Kindergarten, morning or afternoon

Littlejen22 · January 2012

We don't get a choice but can give a preference although last year several people did not get their preference. DD will start preschool next year at DS preschool, 9-11:30 5 days a week around the corner from the elementary school. DS did afternoon his first year in preschool but last year and this year he did morning 5 days a week. Kindergarten is either 8:50-11:30 or 12:35-3:15. Currently my lids sleep until 8ish and ds eats when he gets home like 11:45. I think the bus comes atbout 10 min before school, we are less than a mile away and i will likely send him on the bus. Would you prefer morning or afternoon and argue the benefits of each. Thanks

Kersbear2 · January 2012

I would do mornings, because you would have a few hours alone to get some things done, run errands, etc. Also, he'll be used to get up and getting ready for school so when he's in 1st it's a smilar routine, just a longer day.

Though, how would you pick them both up on time? Can DD stay at preschool a little bit longer? I would worry that you wouldn't make it home on time if DS took the bus home and you were picking up DD at school.

amy05-04 · January 2012

I have done both morning preschool and now DS1 is in afternoon kindergarten. I liked morning preschool becaus I got my errands out of the way in the morning and felt like the day wasn't wasted, but I had to get 3 kids out the door for 9 and that was a pain-more so in the winter. Your son would take the bus, so that might not be an issue-we live too close to get the bus. My kids get up at 8 ish too and I felt like I was always waking them up and rushing to get out the door. This year we did afternoon K and DS2 is in afternoon preschool. To get morning K, you have to write a letter stating why you needed it and I really had no reason I HAD to have it. I didn't like it at first, but now it's nice not to have to rush out the door. My kids get up at 8ish, have a good breakfast. I do things at home in the morning and then just do my errands in the afternoon with my youngest. It works. Next year we will have to get up and go every day, so I am just enjoying this year....

J&A2008 · January 2012

In our district, the a.m. K4 program was more popular than the p.m. program by far. I didn't have a preference, and didn't rush to sign up at 8am the day of sign ups. He ended up in a class with a lot of more laid back moms, IMO, and a lot less behavior issues, than the a.m. crowd and they became his closest friends even when their group was broken up the following years.

So, no preference was my route, and for whatever reason, it worked for us.

Littlejen22 · January 2012

I am not sure what I would do pickups, I would need to talk to her school about it, so far the suggestion from the teacher was to have her stay for lunch but I already pay a lot for Montessori preschool and cannot justify more and then would have to make get in the car to get dd and that would suck if he is just starting to unwind. I would likely pick her up a few minutes early when they are putting on coats since it is usually pickup outside in your car. I am sure I could make it work. I would not do afternoon preschool though because I want DS teacher and also very few kids only do afternoon and I don't know that it would be nearly the same learning experience.

Part of me really wants morning so we can have a last years of afternoon fun together. And I worry after being home all morning DS would not want to go when his sister just got home. But if there are more requests for morning than there are spots next year like this year I will likely not get one.

J&a, interesting you at that, hue one kindergarten mom I know has afternoon and said it is much.smaller calmer class. I need these comments so I am not disappointed if he gets afternoon. I just cannot imagine my kids apart from each other that long, they play (and fight) together all day.

surprise3rd · January 2012

I always prefered mornings. I like to get up, get moving and get out. Mine are both early risers though, up by 6:30, so we had time to wake up, eat, etc. without any rush.

EliseB0323 · January 2012

Daily schedule aside, I would prefer morning if the same teachers are teaching both a morning and afternoon class. Most people, teachers included, work more effectively before lunch. Kindergarten teachers have got to be tired already by the time the afternoon class shows up, and I know my son was less focused in the afternoon than he was in the morning.

shopgirl78 · January 2012

I chose an AM slot for DS1 (it actually Prek3--Prek4 is already half day) because DD goes to school 8am and its easy for us to drop them off together (same school). All slots were filled but AM is the most preferred at our school.

penguingrrl · January 2012

I would do mornings if possible. My older daughter is in afternoon preK this year, from 12:30-3:30, and it really cuts our day up oddly. I thought we'd prefer that time since she isn't a morning person so we can have a slow morning, but it's a royal PITA because I can't really do anything around it.

winomom22 · January 2012

Afternoon for sure. That way you are rushed in the am. Granted I am an RN and work the evening shift so very much NOT a morning person.

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