by Cynthia Sherman

Created on: April 29, 2008

Full day kindergarten is unnecessary. As a teacher in the school systems, I have had the opportunity to view both full day and half day kindergarten. In my opinion, half day kindergarten is more beneficial to the students.

Full day kindergarten does provide more academic time with a teacher as the students are there for longer periods of time. However the sad reality is the fact that in full day kindergarten, the students are required to take a nap every afternoon. This nap time varies from one hour to one hour and thirty minutes. This time period is not academic time, it is rest time. Many and most of these children do in fact sleep for the entire rest period. Parents are under the assumption that their children are receiving instruction for the entire day, but they do not, unless a teacher teaches the students on the proper techniques of napping. After nap time, the students usually have circle time, which consists of songs, games, and story time. The bulk of all academics are in the mornings which is consistent with half day kindergarten.

Half day kindergarten I feel is better. The students receive all of the academics necessary, plus the specials such as: gym, art, music, library. Then they go home and they can take a nap in their own homes and their own beds. Many teachers feel as if they are babysitters as the children are napping during full day kindergarten. At least with half day, the teachers are teaching academics in the morning and in the afternoon.

I understand that with today's society, both parents have to work. Many parents are pushing for full day kindergarten for economic reasons. I do not fault these parents, as they are doing what they have to do. However, I have seen a marked difference in children that have parents home and parents that work. It is a shame that our country forces parents to choose between their children and making a mortgage payment.

If parents are able to, it is my opinion that they stay home with their children for as long as possible and this includes having them go to a half day kindergarten class. Many of these children are too tired to go all day and many of them just turn five upon entering kindergarten.
They are still babies. They grow up entirely to quickly. Enjoy them while you can.

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