Questions of Kindergarten: Full Day versus Half Day
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A post from LifeasMOM Contributor, JessieLeigh
About this time of year, notices start going home to the parents of 4 1/2 to 5 year olds; it’s time to start registering for kindergarten.
In my town this year, it’s a very hot topic. At story hour, birthday parties, and outside the pre-K classroom, mommies can be heard debating. Why? Odds are good that next year’s kindergarteners will be going full-day rather than half-day.
I’ve heard many arguments. There are lots of proponents for both sides. I’ve given it a lot of thought and I’ve decided I’m truly okay either way.
Here are some reasons to embrace your town’s kindergarten program, however they may do things:
Half-Day
Your child won’t be as overwhelmed and exhausted in the beginning. The majority of children entering kindergarten aren’t used to going to school every day of the week, much less all day. Some have never had any preschool experience outside the home. A half-day program may be an easier adjustment.
At least one of your child’s bus trips will be with other small children. It can be less intimidating to send your child off with a couple dozen five year olds than a bus full of “big kids.”
You won’t have to pack lunches or rely on what the school’s serving up. It can be easier to just feed your child at home and know exactly what he or she is eating.
You can still fit in some “daytime” outside activities, like story hour or tumbling class, etc.
If you’re a stay at home parent, you get more time with your child. I confess this is the biggest reason a part of me hopes our program remains half-day. I selfishly don’t want to let her go yet. The fact that I have another child who will be transitioning into full-day as he heads off to first grade doesn’t help matters…
Full Day
Your child will be on the same or similar schedule to any older children you may have. This can simplify bus rides or drop offs considerably.
You won’t need to arrange as much childcare if you work outside the home. Should this be the sole reason a town moves toward full-day programming? In my opinion, no. Still, it can’t be ignored that it is a real perk for many families.
You will have more “one on one”, “one on two”, etc. time with younger siblings. Later born children sometimes miss out on some of that!
Your child will be well adjusted to attending school full time before heading off to first grade. That transition has to happen at some point; your child will just do it a year sooner.
Your child will have more time to play with peers and socialize. This is the number one reason I can get behind full-day kindergarten. The expectations in public kindergarten have changed drastically since the days you and I attended. There are significant academic goals for our children. Added to that, you have teachers who are trying to get a whole group of young children (some of whom have had no group learning experience yet) into a routine. There is bound to be lost time. Sadly, free-play time is often what suffers. Having a full-day program offers more flexibility and opportunities for the children to play and socialize… two of the most important ways they learn at this age.
It remains to be seen whether my daughter will be going full day or half day next year. I am truly at peace either way.
How about where you live?
How does your town (or your home) do kindergarten?
— JessieLeigh is the mother of a former 24-week micropreemie and two full-term blessings as well. She is a determined advocate for the tiniest of babies, including the unborn, and a firm believer in faith and miracles. She shares about raising such a precious, tiny baby over at Parenting the Tiniest of Miracles.
We still have 1/2 day because our district cannot afford full day. What about sending a very young 5 yr old vs a just turned 6 yr old to Kindergarten? We chose to keep our daughter back until 6 since her birthday is after school starts in August. I hope it was the right decision.
@Jan, I agonized over that decision for quite a while, and ended up holding my son out of Kindergarten until he turned 6. (His birthday is at the very end of July.) It was absolutely the best decision for him. He is now in 7th grade, in the Gifted program, and does absolutely wonderfully. I didn’t know it at the time I made my decision, but there are MANY other kids in his grade that were held out of Kindergarten until age 6. One of my biggest concerns when making the decision to hold him out was that he would be the oldest in his class, but I’m relieved to know that there were several other parents making the same decision I made. No worries.
@Jan, I, personally, don’t think there’s any one “right choice” in these circumstances… we all just need to know our own kiddos. I do know that many parents are very pleased that they’ve given their children the “gift of an extra year” and it can be so helpful to many kids. That said, my daughter’s best friend from preschool (with a Nov 3rd bday) headed off to kindergarten at age 4 and does beautifully. It just depends on the situation! 🙂
Our school district offers both options – with the parents paying the difference in cost between half and full day.
Our children attend private school, which has a 3 day whole day, 2 day half day program. We love it! The kids get gym class every day, music twice a week and a specialized art class once a week (that continues through the other grades as well). They adjust to full time school without being totally wiped out. And they get that extra time to play and socialize. Our kids’ school has a full day that is 30 minutes longer than the public schools to account of the ‘extras’ – gym, music, art, chapel. We are so happy with our decision to send them there! (And the tuition costs less than the ‘difference’ between full and half day kindergarten at the public school!)
Lea
@Lea Stormhammer, A neighboring public school system piloted a program like this and I think it’s a fantastic “happy medium”… really nice for the kids AND parents!
my oldest started kindergarten last year..it was ALWAYS been 1/2 day but last year they switched to full day! She was only 4.5 (turned 5 in October) so she was young to start as it was, I was worried about full day but she did great..she was tired by the end of the day but did great..I think we need to give our kids more credit than we do..they can handle more than we know 🙂
It’s full day here in Columbia, SC. It was 1/2 day when I was in school – a really long time ago.
Our district was contemplating the save thing. But the state budget made the decision to stay half day. There is no money to go to all day K.
Although my daughter will be one of the oldest in Kindergarten, she was ready for all day. But I am excited to have more time with her. I can also do more with her at home and activities like swim lessons and library story time.
@MemoryMakingMom Melissa, What is so interesting to me is that our district sites full day K as a money saver since they can ditch the mid-day bus routes. I find it fascinating how different the impact can be… or at least the perception thereof. 🙂
I am so glad that my daughter is now in half day. Next year they are not offering half day at all. I like that she can spend time learning at school in the morning and then have time to unwind , read or play in the afternoon with me.
Another debate- when should your child start kindergarten? My younger son will be 5 this summer, and we are sending him for one more year of preschool. I believe he has plenty of time, and one more year will help him prepare for the academic, social, and emotional challenges of all day kindergarten. The vast majority of kindergarten classes are all day here, so I don’t feel like that debate is as big here…
@Jenelle, Ah, yes… that is another big debate, indeed! I live in a state where the cut-off is one of the latest in the nation: 12/31. Soooo… we have lots of “young” students around here. I have my opinions (of course), but I honestly believe it varies so much by child. (For the record, I did NOT choose to send my Christmas Eve baby “ahead”… she was simply too young, in my opinion. :))
@JessieLeigh, WOW! 12/31 is shockingly late. I didn’t know anywhere made the cut off so liberal. Ours is 8/31.
@Jenelle, Jenelle–As a former middle school teacher, I really encourage you to hold a summer birthday, especially a boy! At the elementary level, we often see kids that are younger struggling to keep up in academics with peers almost a full year older, but they usually do catch up. However, when they get to MS and even the first year or two of HS, boys especially can be way behind in maturing. This can effect friendships, athletics, academics. Many brain studies have shown that kids retain more knowledge and learn more after puberty. As an August birthday who didn’t start until 6, never have I wished my mom would have sent me sooner. I am debating right now on whether or not to send my mid-May baby to school at 5 or 6?
I agree, another tough one! 🙂 Our daughter turns 5 only 5 days before our Aug 30 cutoff here in AZ. After talking to tons of people (many of them school teachers) we’ve decided not to start her this year. Her birthday is just so close to the cutoff, and had she been born on her actual due date, she would miss the cutoff?! I figure, they have their whole lives to be in school. I’m looking forward (I think?! lol) to her at home for another year. And then she’ll start off kinder as one of the older kids, and I’m ok with that. Of course, there are lots of opinions out there about it, and everyone has to do what’s right for them! The decision feels right for us, so we’re going with it! Good luck to everyone else out there in the same boat…so much to figure out!!
While all the public schools have been doing all day/everyday kindergarten for quite some time in my area, my daughters’ Christian school has transitioned in the last five years from a Tues/Thur, Mon/Wed/Fri all day program to a 3 days a week for the first semester and then 5 days a week for the second semester.
I think largely these changes are at the urging of parents who otherwise are putting their kindergarteners in day care. Half day programs which required even more shuffling of parents or a special kindergarten bus route were an even less popular option and expensive for the school
My son is in all day K this year. I think the time to play and socialize is a huge advantage. The academic expectations are so much higher than the used to be for K. In half day, every second needs to be cirriculum filled. In full day, my son has 2 snack times, rest time, lunch and recess in addition to any free time they get. The teacher has much more flexibility and time to individually spend with each child.
This is a great post and yes, you’re right. It’s a very big topic among moms.
My daughter started Kindergarten this year and it’s been full day Kindergarten. The first several months of school, she was emotional, moody, and just plain exhausted by the time she got home from school. I’m glad we got that transition out of the way now, rather than in first grade. We’ve forced weekend naps to happen throughout the school year though just to give her some much needed extra rest.
Additionally, she’s already reading at a first or even a second grade level. Having a full day of Kindergarten has been great for her academics. She’s learning so much and so fast!!
Blessings,
Rosann
http://www.christiansupermom.com/