I would advise full day. I know of so many families who go private with K because public schools don’t offer full, most anyway. The schools would love to offer full to every child, steer just isn’t the money. My kids went full day in k and even wanted to stay after for the after school program, even though I was able to pick them up when school was over. If your child loves pre school, he’ll be fine nix all day and will xhave that advantage in first grade.
If your school has a choice, you should check and see what they are doing in the afternoons that your child would miss out on if they were only there in the mornings. You will probably receive pressure to stay for whole day. One of my friends started pulling her chld out right before lunch b/c he couldn’t handle five full days and her son’s school only did things like art, gym, etc in the afternoon. She had him in sports and piano lessons so she as not worried about him missing things. One of my friends picked the half day and received a phone call from the principal who explained her child would miss math if he left, so she ended up having him stay. I had another friend who eased her daughter into full days. She picked the days that did the fun acitivites that her daughter enjoyed and had her stay those days. by the end of the school year, she was going full-time. In the state of Illinois, there is not mandatory attendance for kindergarten. I would just encourage you to find out what the day will look like and make some decisions from that point. My son goes until 1:30 which I love and he is sometimes tired and crabby. Just have to make sure he gets into bed early!!!
My son started Kindergarten this year and our town only offers 1/2 day…which I was thankful. I think a full day is too long for a 5-6 yr old. And they aren’t missing out on any more learning going half day, they just don’t have lunch time, recess, quiet time, etc. Plus, my son goes in the pm and he has a small class size (only 10 kids!!), so I think it is more beneficial as he gets more one on one time with the teacher. It isn’t even 2nd quarter and my son is learning to read already!! Its amazing what they teach in Kindergarten compared to when I was in school!!!
Speaking as a teacher and mother of 3. Full day
I don’ t have an opinion on this one, but wanted to thank you for asking it! We will be facing this same decision next year, looking ahead to my daughter entering kindergarten in Fall 2012. She will always be one of the oldest in her class (her birthday is October 3rd). It was interesting to read all the different perspectives on 1/2 vs full day…
1/2 day if you don’t have to work. I worked in schools for many, many years. Half day was perfect. Full days and the kids are exhausted have meltdowns, (tears and more tears) and it’s just way too much. I realize there are a lot of moms that have to work (I did, too) and so it sounds horrible having me say that, but if you can let them be babies a little longer, oh do it.
If after school day care is not an issue for you, I would choose 1/2 day. Kids are in full day school for the rest of their school years … hang on to them at home for as long as you can and enjoy this unique time with them. There are so many things you can do and places you can go during that 1/2 day they are home with you that you would miss out on if they were at school all day … musuems, zoos, the arboretum, park district activities … all will be less crowded than weekends or school breaks.