My Take: Why we recommend a full day of Kindergarten

By M. Jeanne Wilcox, Nadine Basha Professor of Early Childhood Education, and Rachel Mayercek, Director Infant Child Research Laboratory Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University

"I clearly remember my son’s first day of kindergarten. It was August 2013 and he was excited but a little bit scared. I was excited but also nervous for him. I wondered if he would make friends? Would he have a good teacher? Was he ready for school?" - Rachel Mayercek

"When my twin boys were ready to start kindergarten, I selected a school that offered a full-day program. I worried that the day might be too long. I wondered if they would have fun and enjoy learning? Would kindergarten give them the start they need for school success?" - Jeanne Wilcox

These are all questions that every parent asks themselves as they prepare their child for kindergarten. Maybe you are also asking yourself, is kindergarten that important? Is my child ready? Should I send my child to the full-day or half-day kindergarten?

Kindergarten helps prepare our children for the challenges they will face in elementary school and beyond as they work on early academic skills including literacy, mathematics, and science. Within the context of play-based and fun learning opportunities, kindergarten offers a busy day full of learning. Students also develop communication skills, higher level language, and social skills, and will learn the rules and expectations of being in a school environment.

For most parents, contemporary kindergarten is very different from when they were children. As researchers studied early childhood education, emergent literacy and language development, it is clear that we may have underestimated the intellectual and learning capacity of young children. Exposure to new, interesting, and sequenced learning experiences in kindergarten prepares children for the rigors of today’s elementary school. Current kindergarten programs are stronger and more challenging than those of earlier generations. Research shows that when a child attends full-day kindergarten they are better prepared for first grade. Kindergarten builds a bridge between preschool programs and the more structured learning that takes place in first grade. Longitudinal data tells us that children in full-day kindergarten classes show greater reading and math gains than those who attend half-day classes.

When children are given a strong foundation in early literacy skills in preschool and kindergarten, they will become stronger readers and more successful students overall. In full-day kindergarten classrooms teachers spend more time focused on emergent literacy skills and teach the science of reading. The “Move on When Reading” law in Arizona requires students to demonstrate reading proficiency in third grade for promotion to the fourth grade. In order for children to be successful in this state standard, students require more reading instruction with skilled professionals; which occurs when children spend more time in kindergarten.

In full day environments, teachers have more time to develop relationships with children and identify and address children’s unique learning needs, saving time, resources and funding over the long term while increasing the odds that children will experience success as they move through the school.

Many teachers prefer full-day kindergarten classes due to the numerous benefits that result when they have additional time to work with young students. Finally and most importantly, research shows that five-year-olds are more than ready for a longer school day and they do better in a setting that allows them time to learn and explore activities in depth. A full-day of kindergarten results in happier children because it gives them more time to focus and reflect on activities, and transition between them. If you are curious as to the instruction that takes place in today’s kindergarten classrooms, I encourage you to arrange a visit at your neighborhood school.