My oldest is my only child to have the opportunity to attend kinder half day, he went in the am because he had attended preschool during the am session and was already used to getting up and out the door early.

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DS-16
DD-13
DD-5
DS-3

We only have full-day here, and I recommend that option. Kindergarten is very different than when we were kids and they have lots to learn. It also gets them into a routine for years to come. They do have snack and nap time.

My DD is a young kindergartener. I wanted to give her another developmental year before we got into the early morning routine but it didn't work out that way. She's in AM half-day kindergarten - 8am to 11am.

I think full day, combined with the early morning would be too much for her. By the time we get off of school, eat lunch, go to an after school activity (swim lessons, ski lessons, gymnastics - depending on the time of the year) then do homework, the day is shot. Kids this age need so much sleep, we end up eating dinner rather early then it is right to bed.

We are looking forward to next year when she will be in school all day but I haven't quite figured out how we will work in any extra-curricular activities. I'm glad we're waiting another year before we have to address it.

As for the PM kindergarten class, there are so few kids in that class that it is more laid back and relaxed (24 kids in the am vs 17 in the pm). The kids in that class get more one-on-one time from the teacher and assistant. However, going in the afternoon would lock us out of attending some extra-curricular activites, too.

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I wish we had 1/2 day public kindergarten. The afternoon is a waste to me. They lay on their nap mats for an hour or more, and then do busy work before coming home. Riley has not taken naps in years, so this was a huge adjustment for him. He has done fine, but to me, that is time he could have with ME for one more year!
Recently, I became aware of a local church that does private 1/2 day kindergarten that also does 1/2 day preschool. It is one of the only accredited preschools in our area, too! For this reason, both of my girls are switching to their preschool next year. They will then both continue into their kindergarten program before switching to public school's 1st grade. (The church doesn't do over kindergarten!) The cost was only about $40 more a month than what I am already paying for preschool tuition, so I am very relieved to have found it!

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Our school district offers AM, PM and full day. If you want full day, it has the $2400/yr cost, however the charter school DS is going to next year for kindergarten has full day only, no charge. DS has spent this year in AM Pre-K, so I know he will be ready for full day next year. I think I'M going to be the one with the problem, because I'll miss him during that time. He will be a young kindergartener, too, turning 5 at the end of August. They said that they will start the year with 45 minute rest time, but will only do that for a couple of months until the kids get used to school and then they will give it up. DS is at the point where he doesn't always need a nap, but sometimes it's a must!

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Our district only offers full day kindergarten. My oldest ds is in kindergarten now. It was hard on him at first getting used to the full days but he did adjust. They have rest time which helps and then they slowly wean the kids off of it thru the school year. This week my son said they don't have rest time anymore "so they're ready for 1st grade" as he put it. Personally, if I had the choice I would choose all day. I just don't know how the same amount of curriculum can be covered in 1/2 day as it is in full days.

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my dd is in am kindergarden here, we are the only school district in the area that still does half day but that will be changing next yr. I personaly would do the full day. Here they cram everything into the 3 hrs and it is a lot of work. My daughter has a math sheet homework every week and well as spelling and packet with about 6 sheets in it as well as a reading book for every night. So yes I would have to say I would go with the full day....

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aka: sara

We still only have half day programs here. The full day thing though is something that is being discussed because there is a need for it in our community. Its just a matter of funding, ect.

My dds have both been afternoon kindergarten. The bus comes and picks them up around 12:10 and school starts at 12:25. Then they come home on the normal school bus, about 3:30. I would consider a full day program if it was offered to us, but I'm not despreate for it, so I would wait and see what sort of space is allowed for it. Right now its not an option, so I havn't thought about it. Full day IS offered to children with special needs. There is one little boy in Sammie's class that is autistic, and he attends full day with his one on one teacher.

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~Missy~Mommy
Meghan8.Samantha7,Cameron4

We only have 1/2 day kindergarten here and my ds goes in the a.m. from 9:00 to 11:30. Works fine for us.

where my kids have to go to school is an every second day all day for kindergartens, and i love it. my dd loved it to.

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