What has your experience been with all day Kindergarden?

Question

Did your kids like it? Was it a big adjustment? Any suggestions/ tips for my son who is starting NEXT WEEK!! (I can't believe it!)

I am super-excited for him but a little bit anxious also. Thanks for any and all input.

Answer 1

I was a really shy child, and didn't speak to any of the other children (and stayed that way until I reached middle school in the sixth grade). So, I never got the full excitement of my kindergarten experience. However, I remember thinking how much I loved to color and have my picture hung up on the wall (which was basically all you do, besides learn your ABCs and simple numbers). Make sure your son gets a good night sleep, at least eight hours, before he has to go to school in the morning, and encourage him to try to talk to the other students so he can make "friends". The biggest step from staying at home to kindergarten is the amount of structure there is. He's going to have to follow the rules, take a nap when instructed, and use that brain of his to learn and excel.

Good luck :)

Answer 2

well i went to half day kindergarten, but when my family moved, my sister went to all day. i thought her experience was much better than mine! she was a bit nervous to start but after learning that i was going all day to the same school, she was reassured. to help your son adjust, get him excited by playing school for an hour, packing his own lunch, and doing crafts that might be found in kindergarten (drawing his name by gluing down cheerios, using blocks to add and subtract, have him read books to you-- if he cant he can make up a story to go with the pictures, ect.), also have him pick out a backpack he likes.

all day kindergarten leaves more time for an enriched curriculum. my sister got to cook their snacks, go to music and gym each day, and had more time to learn the basics like reading, adding and subtracting, telling time, ect. without being rushed through the school day. she loved it!!!

good luck!

Answer 3

I personally think its too much.  I believe all day kindergarten is why many young boys are having difficulty adjusting to school.  They have so much energy, and to have to sit for seven hours!  Ridiculous!  I have several friends and relatives who have had to hold their boys back because of this.

Answer 4

It was great! He went every second day, all day, because of busing. I wouldn't have wanted him to go every day, all day.

Just don't let him see YOUR anxiety! Also, don't do the opposite and build it up too much, let him discover things there for himself.

(and don't feel bad if you cry, it's natural!)

Answer 5

One of my kids did half day, which was good for him. The other child did full days 2-3 times per week. It was great for her.  My third child will be doing full-days 5 X per week (my how things change in a few years.)   I think everyday will be a hard adjustment for her, the others were fine though.  My first would never have handled full days.

Answer 6

Your're super excited. Make your son super excited about it too!

Answer 7

My daughter loved it as long as you get your kids to bed at a resonable time things should be ok. GOod Luck

Answer 8

My my children both attended full day Kindergarten, so I can't compare it to half day by experience..... but I've discussed it with my friends and all of their children had adjustment periods just like mine, the difference being that mine didn't have to also get used to full day when they started first grade. I guess the decision wasn't that tough for me since both my brother and I also attended full day Kindergarten.  

Answer 9

I was super nervous too.  But, my son absolutely loved it.  He had a lot of fun.

Just a tip for a new Kindergarten mom, it sounds like "kinder - garden", but it's actually "garTen".

Answer 10

it was amazing for my daughter and she adjusted very well

she started preschool the year before and went tues and thurs for two hours

last year she went to kindergarten tues and thurs and every second friday all day

it was very easy for her to adjust and she got used to taking a packed lunch to school and a book bag and everything and it felt like real school to her without being too much (ie every day)

now she is starting grade one in two weeks and she was so excited until she found out she had to go every day haha...i think she didnt quite understand what every day meant...she said when do i get any days off?  she thought that meant weekends too hahah

Answer 11

Just be ready for him to look like a MAC truck hit him when he gets home!  He will be on a "high" telling you ALL the things that he did that day - along with every other day until he is used to it...but as soon as his little head hits the pillow - he will be asleep!  

I grew up with all day K, and so did my older kids...now that we live in another state, they had 1/2 day K, up until the time that my littlest one went.  I think it's great...

We start 1st grade tomorrow and he is TOTALLY excited!