If Your Kid's in 1/2 Day Kindergarten...

Updated on March 13, 2012
J.O. asks from Novi, MI
9 answers

Would you extend his day to 6pm next year? BIG jump, huh!

Right now it's 1/2 day kindergarten, so next year will be a 8:30 to 3 each day. Then, would you add 2 days a week of 3-6pm after-care at the school? So it'd be 8:30 to 6! That sounds long, doesn't it? But then...
It's $83/month (a little over $3 an hour, not bad).
I'd miss out picking up during the RUSH time at school/parking, etc. those 2 days
I have a baby and two toddlers so it's hard to pick up at RUSH time. And I'm so busy trying to keep everyone fed and diapered, etc.

My goal is for him to get EXERCISE and not be in front of anything ELECTRONIC. (And it'd be nice if he's not fighting with sibs, too). The program includes sports activities, arts and crafts, homework time, etc. It's usually freezing here during the academic year anyway, so at least he'd be busy.

Right now he stays until after 4pm 2 days a week anyway since I extended his kinder-garten day with the after-care (which is awesome but run by a separate facility). Best decision ever! He plays with friends and it's not like he's doing academics 9 to 4.

Just found out it's an active (usually outdoor) game 3-4. Snack. 4-30-5:15 homework or quiet time.Then 1 more active game. My concern is my 6-year-old will struggle with a quiet time. For homework he needs almost 1 on 1 for help at that age, and it's 60 kids and 5 adults so they said it can't be 1 on 1. The active games are perfect! But I worry he'd struggle with quiet time and act out or maybe be bored. But he loves to color. So, maybe. Still, 60 kids in a gym sounds hectic.

But to say a child will be tired after school, at 3pm, doesn't help me. Maybe he will, but I DON'T want him watching TV. We have no other electronic stuff in the house, so no worries there. He has to do SOMETHING. Why not play with friends at the school? It's not like if he's tired he'll take a nap or even sit still and play quietly and nicely. It's go go go until he (fights) going to bed around 8 or 8:30. Then he gets up at 7 when he does not need to be up until 7:30.

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So What Happened?

I agree with the posts, for or against. But I am signing up for 2 days and I regret I am not doing 5, mainly due to the cost of that much. Today was a free day after school, so I considered it a test. It was AWFUL. They blew through TV time, then my son wandered around and finally wanted a friend over. So I had 5 kids running around and screaming. Purely horrific. So he is NEVER to play with friends. Not really fair, though. Our house is just too crazy and too many kids to deal with another, and the little ones won't leave the friend alone. So he'll do after-care and play there. If he hates it, I'll stop. But I am signing up. They are still screaming and all wound up. It was terrible.

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J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

I would not do late pick up at 6 with my kids unless there was some real reason I could not, like work or I was in school myself. Unless it is really a "must" thing I think that is just too long of a day for a small child.

3 moms found this helpful

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

***perhaps, hire a Mommy's Helper, for helping with him and all your other kids, when this son is home.
Since as you say, this son is soooooooooo active and non-stop. And it seems you have 3 other kids.. 1 baby and 2 toddlers. And you don't want him just sitting around at home doing nothing. Well, a child has to do homework too, with Mommy, and also to do creative playing and have time to themselves.
It seems, that instead of keeping this son active all day and occupied all day constantly via keeping him outside the home- that instead, you need a Mommy's Helper of some kind or a Nanny at home at least part -time, to help you and all your kids. That way, you don't have to keep only this son... out of the house, due to lack of time for yourself or because the other children are younger and too much to do.

And no, just because a child is home, it does not mean they only watch TV.

If your son is sooooo active like this and can't even have quiet time and "struggles" with that and gets bored and acts out when not busy or bored... and is go go go go go until he fights going to bed, then maybe have him evaluated? Since he seems so hyper.
-------------------------

I wouldn't.

My son is in Kinder, full days.
After school, he is TIRED.
And he has homework everyday too.
And he NEEDS downtime... after school.

My son, when he is over tired, he actually gets more "hyper." And very energetic. But I KNOW him and know he is actually tired. And he goes to bed earlier on those days.

My son is 5.

But that is just me.
And I have 2 kids.
I am a SAHM and have a very active son.

After care programs and quality, vary. As well as their Supervision of the young ones.
That is why, I personally do not put my kids in after school care programs on their campus.

I would observe the program first.

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L.O.

answers from Detroit on

NO. it is a huge transition for kids to adjust to full day school. He will be tired out at the end of the shcool day.. If you pick him up at 6. I would expect he will be in bed at 7. as he has to be up by 7 the next day to start the day.

I will have 2 kids adjusting to full day next year.. full day first grade and full day (mandatory) kindergarden. Their day will be 9 am to 4 pm. I am expecting them to be exhausted at teh end of the day. We will come home and eat bathe stories and they will be in bed and asleep by 7 probaby 630ish.

MOst latch key care is very minimal care.. quick snack.. play outside if the weather permits. then they bring them in to do quiet games, crafts, or homework.. I believe the ratio is 18 kids to 1 adult. So no individual attention. Also he will be hanging out witha the big kids learning big kid stuff.. I would not do this.

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V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

It isn't the being tired or not being tired that is the biggest issue. The issue is having to "be behaved" for that length of time. That is a lot. My kids (and most kids) use a lot of mental and emotional energy "keeping it together" when they are at school. When mom picks them up at noon (or 3 pm) they are often irritable and cranky, grumpy, or spoiling for a fight with their siblings. Why is that? It's because they are FINALLY amongst their "safe" people again. They don't KNOW this is why they behave that way, but that is what goes on. They finally can let their guard down and be "off" and not "on" for the teachers/school staff.

Imagine for a moment that you are going to work. You can work really hard from 8-noon, and then either 1) go home where you will read a book on your sofa or do some laundry, or clean house and start dinner until 5 pm, or 2) stay at work until 5, where even though you don't have to actually WORK, you will be reading your book or newspaper while sitting on the sofa in your boss's office. Which would you choose? Not very relaxing to have your boss standing over your shoulder, huh? It's kinda like that for the kids, too. Except harder.

He needs the downtime and "emotional safety" of being at home sooner than 6 pm.

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C.B.

answers from San Francisco on

It's not silly. You have your hands full and he might really look forward to those 2 afternoons per week when he gets to hang out with his school friends for a while.

My grandkids have gone to after school programs run by our city's recreation department and they loved it! They do all kinds of crafts, have outside play, watch movies, eat snacks, do homework, etc. Every time I picked them up, they were having a good time and it appeared that everyone was happy and having a good time!

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G.M.

answers from Phoenix on

I consider the 8-3 a full day not a half day. I think it is too long imo. My son got a great benefit from going to a full day of kindergarten from 8-3. I wouldn't put my children from 8-6. For me, I don't think it would allow for much down time from school, and not enough family time. We have our dinner between 5-6 and having school up to 6pm is just way too long I would think.
It may benefit some parents, but it wouldn't give me enough time with my kids after school. :-)

I am so glad it's working for you and your kiddo to have that much more social time and interaction with others. That is truly important. :-) Your kiddo will definitely have great social skills having that extra time.

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S.L.

answers from New York on

all my son wants to do (after K or) first grade -is play on the playground and play with other kids. As long as it is a good quality program with good supervision he will probably LOVE it. and if either one of you doesnt love it you could stop, right? Sounds like he'd be able to play with his friends instead of his siblings if the weather is nice I'm sure they'll be on the playground. If you can afford it, Do it.

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K.P.

answers from New York on

I would pick him up after snack. He will be "done" by then. Besides, you will now have ALL day to do the other things. We both work full time so our preschooler is in school 8-4 and it's a really long day. 8-6 when you don't "have to" seems excessive.

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

My granddaughter was in an all day kindergarten and then an after school program run by the YMCA until 6. There were several children her age in the program. She did just fine. I heard no concerns from the other parents or staff.

The did have active time immediately after school which was outside when it wasn't raining. And then they had a snack/quiet time after that. The younger kids could lay down if they wanted to but mostly it looked like they played quiet games.

My granddaughter, too, is a go, go, go girl. There were 30 kids to 3 adults in a cafetorium which is a bit smaller than the gym. There seemed to be a good balance between active and quiet activity going on at the same time.

The older kids helped the younger kids with homework. My granddaughter was in the program until the 5th grade.

My grandson was in the same program for a year when he was in special education 1st grade. He also is active and tends to act out. They managed him just fine. The staff was young and energetic.

Since your son is enjoying the program now I suggest that he'll be OK with more time in the program.

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