from school.

Answer 6

If she is a stay at home mom, I can totally understand why she doesn't want her child in full day.  I'm a stay at home mom too, and my theory is that by gr.1, my daughter will be in school full day and I will miss all the time we get to spend together at lunch and after lunch.

And if you ask those full day kids, I'll bet most of them miss mom and dad and want to go home at noon too!  My daughter's school has gym, music, french, arts and crafts, circle time and montessori time in the morning, and after lunch, they have nap and another montessori time.  So, clearly, it's not really useful to put them in the afternoon (however, I'm sure all school will stress that it's important to attend full time, to maximize their income).  I think 3 hours is enough for kindergarteners.  They get cranky and upset after a certain time, and I think noon is about as much as my daughter can take for school each day.

And don't get me started on after school programs... I know they're there for parents who have to work full time, but once, my husband got a carpool with another parent who has his son in full day in the same school as my daughter, my husband said, 'by 5:30pm, when parents start arriving to pick up their kids, the children would all stand around the window looking out like some poor little things waiting for someone to fetch them home'.  I cannot bear to even think of my daughter in this situation.

Answer 7

I think 5 years old is much to young to start going to school all day.  I think 1/2 days for kindergarten are just enough time for that age group.  My little girl was very tired at the end of her afternoon kindergarten day, an entire day would've been awful for her.

Answer 8

My kids went to K all day (from 8:35-3:25).  The second half is not for parents who need daycare.  Maybe 10 years ago when all kids did then was color and draw.  Not anymore.  Kids are learning to read and write in kindergarten and having half days is not enough time to teach that.  

My school just went to the all day K about 3 years ago and the teachers are still talking about much it helped the kids.

To the first poster:  my kids were reading before K also, but I do think the kids benefit from having all day kindergarten.  To use your statement about not needing 6 hours of school to learn to read - that can be said for anything a child is required to learn.  So, why send you kids to school at all, why not home school them?

Answer 9

In my state they have to go all day-& yes teachers still teach after lunch! My son is in kindergarten this year & they don't even have nap time anymore so they have more time to learn! He may have to repeat the grade if he's not there enough-my son can only miss 10 unexcused days in a school year & that includes being pick up early

Answer 10

I know how your aunt feels. My son will start kindergarten next year and it is a full day. That is so long for little kids.  I wish it was only half a day but I would be worried about what my son was missing in the afternoon portion. I wouldn't want him to be at a disadvantage so he will be staying for the whole day next year :( I'm going to miss him!

Answer 11

Kindergarten isn't what it used to be....when I was a kid it was socializing and play time.  Now kids learn the fundamentals for the rest of their educations.  They learn to read, write and do math...they have a full day of learning, not 1/2 day learning 1/2 day play.  With full day K the kids also participate in art, music and gym class...I think it's a real benefit...if they don't go to full day K, they will be educationally behind those that did.  Why put your child at an educational disadvantage in 1st grade?

Answer 12

Yes, I do think that children should go to kindergarten all day.

There is a specific kindergarten curriculum in each school district.  It generally revolves around basic reading and math skills that will be built on in first grade.  

Whether a child goes to full-day kindergarten or half-day kindergarten (our school district has both), they must learn the same curriculum.  So your child can be rushed and pressured through the lessons in 3 hours a day at breakneck speed;  or, they can learn at a slower, more enjoyable pace with time for stories, socializing, music, and getting used to a "real" school day.

Children that attend all-day kindergarten are much better prepared for first grade, and do better on testing in the long run.

Answer 13

Yes, it should be full day, and school days should be longer like when I was child.  These short days are ridulous, with the price of fuel and food these days.    Parents like you aunt with her unrealistic thinking as doing grave disservice to their children. They are hindering them socially and emotionally.....children learn now in kindergarten, it isnt just play time.

Answer 14

My sister taught Kindergarten for years and she said that a full day is better for the child.  It gives them time to relax and socialize and still get in the education issues.  With a longer day the kids also can have more than one session of the same subject area.  

I do not see K as a babysitting service because when a child moves on to first grade they will have many educational abilities under their belt.  And, no the kid won't be behind socially if she doesn't go because hopefully there are other social situations like playing with neighbors or at the park or church to augment social skills developed in school.

Answer 15

My kids are going to kindergarten next year. In our district, it is full day, but parents are allowed to pull their kids out after lunch. Personally, I think full-day is great! It gets them a TON learning, playing, and socializing. Do you know her reasoning for pulling him out? Is it because she think he will get too tired? Most of the kindergarten in most states now have nap-time right after lunch. They HAVE to lay down and be quiet, but they don't have to go to sleep, but they could. Did he go to preschool? It is basicly like the final step before you reach the all-day learning and little play. I'm sure your aunt will work it out with the teacher. If she still wants to do it like this, maybe the teacher can teacher mostly in the morning, so he knows everything he needs to. Good luck! Talk to her. Maybe she didn't relize the entire situation.

Answer 16

I think it's ridiculous to say (as some here did) that kids who don't go full day kindergarten will be behind those who went full day.

My boys went half day and my twins are now 13 and honor roll students and my 10 yr old who also went half day is high honors (straight A). They've always done well.

That is like saying kids who learn to read  before kindergarten will always be ahead of kids who don't learn until kindergarten. By the end of kindergarten they all even out. My older 3 kids learned to read in kindergarten and are all three above average readers.

Not everyone has the option either. Some places are half day like it or not, some are full day like it or not and some are half day with full day option. Where I live they only offer half day, there is no full day unless you send your child to private school.

I also notice that here when kids go to first they are tired at the end of the day and they are 6 yrs old then. It must be harder on a kid who is 5, some of them starting at 4 and going all day learning like that. I think there is too much pressure on kids these days and it's no wonder we are getting more and more cases of ADHD ad ADD.

Answer 17

kindergartner is important and yes a full day is important too.  It gives them time to learn, play with kids their own age and have fun too.

Answer 18

Full day is great, but only if it's every second day.

Otherwise, half day every day.

Answer 19

Full-day kindergarten is great for two-working-parent families.  There is also evidence it's helpful for at-risk kids or kids in at-risk neighborhoods.

But personally I don't think a kindergartener ideally should go to school all day.  Two of my kids were offered only half-day kindergarten.  In the second half of the day *I* was teaching them ... and they were playing, being outside, going on trips to farms and walks in the woods, and socializing with other children.  I think that's far better than sitting at school learning how to write an "S" for another three hours a day.  Both of them are now working significantly ahead of grade level.

My school system has changed, and now my third will be attending full-day kindergarten.  Personally, I think it's a shame.  Kids don't just learn from being in classrooms.  They learn from experiencing life.

edit -- for those who say you need K to learn to read, etc. ... my kids were reading before starting K.  you need an adult to teach things like that, but you don't need six hours a day at school!

lastedit -- and what's the big race? if you put a two-year-old in "full day 'school'" they'd learn academics faster, too.  that doesn't mean it's the best thing for the kid.  and pandabear ... the answer to your question as to why i don't homeschool is because my kids are really shy and i believe they need the social interaction.  maybe where you live there are gifted and talented programs for kids who need more challenge, but not in my school system.  that means that my child who was reading at a fifth grade level in kindergarten has been bored out of her mind at school.  home is still where she gets the challenge she needs.

Answer 20

Full day kindergarten is completely unnecessary for the child.  It can be a help for working parents.

Kids have plenty of time to socialize through after-school classes, trips to parks, time with friends and family.

I don't know where people get this idea that school is the only place to socialize.

Answer 21

I don't think it harms them to go all day.  My kids did, I didn't need a babysitter, all day everyday is the current Kindergarten schedule in my area.  By the end of the year the kids are reading and there are very little toys in the classroom, they start with lots, but the teachers convince them that putting the toys away is a good idea.  It gets them ready for grade 1.

When I was kid and lived where I do now K was all day every second day, and when I moved across the country it was everyday for 1/2 the day.  Now I only see that in Pre-K.  

Did she do this with all of her children, or she just having a hard time letting go of the baby?

Answer 22

We have Junior and Senior Kindergarten here, both are full days, its not play time anymore, it is a boost for their education, they learn the fundamentals earlier and it makes it easier for them. Its new for them, its constant interaction, and visual appeal for them, to them its exciting to be learning. I know my daughters were very proud to be reading and learning. For sure, I would agree, full day kindergarten.

My son did half days, there was no other option, it seemed as soon as theyd calm down, it would be time to leave, no time to get projects done, and it wasnt consistant. Nope, full days all the way, its better for them.

Answer 23

I'm moving from one state which has half day kindergarten to another state that has full day kindergarten...my first daughter went half day and this coming up year my other daughter will start full day kindergarten...I wish they only had half day because my youngest daughter is soooo shy and such a momma's girl that I think it would be best for her only to go half day starting out....i think it would be best for kids at the beginning of the year to just to half day and work up to a full day.

Answer 24

The children learn the most after they have lunch and have fed their brains. They can concentrate more and retain more information, especially if they nap after lunch.

Answer 25

There is so much additional pressure on school systems with sol's, no child left behind, and other testings that kids need to be far more prepared than they were twenty years ago.  

Many teachers that I've spoken with have complained that they cannot accomplish what they need to with half day kindergarten.  It is very different now and by the time the kids are dropped off in the morning, start lessons, have lunch (still mandatory in a half day), go back, and then they dismiss.  There is not nearly enough time in a half day program to properly prepare the children for first grade.

I love full day kindergarten.  Both of my kids went to the full day program.

Answer 26

I am not sure what they do in kindergarten but here it isn't a option for your kid to go a full day or half day. They tell you this is the time they have to be here and this is the time they go home. If you pick them up early to many times then they count it against them. If you are talking about prekindergarten then she is probly right. My child goes to prek from 830 to 12. After that starts daycare. This they go outside to play for a little bit then take a nap for a hour or two and then they play or whatever untill the parent picks them up. WHen my husband is working she stays all day. Now that he isn't she gets picked up at 12 because there is a extra fee if they stay after that.

Answer 27

Your aunt is correct. Any hours after regular school hours is considered "after care" and is basically day care. Kindergarten hours vary by school here but generally starts between 8 and 8:30 and ends anytime from 1-2 or 2:30 (usually around 6 hours). Most teachers recommend children to be picked up by 3:00 if they are in after care as is it such a long day for the child.

After care consists or play time and some structured activities but this greatly depends on the staff (it's generally not the teacher the kindergartener has had during the day). Another thing to consider is that there may be children from K-6th grade all together in after care. Again, this depends on the school.

Your aunt is wise to pick up her child. My son is completely wiped out when I get him and after care would certainly be too much for him. Your aunt knows her child and is making a good decision. Her child will not be socially behind in the least.

EDIT: Is the child in pre-K? Because in Kindergarten, you don't choose the hours. You attend for the full school day (whatever time that may be). In pre-K, you can have a part day, school day, etc. The choice in yours but not in K.