Is most preschools full day?

coasterqueen wrote: This stems from another discussion on preschool. Is the preschool your child attends full day? I know the private one we have as a back-up for Kylie (for 2007) you can choose the amount of time she's there and the number of days there, but our public one is 1/2 days all week.

I can't imagine a preschool age kid going all day long . Or maybe I just don't know how they are structured. Maybe they are like a daycare 1/2 the day?

mckayleesmom replied: I think the all day ones are great. McKaylee would have a blast. Me and Nicole took the kids to Chucky Cheese the other day and we got there at 2:30 and didn't leave till almost 7 and Mckaylee threw a fit when it came time to leave. I think if they had full days..they would learn so much more and have a great time. At least that is how I know it will be for Mckaylee....she thrives on that stuff and loves being around kids her age.

coasterqueen replied:
So does Kylie and she gets to do that sort of thing at daycare, but to do actual learning all day with no gradual into it seems a bit much to me. For all I know it's probably set up a lot like our sitter sets up the kids day.

mckayleesmom replied: Im sure there is alot of playtime in their too....and kids learn alot just from playing with each other.

Kaitlin'smom replied: not sure about our public ones but the one she attend you can pick how many days, how long...ect. I am considering moving to all day a couple days a week. The do have 'quite' time arund 1pm and those who wish can nap others can rest. The do learn ALOT but most of it is through play.

coasterqueen replied:
So would you say it's designed more like Kaitlin being at a full day of daycare? That's what I'm thinking. Although I'm sure it's more structured, or at least sounds like that from what my sitter does, i.e. meaning if they want to do something else in the morning instead they can do lessons later in the day.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
From my experiences, PS pre-k usually is half-day. In full-day childcare centers you can choose to have your child there half day or full day, but then, usually the other half of the day is just play, but children do learn a lot from play. However, preschool children don't "need" to be in childcare all day if they don't have to be. I think 3 days per week for the mornings (9-12) is enough for socialization, learning activities, and structure.

If you do take your child to a childcare though, make sure they show you their curriculum standards. You have to look to see if they are just a 'babysitting service'...there are many out there I am not impressed with, or are they a 'learning center'. Because of the lacking childcare centers, many good ones with lots of great curriculum get passed up because there is a stigma attached to the childcare term. Childcare CAN be preschool, but you have to find the ones who do it right!

Sometimes with large childcare centers they may not have a special rate for just the preschool portion, because they normally cater to working parents. Some do though. Check that out. Many preschools in the area here, and others, offer only half day, but you can choose how many days and what days they come. Every place is different. Every place is licensed differently. Some are only licensed just for preschool, others are licensed for an all day childcare.

I'm done rambling...

If anyone has any questions please let me know. I have been a preschool teacher for 7 years, and have managed large group centers along with my own home childcare and preschool. Not saying I know it all, but I wont discredit my experience and college education.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: When Maddie was 4 she attended preschool 3 days a week (M-W-F) from 9-2 and on Fridays it was 9-12:30. A lot of her friends went 5 days a week, but I was like you, I felt like that was too much since kindergarten is all day everday.

Ethan will go to 'preschool' for 2 days from 9-2, but they aren't forced to learn that entire time. They will have lessons, but it is mostly for socialization (kind of like mother's day out, but longer hours). I wanted the longer hours and they do get a nap.

Each child is different...I almost didn't send Ethan b/c I wasn't sure he would be ready and Maddie was clearly ready at his age. But I think he will be fine. He's been with me since he was born...no daycare or anything (other than the gym) so it's time he get that socialization.

Jamison'smama replied: Jamison's 4 year old progam in Ohio was M/W 9:00-11:30. The same 4 year old program in Texas that I hope we will be going to is M/W 9-2 and you can add a day for additional $.

amynicole21 replied: Sophia's is half day, and we pay for aftercare. She's is there all day though.

C&K*s Mommie replied: C will be attending from 8 or 8:30 until 12. I cannot remember for certain what the start time will be. For an additional $90/mo she can attend from 7:30 until 5:30 for the before/after care, but the ps will only be a short time in that range.

I like that, and think for her that will be great- she can still keep the same nap schedule on those days that she naps, and I can still retain my sanity.

boyohboyohboy replied: Caleb has just signed up for preschool in a church based program, and it is "teaching" from 830-1130am and then lunch and free play and other play time, is the rest of the day, so we opted to send him only three hours a day.
The rest was social time.

Our Lil' Family replied: The program at our church, where Thomas will go if we stay here, is 8:30-12:00 for Pre-K and K. 1st grade starts full days.

ETA: Back when I went to K it was 1/2 days as well. We had two class options, AM and PM.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
A local church of ours sounds like this too. It's actually quite the perfect set up. They have the preschool which is half days, but you can add after preschool care for a small fee. Great for parents only wanting preschool in the mornings, but great also for working parents who need extended care. It's also pretty affordable, and educational.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
Did he start yet Stacy, or does he start in the fall?

coasterqueen replied:
yeah we had 1/2 day K too when I was little. Our school system offers either one, but they said the kids miss out if they just go 1/2 day. they do all their learning in the am and arts/crafts in the pm. So those who only go 1/2 day miss out on the arts/crafts and feel left out when they come in the next day seeing what the other kids did.

coasterqueen replied:
Our back up for when we go with preschool will be a local Lutheran church (this is if she can't get into our school district one). It offers extended care, but I feel like the luckiest person in the world because my at-home sitter will pick Kylie up there and bring her home with her. Or what will probably happen is I'll go get her so I can find out about her day and then take her to her sitter. I feel more comfortable with Terri in the afternoon, but I do like that "back-up" in case Terri can't be with her that day.

MommyToAshley replied: Ashley goes to a faith based preschool program. Last year (in the three year old class), she went Tues and Thursday from 9:30 - 12:00. This year (in the four year old class), she will go M,W,F for the same hours, 9:30 - 12:00.

MyBlueEyedBabies replied: Katy's is 3 hours. I think K here is 4 hours unless you want to pay for full day. One of my friends is a K teacher and she said there is absolutely no benefit to full over half day unless you need child care. they just have an extra recess, lunch and nap/quiet time and they will maybe space their activaties a little more but they don't do anything extra.

3_call_me_mama replied: When cameron went to PS last year it was 2 dyas a week 9-11:30. the 4 year olds went 3 dyas during the same hours (maybe 1/2 hour longer) It was a private faith based school. The public preschools are mainly for 4 year olds here and they are 3-4 days a week 2-3 hours a day. Kindergarten is 5 days four of them are 8-11:15 and the other is a full day 8-2:45. So it's a slow transition to all full days/.

Hillbilly Housewife replied:
The way Zach's school is structured is for the first two months of school, they go with the teacher from 8:30 to 11:00, then they have lunch, quiet time and outside time. After that, they go with an "educator" (fancy name for daycare provider.. lol) until 2:30.

After two months, they go with the educator in the mornings and the teacher in the afternoons, mainly so that the teacher can evaluate the student on different times of the day. Maybe the kid is always cranky in the mornings, but is great in the afternoons and vice versa...

We have the option of only sending him half days, for the teacher part... but we'll be sending him the whole day. I think.

The teacher's part and the educator's part is pretty much structured in exact opposite. They do the same things, but in reverse order - and the teacher is more detailed in the activities...the educator lets them "play" more, it's not as "strict" a routine.

I hope that helps!