All Day or Half Day: Which Pre-K Program is Right for Your Child?
The love-hate relationship raging between our Governor and Mayor will undoubtedly affect existing Pre-k programs and their potential expansion, but even the current system mandates that every child living in New York City who is turning four years old is eligible to attend either half-day or full day Pre-K. These NYC Department of Education programs are free of charge and seats go quickly, so parents need to make decisions now about what type of program they want for their child and get their applications in between March 3rd and April 1st. Deciding between a half-day (two hours and 30 minutes) or full-day (six hours and 20 minutes) program can be challenging and emotional for parents. Your gut instinct about what is best for your child should play a role in your decision, but there are issues to consider, as well as your heart strings. When you're rolling up your sleeves and trying to decide between the two, here are some factors to take into account.
The Family's Routine – There are as many family configurations today as there are algorithms for pi, but determining who in the household is available to care for the child during the day must be assessed when deciding between full- or half-day Pre-K. If both parents in a two-parent household work full time, or you are a single parent who can't be there all day, full-day Pre-K may be a lifesaver, allowing you to avoid the extra expenses of ancillary child care or unending calls to grandma. The routines of other children in the household are also important. If there are older siblings attending public school, having your four-year-old in all-day Pre-K can streamline pick-up and drop-off times considerably.
Your Child's Emotional Readiness – They all grow up eventually, but some children are less ready to handle a long day away from home than others. A half-day Pre-K program might support your child's ease into a new, big-kid routine but still give them the support of knowing they can eat lunch at home and spend time with family, or be involved in other less-structured activities. Half-day Pre-k can take place in either the morning or afternoon, allowing for greater scheduling flexibility as well. Parents can use the time not spent in school to supplement their child's burgeoning skills and provide socialization through museum trips, nature walks or park excursions with friends.
The Educational Advantage – Both half-day and full-day programs are focused on supporting children to acquire basic reading and math skills. Pre-Ks can be run by either public schools or community-based organizations, both of which are given leeway to create variations within the curriculum. When deciding between the two, parents should find out more about what's being taught and when. Some programs devote half of the day to learning and the other half to playtime and socialization. Others fold these pursuits into all-day learning-based activities that vary from the morning through to the afternoon. Meet with the principal and teachers and discuss the programs near you with other parents in order to determine the value of full versus half day.
The Socialization Advantage – Everyone needs to learn how to play in the sandbox. While it's natural to gravitate towards those whose company we enjoy most, kids in all-day Pre-K may have an added advantage when it comes to acquiring socialization skills, particularly if the rest of their day will typically be spent without the company of peers. Of course, every kid needs special time with the grown-ups in their lives, but if you think your child would benefit from structured, supervised time with other kids, full-day Pre-K may be able to provide teaching moments for them that support their ability to get along with others.
Corey Whelan is a freelance writer in New York. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
