by Barbara Donovan

Created on: May 21, 2008

What is the point of sending your child to all day kindergarten? Parents, proceed with caution and consider the right reasons for sending your child for a full day. For a five year old all day school is not appropriate. Several factors require consideration.

My hunch is that you need more time for yourself. Do remember this is not about you. By first grade your little one will be gone all day and will come home very tired most days. Why push them into a schedule that is not right for their age? One more year is nothing for you in the long scheme of life. It is more important for your youngster to have the time with you at this age. This will assure they will have a good sound base to work from when they take on first grade.

Have you talked to parents of older children? You will find that a five year old that goes to kindergarten in the morning will usually need a nap in the afternoon! This alone should be a red flag that a full day is just not needed at this age. For the kids that do not nap, they still need some quiet time in the other half of the day. Having time to reflect helps their growing mind. There will be kindergarten homework papers to complete so a gradual transition of half day kindergarten is enough for children this age.

You worry that your child needs socialization. They get plenty of that in nursery school and will still get the appropriate amount in a half day of kindergarten. Interrupt your schedule, your nails, your phone calls, and make it a priority to be there for them the other half of the day. They have the rest of their life to go to school all day long.

If your child is especially bright the full day of kindergarten is not the only way to assure he or she is stimulated. Let the five year old do what they do best. Allow them time to run, play, and be outside. The expression "a child's work is a child's play" is very true. Kids learn to be creative when allowed unstructured time. Inventors, teachers, and engineers of the future will need to be free thinkers. Yes, the all day school has some alloted time for play, but the point here is that this age child still needs to be with a parent a majority of their day. If your child is exceptionally intelligent, chances are they are very sensitive too. This is all the more reason not to push them into an exhausting day.

Just because some schools are already holding all day kindergarten do not let this muddle your thinking. There is a basic point here. At age five kids need to be kids. In the worst case scenario they could end up a little behind when they start first grade. Don't be too concerned about this either. First graders can catch up with the other students just fine. Besides, they will be assured, self confident, and secure because during their kindergarten year you took time for them. After all, why be a parent if you live your days dumping your child from one activity to the next?

Lastly, read up on activities that you can do with your child. There are museums, trips, relatives and the great outdoors to enjoy. Learning is not just in school. Question the status quo and your children will someday be grateful that you did.

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