shelby
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Post by shelby on Jan 22, 2014 13:56:05 GMT -5
My son is starting kindergarten next year we were planning on doing all day but just found out it is $2950 a year. I was thinking it would be less than that. We desperately need to payoff debt by doing half day the savings would help a lot. So my question is, is it worth the money to do all day?
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Jan 22, 2014 13:59:20 GMT -5
I can't answer you from a financial aspect, but I guess I'll ask - what will you do with that time if he is in school full time?
Will he be prepared as is for full time school next year if he doesn't go full time?
And... did you forget a 0? $245 a month for full time kindergarten??
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2014 14:03:49 GMT -5
I don't know. If you can swing it, save the money and only do half day.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2014 14:09:29 GMT -5
is this public school? DD did private K/daycare because at that time they were only offering half day. DS1 and DS2 did K at their daycare because they were offering full day and the public school wasn't yet, so it wasn't any more expensive than what I had already been paying for daycare.
and I echo other posters, what will you have to pay for after care if he only goes 1/2 day?
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shelby
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Post by shelby on Jan 22, 2014 14:11:36 GMT -5
I will be working DH works swing so he will be here until he goes to school if it is afternoon half day. I work from home so not a big deal on time either way. He is in preschool 3 days a week for 3 hours a day now. I am sure he would benefit from all day but I just don't want to feel like I am depriving him.
It is $2950 a year or $328 a month for 9 months. Adding e would not be in any other daycare or after care so it is the full savings.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2014 14:17:49 GMT -5
Save the $2950. Who care if he never gets into college?
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chen35
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Post by chen35 on Jan 22, 2014 14:28:49 GMT -5
Save the $2950. Who care if he never gets into college? And if he never gets into college, you're saving money there as well. Win win!
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Jan 22, 2014 14:55:40 GMT -5
How long is half day kindy? How much do you work? Could you increase your hours if your DS goes to full day kindy?
Why is half day kindy free and full day almost 3K?
I chose our school, in part because there were options for part time kindy. As it turned out, for US, full time kindy was a good choice. My kids needed it more for the social aspect and the different environment.
That said, if the 3K makes a huge impact on your finances, I'd do half day.
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Jan 22, 2014 15:19:35 GMT -5
I don't like the idea of all day kindergarten, but its just a gut feel and not based on any facts. I don't think that most 5 year olds can actually learn for 7 hours a day and don't see the point of it. The only time I can see it is if it saves you money or is for daycare purposes. I wouldn't pay for it.
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on Jan 22, 2014 15:19:51 GMT -5
My youngest went to 1/2 day K-5. We had a full time babysitter at the time, so when he got to K-5 we just kept paying her the same amount and she had mornings off.
My youngest also started K-5 early, he did not turn 5 until September, so we were concerned about him going full day.
We asked and the only difference in school time between 1/2 day and full day is that the full day get lunch, nap time and play time outside and only 30 minutes more of actual teaching time. It works out better for those who have older kids in school or day care needs.
My son made it through school with good grades and is now doing well in college, so no harm by missing that extra 30 minutes.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2014 15:32:48 GMT -5
I wouldn't pay the extra 3K if he can be home. He's not going to get that much more out of the extra half day. Our school is all day Kindy now, but older son was still there when it was half day. Half day picked up at 11 and then the all day kids went to lunch and either had nap or recess and mostly free time in the afternoon. School was done at 2:15.
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shelby
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Post by shelby on Jan 22, 2014 15:59:19 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies I was worried he would be missing a lot but doesn't sound like it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2014 16:33:20 GMT -5
I don't like the idea of all day kindergarten, but its just a gut feel and not based on any facts. I don't think that most 5 year olds can actually learn for 7 hours a day and don't see the point of it. The only time I can see it is if it saves you money or is for daycare purposes. I wouldn't pay for it. you don't learn for 7 hours a day....all day kindy gives them a chance to go at a slower pace and have more playtime. not to mention, it's not like they're sitting in desks the whole day - they learn while doing fun things.
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lisaflex
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Post by lisaflex on Jan 22, 2014 19:40:16 GMT -5
I am a full fan of full day kindergarten! as long as your child is not still a napper.
they have fun. have downtime. and the social aspect is huge.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jan 22, 2014 19:44:38 GMT -5
We asked and the only difference in school time between 1/2 day and full day is that the full day get lunch, nap time and play time outside and only 30 minutes more of actual teaching time. It works out better for those who have older kids in school or day care needs. Naps for 5 year olds?
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shelby
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Post by shelby on Jan 22, 2014 22:10:10 GMT -5
How long is half day kindy? How much do you work? Could you increase your hours if your DS goes to full day kindy? Why is half day kindy free and full day almost 3K? I chose our school, in part because there were options for part time kindy. As it turned out, for US, full time kindy was a good choice. My kids needed it more for the social aspect and the different environment. That said, if the 3K makes a huge impact on your finances, I'd do half day. Half day I believe is about 3 hours which is what is doing now in pre school. My schedule is set so I cannot do extra hours but I have an early schedule so I am off before the kids get off the bus.
Half day is free since it is compulsory but all day is a choice.
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teen persuasion
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Post by teen persuasion on Jan 22, 2014 22:56:32 GMT -5
It has been full day K here forever (DD1 is 23 now), so that is what I'm familiar with. Pre-K is half day. Bussing has been an issue, though, since they eliminated the mid-day busses and won't bus the 3yo kids. The day they turn 4 they can ride, though. Naps at school were a bit of a joke - most kids wouldn't nap.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2014 23:03:04 GMT -5
I'd do full-day kindergarten. I know my son would rather be at school (at least at this age) than just putzing around the house with his younger siblings.
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Jan 23, 2014 7:01:08 GMT -5
I'd save the money then. It's not going to take your child more than a week or so to learn the lunch routine and the lunch rules. It will just mean that he'll be adjusting to an all day schedule a year later..
I was able to get ahead financially when the kids were young. As it turns out, now that they are older (and we have more of them) it's helping us a ton.
My kids also needed a full day of peer interaction by kindergarten. But, they were also more wiling to hang out with me,too, when they were young. You don't have too many more years where you are going to be the apple of your child's eye, either.
I do think financial stability (and less worried parents) is a pretty important thing. Hopefully, there will be other kids going to half day kindy. You can always arrange for play dates and what not in the afternoon so your child gets peer interactions in the afternoon.
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Peace77
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Post by Peace77 on Jan 23, 2014 7:57:38 GMT -5
I would save your money. If you want him to have more education, go to the library and get a stack of books. Reading a book or 2 each night to him will do wonders.
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Jan 23, 2014 9:08:30 GMT -5
I don't like the idea of all day kindergarten, but its just a gut feel and not based on any facts. I don't think that most 5 year olds can actually learn for 7 hours a day and don't see the point of it. The only time I can see it is if it saves you money or is for daycare purposes. I wouldn't pay for it. you don't learn for 7 hours a day....all day kindy gives them a chance to go at a slower pace and have more playtime. not to mention, it's not like they're sitting in desks the whole day - they learn while doing fun things. We can do all that at home. Socializing is an issue we're working on, but ds does better with more frequent shorter times to socialize, rather than an all day outing with a bunch of kids and without dh or I. I don't know if ds is an anomaly or not. Dh and I are the same way.
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on Jan 23, 2014 11:10:15 GMT -5
We asked and the only difference in school time between 1/2 day and full day is that the full day get lunch, nap time and play time outside and only 30 minutes more of actual teaching time. It works out better for those who have older kids in school or day care needs. Naps for 5 year olds? Maybe not naps, but they had "quiet time"
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michelyn8
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Post by michelyn8 on Jan 23, 2014 12:45:19 GMT -5
Kindergarten became part of public education here in VA around the time I started 2nd grade (1975??) so all my children attended K at a public school. K kids can ride the bus just like the older elementary kids and are at school all day just like the older kids. Is that not the status quo in other states?
And yes Thyme, they had scheduled nap time/quiet time after lunch.
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gs11rmb
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Post by gs11rmb on Jan 23, 2014 12:48:42 GMT -5
Kindergarten became part of public education here in VA around the time I started 2nd grade (1975??) so all my children attended K at a public school. K kids can ride the bus just like the older elementary kids and are at school all day just like the older kids. Is that not the status quo in other states?
And yes Thyme, they had scheduled nap time/quiet time after lunch.
That's the set up in Georgia. There's no quiet time after lunch. I grew up in Scotland and started formal schooling four months before I turned 5. I don't think there's any reason why a 5 year old can't be in school all day.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2014 12:50:21 GMT -5
Kindergarten became part of public education here in VA around the time I started 2nd grade (1975??) so all my children attended K at a public school. K kids can ride the bus just like the older elementary kids and are at school all day just like the older kids. Is that not the status quo in other states?
And yes Thyme, they had scheduled nap time/quiet time after lunch.
I started Kindergarten in 1974 and it was half-day then. There was the morning crew and the afternoon. They JUST started full day kindergarten in our district the year after my oldest son finished in 2008.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2014 12:51:50 GMT -5
Kindergarten became part of public education here in VA around the time I started 2nd grade (1975??) so all my children attended K at a public school. K kids can ride the bus just like the older elementary kids and are at school all day just like the older kids. Is that not the status quo in other states?
And yes Thyme, they had scheduled nap time/quiet time after lunch.
That's the set up in Georgia. There's no quiet time after lunch. I grew up in Scotland and started formal schooling four months before I turned 5. I don't think there's any reason why a 5 year old can't be in school all day.I don't either. My 3 year old goes all day (plus after school care), but the question is, is it worth paying for the extra time if you don't need it for child care reasons.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2014 12:56:24 GMT -5
Maybe not naps, but they had "quiet time" My son just turned 5 before starting kindy and he was still napping pretty regularly. Younger son is still taking 3 hour naps a day (he's 3.5) They sometimes have to wake him for after school care.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Jan 23, 2014 12:56:54 GMT -5
Some states are still half day K. We went from one that was and the cut off was Dec 1 to one that was full day and cutoff was Sept 1. Huge difference for poor DS.
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on Jan 23, 2014 13:19:52 GMT -5
Public schools here only offer full day Kindergarted. My DS went to private K-5 for half day. That was our only option since he missed the school cutoff by 13 days and we wanted him in K-5. The school he went to stopped offering 1/2 day at some point, because it wasn't very popular.
As I said, the 1/2 dayers miss lunch, quiet time and play time. If you need full day for the day care, that's fine, but 1/2 day is a good option.
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shelby
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Post by shelby on Jan 23, 2014 13:49:05 GMT -5
The standard here in WA is half day, I here they are pushing for all day which would be free. I will have to check into naps I am pretty sure half day would not have it. my son has not napped in years so very doubtful he would take one. I still remember being in pre school about 5 yo and they had nap time, there was one teacher who would reprimand us if we were not totally still with our eyes closed....she was horrible.
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