All Day Everyday Kindergarten or Not

Hi S..
My husband and I went through the same deal. We decided on all day kindergarten. My daughter loves it. At first she was crabby when she got home and wanted to go to bed at 6pm. Now she is used to it and I can't imagine sending her only part-time. She loves that she gets to take a nap at school. I have friends that are in 1/2 day kindergarten and they wished they would have done full day. Their kids are just ready for more social interaction. Hope that helps.

D.

I would go for the all day everyday. I have a 9 year old in 3rd grade and she went to 1/2 day K and she was held back in 1st grade even thought we worked very hard with her at home it just wasnt enough so when my son got of age we enrolled him in 2 day a week preschool last year and all day kindergarten this year well worth all the money he is above his class and we also work with him at home every child and situation is different but i really wish we would have spent the extra $$$ on preschool and all day K fro the oldest she is struggling so much still

We had a choice to send our son to half days or full days and we chose to send him to a school with all day, everyday kindergarten. He didn't have any problems from the transition to daycare (we never sent him to preschool, because neither of us went to preschool) to school. It isn't like they are sitting all day with the teacher making them learn this and that. We send our son to public school (mainly because it does not cost us anything except after school care). He made lots of friends and learned a lot. He was one of the most advanced kids in his kindergarten class. Plus, having all day everyday kindergarten, there was no transition period when he started first grade.

In our school, there is not an option, our kindergarten is all day every day. I have twins that started kindergarten in the fall who will turn 6 this May. Last year they attended pre-school 2 half days per week. They LOVE all day kindergarten! It has not been an adjustment for them at all.

The school district that my niece is in is optional. My sister-in-law has said many times that the cost of the all day everyday program was well worth it. She has seen many kids in her neighborhood who did the half day option, and they are not as prepared for first grade.

My opinion is that if you have the option and the cost does not matter, your child will benefit greatly from the full time program.

HI Kari!

At Primrose School, we offer full-day, every day Kindregarten. The best recommendation I've heard for parents with your same question. Is to enroll your child into a program that's more flexible. We offer pre-Kindergarten that's either 5 full-days, 5 haf-days, or variations thereof. At Primrose, we also teach year-round. Summer is a "Junior" camp for the pre-K class. THIS might be an option to get your child more acclimated to a longer day program. I strongly recommend talking with teachers in your program, or another, about the possibilities. If you're interested in bringing your child here for a visit, to see what our Kindergarten teachers, and pre-K teachers think, let me know.

Good luck,
T. Holt
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I really think it depends on the child. We were in the same situation last year. Our daughter went to preschool 3x per week. After talking to her preschool teacher and just talking about her and where we thought she was, we decided all day was for her. I was surprised at how quickly she adjusted. Looking back, I'm so glad we did all day. She couldn't be happier!
The everyother day thing seems wierd to me. Kind of like they never really get into a routine. I like the consistent m-f continuity of all day.
Good Luck on this and baby #4!!

Someone posted this question two days ago and the answers were in yesterday's responses. You can look up all of the responses on the main website. Most people recommended full day, but we chose 1/2 day for our son who is now in 2nd grade and it was the right decision for us and our son. Good luck.

We made this decision for our kindergartner last year. We chose every other day. It was the very best choice we could have made for him. He really needs and uses his days off. If he had to go every day, at this point, I fear he would not like school at all. However, he has always been home with me, except preschool last year. So, this was a major change for him. Had he been in daycare or a more outgoing child, every day kindergarten could have been a good option. I guess the tough thing about this decision is it is really based on your child and what they can handle. I have heard there is great benefit to every day. My mom is a kindergarten teacher and says this may be true entering 1st grade, but it all evens out by the time they get to 2nd grade. Good luck to you!

Our school offered all day-every day for only 1 year and then went back to every other day. That one year was when my daughter was in Kindergarten. I HATED it!!! I know each child will respond differently to it but here is my thoughts: as a former (every other day) Kindergarten teacher and a mother of 4, I believe that kids need time to be kids. At that age, their best learning happens thru play NOT through desk time and not thru worksheets. The absolute best teachers can not possibly fill every day without the use of worksheets, etc. Kids need to be able to move when they want to, not just when its scheduled. They need to play, play, play. (and not with a screen) There is PLENTY of time for them to be students, if given the choice, I would definitely choose to wait with it being all day every day!!

As for your #4 being on the way, I can imagine your feelings. I felt that way when I mistakenly thought I had #5 on the way. The good news is, once you have that baby (and probably long before), you will wonder how you could have lived without #4. BTW-4 is nice! They can buddy up and always have someone.

S.,
I have a 10 and 7 year old and both went to all day kindergarten. I wouldn't have changed a thing! My son was a little more overwhelmed than my daughter, but his teacher wasn't patient or fun or even very nice (she was fired after that year). He didn't attend preschool so it went from daycare all day to school all day. I have a relative that had twins and only put them in the every other day program and she regretted it. It turns out to be a huge ordeal with scheduling and daycare ends up costing alot more. Plus, they adjust slowly but surely and the every day program really gets them ready for first grade.
Good Luck!

Congrats on the newest baby coming! I have seven, and used to teach elementary school. Now we homeschool and I would recommend keeping her home as much and long as possible. No one can love and nurture your child as well as you! School is fine, but it's not home and it's not optimum for social, behavioral, emotional, spiritual or educational development, in my opinion. We've done it all - public, private, homeschool - and I've taught in all three arenas. Each has it's highs and lows, but overall Kindergarteners are still babies and they need their parents more than anything else.

SAHM and loving it

I am a mom of 2 girls now 6 and 4. Last year I had to make the same choice for my oldest. I decided to go with the everyday all day. She adjusted just fine and enjoyed seeing her friends everyday. I feel that it was better to send her everyday because then she wouldn't forget things over the long weekends. At the end of the year she was reading and writing better then most 1st graders. I would definatly go with everyday. School is alot different now then it was years ago and kids need all the help then can get to not fall behind.

S.,
As an elementary teacher I see the advantages to all-day kindergarten, especially if there is a rest time in the afternoon. Most of the core curriculum is taught in the AM and the afternoon is enrichment. I feel the curriculum is not rushed and allows plenty of time to deliver content in several different ways to reach all learners. Are the classes split between students that are half day and those that are full? If your child will be missing out being with peers the half day you choose to take her home it could affect her socially.

My daughter is older for her class (October birthday) so we are going with full day every day. She has 1/2 day preschool every day this year and when she comes home she is always looking for things to do. She wants play dates, make projects, play school, color... I'm putting her in full day - she wants to be busy. Plus she likes being with her friends. We were just on vacation and every day she asked if she was missing a school day and wanted to go to school as soon as we got home. Go by your daughters cues. Talk to the teacher as well. I don't think every day is too much for them. They soak up knowledge at this age and think school is fun.

My son goes all day, every other day. Starting next year our district will be offering all day every day, and we will NOT choose this option. I like the all day every day, it eases kids into school, but they still get hte bennies of full day school. I don't think its worth the extra cost to send your kid every day, when in one year they'll start 1st grade an go every day for free.

as a child I started school dirctly in the first grade. went thro 3 grades the first semester, then moved to town school where they tho't I was too young to be a third grader, a second or even a first grader, but beings my Dad and Mom were not bashful I was allowed to go back only as far as 1st grade. I was boored to the max the next two years. I had to do the papers all over and then just quietly sit. When my own kids were at that age they all had to go to Kdgt. one half day and were bored to the max with it. I would suggest sending them to all day Kindergarten for starters, see how they take it. Children are very adaptable...I am the mother of 5, foster mother of 4 , grandmother of 25 and great grandmother of 8. and 7 of the grands are homeschooled, and 1 of the greats is. there are 3 in public school, all doing very well. And by the way I am one of the youngest Mothers, grandmothers, and great grand that This school system has had..

With my son I was very concerned about him going to all day everyday but that was my only choice. I had a problem with it because that is not what I was used to but the kids know no different and they do adjust to it very quickly. I think that it also depends on the program that your school offers. Our school has a direct instruction progam that has the kids doing 1st and even some 2nd grade stuff at the end of the year. In that case all day everyday is best. Good Luck!

Hi. I am a former teacher and taught in an everyday, all day kindergarten and feel it is a very good program. Our program had a short rest time in the afternoon. They did not have to sleep, but rest on a mat. I presently sub in a Head Start program that is also everyday, all day and similar because we do have a rest time. The children adapt to the schedule and really benefit from the curriculum. I am all for it! Naree