Shalf Day Kindergarten

be grateful! i'm SO glad it was still half-day K when my boys went. there is no need to 'fill his day more.' and i totally agree it's silly to put him in daycare if you don't need to.
kindergartners don't 'need' more academic time. schools went to all day K to help out desperate working parents, not because kids weren't getting their reading down.
but do feel free to 'enrich' his afternoons with books and trips and discussions and manipulatives!
he'll be fine, mama.
khairete
S.

Do you have the option of afternoon kindergarten? If you do I would opt for that as opposed to morning. You can do extra stuff in the morning with him.

I understand. I would sign him up for lunch bunch, soccer, other enrichments that you can find, play dates often. Good luck!

See, I just don't understand why you wouldn't be absolutely thrilled to have those extra bonus hours with your kid, especially since you didn't used to.

Once they're grown, they don't go backwards. You will never get this time back. Why not just hang with him. Maybe go here, maybe go there, maybe not.

All three of my kids had half day K, in fact we chose the school because of it.

Now that 2 are away at college and the third is a wildly busy hs junior, and finagling schedules and time together is tricky, well it's sooooo short, you know?

Enjoy him while you can!

:)

I was in the same position last year; we had the option of enrolling for full day (for a fee, about $300 a month) or doing half-day. Because I wasn't working, we chose the half day and honestly, I'm really glad I did. The days at kindergarten were far more rigorous than his four hour preschool, so the down time was really a blessing. We had a nice routine, he came home for lunch, he played while I did lunch dishes, we had time to do some rich reading aloud over a cup of tea/snack (which was good for him; the content of the materials presented at school was more based on reading development and thus, wasn't as interesting for him). Math activities/games were sent home, so we played with those, but also played other games, went on walks, took trips downtown to the library or up to the zoo while the other kids were napping. It was really nice. Personally, while we worked on some skill-building things at home, I am of the inclination to give kids a LOT of time to play or pursue their own interests, so the time he had to draw, look at books, play with neighbors and build with his Legos or play in the yard- all good things.

Re your SWH...
I think you're not understanding that K is a lot more work than preschool, THAT's why it's a shorter day. Preschool has lots of free play and outside time, and rest time for kids who need it. K is much more focused, less time outside running around, more time sitting still, following directions, etc.
My kids went to preschool from 9 to 2 five days a week, and K from 8:00 to 12:30 (last 45 minutes was lunch and recess.) They were WAY more wiped out after K than they ever were after preschool. Well, mentally anyway, they were usually physically wound up.
Wait and see, real school is a lot more work!

My kids both did 1/2 day afternoon kindergarten. I would not have sent them to a school with full day kindergarten. We spent our mornings at the YMCA, the library, the zoo, the park, the museum, playgroups and play dates. There is so much learning that can be done outside of the classroom, make the best of it.

All of my kids went to nursery school and then 1/2 day K. Yes nursery was a bit longer than K. For me, I felt they will be in school the rest of their lives. Why not take this time to enjoy your son. It is time you will never get back. Take him to parks, museums, library, maybe a gym class. I mean the list is really endless. Just have fun. He is only this age once!

ENJOY this time with him!!!!!!!! Have lunch with him everyday for the last time! Play with him! Go to the park, do crafts, kid's museums, the Y, read books, color--just enjoy him and let him have fun being a kid. He will not be behind because of 1/2 day kinder. He will probably grasp more because he is not tired. I loved my afternoons with my little guy and look back on those days and smile.

Good for your school district for having 1/2 day kinder!

My kids went half day. It was plenty. We often had other activities in the afternoons, time for free play (park, pool, hiking/biking) doing crafts or cooking or working in the yard at home, sometimes classes or lessons or a sports activity, like soccer or gym class once a week.
And of course some afternoons were just quiet and chill. Young kids have lots of energy, but they still need some down time too.
More time sitting in class at his age will be so much LESS interesting and stimulating, I just don't understand why you would you want that?

Your follow-up question is valid. Right now it seems like he will have a less rigorous day. But I agree with posters below who point out the difference between preschool (not daycare) and kindergarten. Hopefully, his preschool was play and theme based for the academics. Unfortunately most kindergartens have been forced recently to squeeze out any developmentally appropriate play opportunities and to stick to teaching academics that were once taught in first grade. If that is the case in your district, I would think that complimenting his school education with down time, social opportunities and creative outlets would be wonderful. And make sure you have lots of creative materials at home, including art, music and drama themed supplies. All my best.

I think you'll find that he's busy enough but I'd bet that some program offers an extended-day Kindergarten in your area that basically rounds out to the the length of a school day. This is necessary for working parents so most communities have something but you may not know where to look for it. In my town, before we had full-day K the options were to go offsite to a complementary program run by a place that does after-school programs and summer camps or to pay for an extended day program at the school. The school office will know if something is available. Because I work from home and had my mom available to help, I was able to enroll my kids in the extended day program a few days a week. You may find that that is an option and something that would work for you.

Honestly, he may not need anything extra. My kids were FT daycare kids so they were at "school" for 8-9 hours a day before Kindergarten and even with that, 1/2 day K was exhausting. They cram a lot into those 3 hours so you may very well find that he will be delighted to come home, have lunch, take a nap, and just chill out for the afternoon.

Both of my kids had half-day kindy. I remember when my oldest went to preschool - she was already at a home-daycare from infancy but at 4, I wanted her to have classroom experience. The preschool that I chose offered a lot of options - 2, 3 or 5 days a week, half, 3/4 of full day. I opted for 5 half days a week because that would best mimic her kindy schedule the next year.

The year that she was in kindy, I worked parttime from home. She went to school in the morning, got off the bus at 12:20, by 12:50 she was done with lunch and asking what we were going to do for the rest of the day (while I was stuck at home with a napping one year old). I HATED morning K.

When my younger one was in K, it was half day PM, which I liked much better. I worked part time, but not til later in the day. In the morning, we went to story/craft time at the library every week, I usually had him enrolled in some other thing like swim or gym class, and I tried to set up one morning play date a week before school.

I would look into what programs are offered by your local library, if you have a Y or any other type of community center. Good luck!

He has the next 12+ years to be in a full day program. Relax!! Enjoy the afternoons with your son. We used to go to the park...the library...the YMCA...story time etc. Sometimes we stayed home and played games. Sometimes he had friends over. Don't push him at 5. Let him enjoy being a kid!!

My son attended a half day preschool program 3x week and then moved on to half day kindergarten 5 x week. I didn't see much progress in him while at preschool. He's young also, with a summer birthday and we contemplated holding him back a year but didn't. I find Kindergarten to be completely different than preschool, way more academic and he's made a tremendous amount of progress since the start of the year. His teacher really utilizes that time well, the kids are working non stop. In the afternoons I like to let him have "down time" to play with his toys and brother. He does some extra curricular activities as well. I make sure we read a lot which I think is most important.

Yeah but I bet they have lunch during his current preschool time so really it won't be that much difference in time. I would suggest enrolling him in public K and just enriching his experiences (trips to the library, park, zoo, aquarium, etc after reading/learning about certain topics).

As a former FT teacher, I can tell you that he will probably have HW and reading every day. In our area, the kids hardly play in K. It's reading, math and writing...science and SS, too.

Since Kindergarten is much more academic now ! He could have lunch with you and then, have him do his hw and reading. Even if reading isn't assigned right away, I would read with him. Or subscribe to Ranger Rick and Highlights. (I am a fan of less screen time). He will get plenty of that later.

I would look into a class for him one or 2 afternoons a week for exercise.

Let him have play time w/ friends one or two days a week. Plan for a classmate to come over once or twice a week ! Play at his little age is still so important !! Outside time, is important , too...Fresh air...which many kids do not get enough of today.

The yr will go by fast and he will be in school FT for 12 years...

If he has 2 -3 afternoons of activities/ play dates, then the days will be full.
Let him play on his own, too. I think that is an "art" that has been lost in the shuffle of overscheduled kids ! Supply legos, paint, chalk, trains, cars, trucks...

I wouldn't worry about it being less time. Even though his current preschool hours are longer, I would imagine that he has a lot more play time and unstructured time. Kinder will be more tiring because he will be doing structured work and activities pretty much the entire time. He will also have homework, adding more time after school.

My son's kinder was only from 10:10 - 1:30. It was enough. He still had time to play at home and wasn't exhausted. He's much more tired this year in first grade when he goes 8:10 - 2:30.

The best way to round it out, if you feel the need, is to spend extra time reading to him. As he learns to read, have him read to you for 10-15 minutes every day. He doesn't need any other extras at home, unless he is academically behind his peers.

Just relax, allow him to go to 1/2 day kinder, meet new friends, learn the school system, structure.

As for the other 1/2 of the day, spend this precious time with him. The school years fly by, cherish what you have while you can.

Go play at the playground, read books, allow him to enjoy being with you because it all changes way too soon.

I often say, parents use school as extended daycare. Spend the hours with him at home. Cook, play, explore the city.

A full day is a long day for a little kid. I went full days but only half the week when I was in K and many places still do half day K for various reasons. I would look for ways to enrich his time in the afternoon. Maybe take advantage of local homeschooling activities or just the science or nature center. I find that I miss the time DD and I had in the afternoon when she was in preschool. So, IMO, enroll him and enjoy it.

Half day Kindergarten is...perfect!

You have already gotten a lot of responses and I didn't read them but kindergarten is no longer crafts and art and fun. Those three hours are pretty jam packed given that kids are expected to be reading fluently, writing 3-5 sentences, adding/subtracting, telling time to the half-hour etc before they go to first grade. Don't try to fill his day with anything else academic, you will burn him out. Let him have a good run at the park when he gets home or get messy with paint. Reinforce the concepts that he is learning at school all throughout the day in an informal way (having him try to read street signs while on a bike ride, playing "what shapes can you find" while driving etc.) I would be willing to bet that the preschool has time for waaaay more art than the kinder program does. I can count on one hand the number of art-based projects my kinder kiddo does in a month. She is my youngest, the older two are in 3rd and 4th grade and the work-load is no joke. The long school hours and pile of work will come soon enough, just enjoy your time with your lil one. :)

I think you're putting way too much pressure on your son. He'll be fine with 1/2 day of school. He'll get homework and things to practice at home. Let him play and be a kid the rest of the day. He'll be going to school many years. He'll be fine. He doesn't need his entire day filled with learning. He'll get burned out. School is not his career.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

***I wanted to add that preschool is not all learning. They have lots of play time as well for socializing. Kindergarten is virtually all learning time except for recess.

If you're home anyway, what about some supplementary homeschooling -- along the lines of making learning fun?

I don't mean anything super formal or structured, but:

Read to him, every day.

Pick a topic to research and get books out of the library. Make this a multi-week project, at least. Have him draw pictures, or do some kind of arts & crafts, based on the topic.

Do kitchen chemistry experiments. These are some of my fondest memories of my son at 4 1/2 - 5. Making millions of baking soda / vinegar volcanoes, making "ooblek" and testing it under different temperatures, making "litmus cabbage" and testing the pH of all kinds of things. We even wrote up lab reports, with hypotheses, variables, controls, and results. I never presented any of these things as learning, just as fun projects.

This is also a great time to work on areas where schools don't tend to do enough -- specifically music and foreign languages.

I can give you some specifics -- both in terms of read-to and research books, and kid science experiments, if you like.

Is this half day of Kindergarten, for the ENTIRE year?
Some schools only do that initially. Then the kids get used to "school" and being in Kindergarten. Then their school day hours, increases. ?

Kindergarten is not like Preschool.
At all.

Also, you can ask that school, what their curriculum is and their school standards and what not. Get informed about their "academics" and ask the school, about Kindergarten. See what kids learn in that Kindergarten.
Most schools, have an "open house" for the parents etc. and Kindergarten is explained to them and they are given an orientation etc.
Inquire at that school, what they have.

Also, since you are home with him, you can be home... with him after school. And use that time to also teach him other things too. Per "academics" if you want or if, it is needed.
But "filling his day more...." does not necessarily mean, with more "academics." You can also enroll him, in extracurricular activities, too. To round out... his day. Filling his day more... does not mean he has to be enrolled in a "school" or daycare, to do that.

I would inquire at that school and see what their curriculum is, to give you peace of mind etc.

What is the age cut offs in your district for entering into Kindergarten?
Will he be entering at 6 years old????
Does that jive with the Kindergarten age entry at that school?
Or will be be the oldest?

There's a reason K is half-day; research has shown over and over again that that is the maximum amount of time a 5-6 year old can hold his attention and learn effectively. Programs that have gone to full day are only doing so to help working parents fill the gap with daycare. Even at my kids' school, where they do offer full day, the afternoon is filled with crafts, nap, recess, lunch, and play. It is not instructional time. It is daycare, for all intents and purposes.

Let your little guy be a little guy. He will have the next 16 years to go to school full time. Play with him yourself; take him to the museum, the park, have a picnic, make playdough, take naps, read books, watch movies, snuggle, and giggle. Enjoy it.

Okay...daily schedule in full day kindergarten.

8am (ish) get to school, do morning assembly or some other announcement time.

8:30am, get in class, put stuff up, bathroom time.

8:45am, circle time. Morning routine that covers the environment outside. Is it cloudy, cold, warm, snowy, rainy, outside. Is it winter, summer, spring, fall? What is the color of the week, tell me some things that are that color, etc...morning time where the whole class is involved and reviewing simple things they should all know.

9:30am. Bathroom time, hand washing, maybe morning snacks, recess, etc...

10:15/10:30. up close table time. Worksheets, basically teaching time. Could be writing, reading, pre-math, etc....classroom learning time.

11:30am get ready for lunch, set up nap time mats.

Noon, have lunch done.

12:30, back in classroom, lights off, kids down, take a nap. In Oklahoma kids under the age of 6 take naps or at least offered the opportunity to lay down and rest.

2pm, get up, straighten up room, do computer time, read books, just do stuff. 2:30 get ready to go home.

So, as you can see, the half day of kindergarten is really a straight up equal to the full day of kindergarten. Minus lunch, nap, an extra recess, and busy time until it's time to go home.

After Christmas break most kindergarten classrooms stop taking naps and they do more classwork.

If he's busy all day in pre-school it's nothing like real kindergarten through the public school. If he is doing public school pre-K he's more likely to need the full day stuff.

We had the same issue with half-day kindergarten ... it was much shorter than preschool. For me, I work when my kids are at school, so it meant I had to work at hyper speed to get anything done.

We just filled the afternoon with other activities -- library, park, play dates, gym class. I wouldn't stress out too much about that aspect. If you search around, you can find all sorts of activities geared for this age group. Most communities will at least have playgroups through Meetup.com.