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gni1125
LIF Infant
Member since 7/06 246 total posts
Name:
Irene
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Opinions Please: Half vs. Full Day Pre-K
Hi ladies! DS1 is set to start PreK this week. It will be his first time ever in school we're at just a few days before the big day and still unsure of whether half or full day is the better option. Schedule wise, I'm flexible so that's not really the problem. Is there a big difference between the two or is it mostly extra "play time" for full day? I'd love to hear any opinions/experiences. TIA and wishing all our kiddies a great school year!
Message edited 8/31/2014 9:00:41 PM.
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Posted 8/31/14 8:27 PM  |
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nycgirl
Angels!
Member since 3/09 7721 total posts
Name:
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Re: Opinions Please: Half vs. Full Day Pre-K
I did half day because full day comes out to be only 1 additional hour...
Plus, the kids like to play together.
I can see it both ways...
Our k is full day, so I figure DS will get full day soon enough.
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| Posted 8/31/14 9:54 PM |
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schmora15
LIF Adult
Member since 9/08 2476 total posts
Name:
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Opinions Please: Half vs. Full Day Pre-K
Our UPK was 1/2 day and is transitioning to FD. DD had 1/2 day..they do so much now. She didn't have much down time and they really rarely got to play outside. In a way FD would be better but then again like the PP said they will get FD soon enough.
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| Posted 8/31/14 10:01 PM |
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jendar
happy bday mom! 7yrs married
Member since 12/13 1323 total posts
Name:
thank you mom. i love you
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Re: Opinions Please: Half vs. Full Day Pre-K
my dd did half days last year. This year were putting her full day. She thrived so much and learned so much. I think for her full day was the best option.
Im OOS kindergarten is either half day or full. Shes definately doing full days
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| Posted 8/31/14 10:07 PM |
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summerBaby10
let's be nice
Member since 9/07 10208 total posts
Name:
Wifey
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Re: Opinions Please: Half vs. Full Day Pre-K
My DS will be going 5 half days a week. It's just pre-k. This will be his only school year will he won't have a full time schedule. I want him to enjoy his time with me & his sibling for a little longer.
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| Posted 8/31/14 11:58 PM |
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skinny
3 boys and a princess!
Member since 11/08 8178 total posts
Name:
Momma
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Re: Opinions Please: Half vs. Full Day Pre-K
We are doing 5 half days.
The school said we can always add an afternoon or two if we want. I wanted to get them started with getting out 5 mornings a week but not a full day just yet.
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| Posted 9/1/14 5:38 AM |
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gni1125
LIF Infant
Member since 7/06 246 total posts
Name:
Irene
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Opinions Please: Half vs. Full Day Pre-K
Thanks ladies! I appreciate all the feedback 
Message edited 9/1/2014 9:17:43 AM.
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| Posted 9/1/14 9:17 AM |
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Re: Opinions Please: Half vs. Full Day Pre-K
We were going to have our little guy do 3 half days but decided on full day at the last minute. We felt he needed the time to be with other kids since there was nobody else for him to pal around with at home and in our neighborhood
Message edited 9/1/2014 10:21:15 AM.
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| Posted 9/1/14 10:19 AM |
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gni1125
LIF Infant
Member since 7/06 246 total posts
Name:
Irene
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Re: Opinions Please: Half vs. Full Day Pre-K
Posted by anonymoususer
We were going to have our little guy do 3 half days but decided on full day at the last minute. We felt he needed the time to be with other kids since there was nobody else for him to pal around with at home and in our neighborhood
Totally get that! DS has a brother a year younger than him so it adds another layer of separation. I'm worried 5 full days away from each other may be too much for him since he's never been in school before.
Message edited 9/1/2014 12:16:20 PM.
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| Posted 9/1/14 12:13 PM |
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Kelly9904
Mommy to 2 amazing little boys
Member since 5/05 9306 total posts
Name:
Kelly
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Re: Opinions Please: Half vs. Full Day Pre-K
I was talking to our preschool director and she said the better option is more days vs less days but more hours...
I am not sure what we will do yet as DS2 is in 3yos. DS1 only went 3 days 3 hours and he transitioned very smoothly into kindergarten.
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| Posted 9/1/14 2:04 PM |
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gni1125
LIF Infant
Member since 7/06 246 total posts
Name:
Irene
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Re: Opinions Please: Half vs. Full Day Pre-K
Posted by Kelly9904
I was talking to our preschool director and she said the better option is more days vs less days but more hours...
I am not sure what we will do yet as DS2 is in 3yos. DS1 only went 3 days 3 hours and he transitioned very smoothly into kindergarten.
So she suggested more days and hours. Meaning full time? That's what I'm hoping for too! Thanks for the feedback! ??
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| Posted 9/1/14 2:08 PM |
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Christine2
LIF Adult
Member since 2/09 1217 total posts
Name:
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Re: Opinions Please: Half vs. Full Day Pre-K
I'm doing full day, but DC has done full day last year too. While there is definitely playtime, they focus on incorporating sight words, letter and number writing, computer time, etc. The extra hours are not just for "play" (although at this age, play is incorporated in all the things they do).
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| Posted 9/1/14 7:50 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Opinions Please: Half vs. Full Day Pre-K
Half....they have many more years of full time school ahead of them!
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| Posted 9/1/14 8:37 PM |
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JennP
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 3986 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Opinions Please: Half vs. Full Day Pre-K
I would check with your school and ask about what the schedule for a typical day is like.
When I was trying to figure out where to send my son for pre k that helped me make a choice.
At my school the academics are mostly finished with in the morning.
If you have the flexibility I would definitely do half day. You still have the whole rest of the day left to do something else. They are only young once.
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| Posted 9/1/14 10:39 PM |
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Kelly9904
Mommy to 2 amazing little boys
Member since 5/05 9306 total posts
Name:
Kelly
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Re: Opinions Please: Half vs. Full Day Pre-K
Posted by gni1125
Posted by Kelly9904
I was talking to our preschool director and she said the better option is more days vs less days but more hours...
I am not sure what we will do yet as DS2 is in 3yos. DS1 only went 3 days 3 hours and he transitioned very smoothly into kindergarten.
So she suggested more days and hours. Meaning full time? That's what I'm hoping for too! Thanks for the feedback! ??
Sorry I didnt explain that right.
I said to her when DS was in the 4s I would probably want 3 days but 9-3 (or whatever they do) she said honestly she would suggest 5 days 9-12. She said in her experience/ opinion, its harder for them to get used to the act of goign to school every day. (the cost for both these options is about the same)
So in 3s my son is going 2 days 9-12, we may add a third day in the second half of the year if he is enjoying it. And then next year when he is in the 4yo program we will probably consider doing 5 days 9-12.
ETA: I will be honest too, I am a SAHM, he is my last, I like having him home and having the time to spend with him. Once they are in school full time there is never enough time in the day to get everythign done, especially when you factor in homework and activites for 2 kids. I feel like during the school year I dont get alot of quality time with my 6yo. So I dont want to do 5 days full time with my little one until he is in kindergarten and I dont really have a choice!
Message edited 9/1/2014 10:49:42 PM.
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| Posted 9/1/14 10:47 PM |
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gni1125
LIF Infant
Member since 7/06 246 total posts
Name:
Irene
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Re: Opinions Please: Half vs. Full Day Pre-K
Posted by Kelly9904
Posted by gni1125
Posted by Kelly9904
I was talking to our preschool director and she said the better option is more days vs less days but more hours...
I am not sure what we will do yet as DS2 is in 3yos. DS1 only went 3 days 3 hours and he transitioned very smoothly into kindergarten.
So she suggested more days and hours. Meaning full time? That's what I'm hoping for too! Thanks for the feedback! ??
Sorry I didnt explain that right.
I said to her when DS was in the 4s I would probably want 3 days but 9-3 (or whatever they do) she said honestly she would suggest 5 days 9-12. She said in her experience/ opinion, its harder for them to get used to the act of goign to school every day. (the cost for both these options is about the same)
So in 3s my son is going 2 days 9-12, we may add a third day in the second half of the year if he is enjoying it. And then next year when he is in the 4yo program we will probably consider doing 5 days 9-12.
ETA: I will be honest too, I am a SAHM, he is my last, I like having him home and having the time to spend with him. Once they are in school full time there is never enough time in the day to get everythign done, especially when you factor in homework and activites for 2 kids. I feel like during the school year I dont get alot of quality time with my 6yo. So I dont want to do 5 days full time with my little one until he is in kindergarten and I dont really have a choice!
Thank you!! I kinda thought that's what you meant :) I appreciate the feedback!
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| Posted 9/1/14 10:56 PM |
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MrsO
Big Brothers to Be
Member since 1/07 4521 total posts
Name:
Maureen
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Re: Opinions Please: Half vs. Full Day Pre-K
We did 1/2. I figure they are in school soon enough. They are still small and do not need all that structured time. My ds transitioned fine to a full day kindergarten
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| Posted 9/1/14 11:31 PM |
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HomeIsWithU
Baby #2 on the way!
Member since 9/07 7816 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Opinions Please: Half vs. Full Day Pre-K
My DS did 1/2 day UPK that transitioned to full day Pre-K (in other words, when the half day class ended, he joined the regular full day class downstairs) so he technically there for a full day. I did it because I had to for work, but to be honest it was the best thing for him anyway. Our school district has a full day Kindergarten and the transition has been pretty easy for DS because he was so used to a full day Pre-school.
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| Posted 9/4/14 1:11 PM |
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