Full day kindergarten? (Denver, Boulder: job, corporate, moving to)

[az4good]

I've been looking at schools in the area of Highland's Ranch just on the chance that my husband gets a new job in Denver. Do they only offer half day kindergarten? How can that be? Can you get full day at a private school? My daughter is in 3 day a week full day preschool now and I can't imagine dropping her down to a half day program. My son had full day kindergarten and it was amazing what he learned and participated in.

Also, is there even a point at looking at Platte River Charter or is the chance of getting in next to nothing?

Any other advice on schools in that area would be very appreciated!

Thanks.

[rebagirl]

I'm sure this won't be the response you'd like, but as an experienced teacher, I feel compelled to give my opinion regarding full-day kindergarten.

Kindergarten age children have limited attention spans, which means that the instruction and activities need to be changing every twenty minutes. This has been a known fact among educators and child psychologists for many years.

There also is a limited amount of information that a 4-5-year old can retain. Their brains simply cannot handle 5-6 hours of instruction, which is why the half-day has been in effect for so long. It is developmentally appropriate. After 3 hours of instruction, the child is mentally exhausted and begins to shut down.

The only full-day kindergarten program that makes any sense to me is one that incorporates lunch and a nap. Kids desperately need down-time, particularly at this age.

Kindergarten has become much more academic in the last 15 years. The curriculum is very similar to what used to be taught in first grade. The kids are being pushed too hard at a very young age, and I personally don't think there will be any long-term benefits to full-day kindergarten vs. half-day. In the child's upcoming school years, no one is going to say, "Wow, Johnny sure is ahead of the game. Good thing he went to that full-day kindergarten program!"

And finally, most districts that do offer full-day K do so only to accommodate working parents who want the "free baby-sitting." It has nothing to do with academics. It has everything to do with parent convenience and more money for the districts.

Time to climb off my soapbox...

[Katiana]

I completely agree with rebagirl. I am a pediatric nurse, and I concur with the developmental issues.

Our district had some scheme to have full-day, every other day, kindergarten when my youngest was entering K. The purpose was to save busing money. There was such objection from the parents, the schools dropped the plan. They kept the half-day, but only offered busing in the early morning and late afternoon. So the kindergarten parents had to transport their kids at mid-day. Parents and day care providers were willing to do that. Our district does offer kindergarten "enrichment", which is basicaly day care. It is on a fee for service plan. This is Boulder Valley SD, BTW.

[afamilyof6]

I'm on the east coast but may be moving to the Denver area. My daughter just finished full day kindergarten here and it was a very difficult year for her. She had done part time preschools the two years prior but had a difficult time emotionally being at school all day. I guess all kids and schools are different, though as you mentioned your son did well in full day kindergarten. If you think your daughter would thrive in full day, you should keep searching for such a program. As her mother, only you know best! Good luck figuring it out.

[rkb0305]

I believe there is some kind of extended day program that you can pay for at HR schools. I have no idea what it costs, if it is offered at every school, or what the kids do during the second half of the day. You could look into it, though.

[formercalifornian]

Reba...I totally agree with you, and apparently so do many of my neighbors. Most of my son's kindergarten peers were six-years-old, not five, for the majority of the year. When I was a kid, I was in first grade at that age. Four and five-year-olds in my area are still attending pre-school!

[rkb0305]

Originally Posted by formercalifornian

Reba...I totally agree with you, and apparently so do many of my neighbors. Most of my son's kindergarten peers were six-years-old, not five, for the majority of the year. When I was a kid, I was in first grade at that age. Four and five-year-olds in my area are still attending pre-school!

With my son's birthday in July, I thought Kindergarten at 5 was a no-brainer (like when I was a kid), until I started talking with some K and 1st grade teachers from here and elsewhere. We decided to wait a year, so he'll be 6 his entire K year. I don't want him falling behind.